About the job

Job summary

Are you a maritime professional with experience of working within Marine Operations in the ports industry?

Could you influence and guide positive change in the maritime sector?

Would you love an interesting role with the opportunity to engage and build strong working relationships with a variety of stakeholders?

If so, we are looking for a Ports and Vessel Traffic Services Policy Manager to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and we'd love to hear from you!  

This is an interesting and varied role which offers the opportunity to be a pivotal figure providing technical expertise to UK government policy on ports and VTS matters, influencing and guiding the direction of positive maritime industry change on an international scale in hot topic areas such as decarbonisation and autonomous vessel interactions with UK ports.

This opportunity presents a fantastic prospect to be a part of advancements in how we use data to improve ports safety and how the MCA works in partnership with ports through the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) Guide to Good Practice and Compliance exercise, as longer term roadmaps are being developed.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.   

Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.   

Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.  

We welcome applications from all communities, and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.   

Job description

We are looking for a passionate maritime professional to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as the Ports & Vessel Traffic Services Policy Manager.  The successful applicant will lead and manage a small team to ensure the MCAs responsibilities, under the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) are met.

The Ports & Vessel Traffic Services Policy Manager will be the subject matter expert and primary contact point for Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) enquires within the MCA.  They will oversee the efficient provision of support and advice to the Department for Transport for ports policy, including technical advice on the composition and application of the code and other ports related queries.

The role holder will manage and conduct audits of VTS centres, training organisations and a scheme of Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) health checks on ports and marine facilities,managing the efficiency delivery of these programs.

The Technical Services Navigation Branch is a multi-disciplinary team of professionals working to further safety in the maritime domain. As such it is the aim of the branch to recruit and retain talent by maintaining a family friendly environment and excellent work life balance.

Responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to:

• Leading in the development and evolution of MCA's part in UK policies on port/marine facility safety and VTS through liaison with and consideration of all stakeholders.
• Providing Ports and VTS subject matter advice for activities consented to under the various UK licensing regulators and Harbour Orders, with a view to assessing the impact on the safety of navigation.
• Chairing the PMSC and VTS policy steering groups, facilitating their input to DfT for updating of the PMSC and ensure the Guide to Good Practice (GTGP) is updated in line with the code.
• Managing and conducting PMSC Health Checks and Audits of VTS centres, prioritising activities on the basis of risk and/or intelligence.
  
• Representing the MCA and being its subject matter expert and advisor for national and international VTS and port marine safety policy.
• Being subject matter expert within the MCA for port related matters, including safety of port operations.

For an in-depth insight into the role, please refer to the Role Profile attached to this advert.

Person specification

We are looking to be joined by a suitably qualified a maritime professional with experience of working within Marine Operations in the ports industry.

• You have first class interpersonal skills and are able to build and maintain solid working relationships with a variety of stakeholders whilst providing robust guidance and direction. 
• You are a confident and clear communicator, able to influence and negotiate and manage difficult conversations in a diplomatic manner.
• Composed and calm under pressure, you take an agile approach and are able to deal with a varied and fast paced workload adapting quickly to changing priorities. 
• You are thorough in your work, able to manage technical information to inform policy and review and analyse technical data in-order-to make informed and verified decisions.

Additional Information 

This role will be based in the Southampton HQ.  MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work.  

The expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace or out on official business. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager. 

There will be a requirement for travel on official duty within the UK and overseas or offshore, which may involve overnight stays away from home. A passport valid for international travel is required as well as a full driving licence valid for driving in the UK.

Please note, due to the nature of the role you will be required to undergo a Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC). Gaining CTC Clearance will normally require you to have been a resident in the UK for a minimum of 3 years, and only candidates who meet this requirement will be considered for the role.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance. 

Click here to get a copy of the MCA Staff Benefits Brochure   

Find out what it's like to work at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency   

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How to Apply   

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Within your CV and personal statement please demonstrate your knowledge and experience of:   

• Experience of working in a leadership position within Marine Operations in the ports industry, outlining how you meet the essential qualifications advertised.
• Knowledge and experience of applying the Port Marine Safety Code and an understanding of Vessel Traffic Services.
• Experience of compliance regimes associated with the ports and VTS industry.
• Experience of negotiating and influencing a variety of stakeholders.

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 1000 words.  

It is essential when submitting your personal statement that you provide as much detail as possible, and utilise the full word count given, against the essential criteria outlined above as this will be used in conjunction with your CV to assess candidate suitability to move to the next round in the recruitment process.   

The sift is due to take place 11 - 12 March 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 25 March 2024.

This interview could be conducted online via Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.  

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.  

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:  

• An interview.
• A presentation.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. 

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.