About the job

Job summary

Do you have experience of working in a regulatory policy role?

Can you demonstrate excellent communication skills to draft high standard submissions and other policy documents?

Would you like the opportunity to make a big impact by reshaping significant areas of legislation?

If so we'd love to hear from you!  

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

The Directorate of UK Maritime Services (UKMS) has responsibility for developing, negotiating, and maintaining UK policies and regulations relating to a wide range of safety and environment issues associated with ships and vessels of all sizes. This provides a dynamic working environment including regular engagement with operational colleagues in other areas of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), other Government Departments, and other national Maritime Administrations, as well as industry stakeholders.

In response to the government’s Retained EU Law (REUL) Act there is a need to deliver significant changes to the regulations within the responsibility of UKMS. This role will provide coordination and capacity within the Directorate to ensure that all REUL commitments and timelines are met while unlocking the benefits for our stakeholders.

You will support the Regulatory Reform Lead in leading this recently established team to ensure the team is fully functioning and focussed on delivery. You will manage, lead, guide and mentor the Regulatory Reform Adviser in the production of high-quality supporting documentation for legislative projects, including Impact Assessments and Instructions to Lawyers, as well as navigating the processes necessary to enable proposed changes to merchant shipping legislation to be considered by parliament.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who may not hold a qualification in law or legislation, but has very keen interest and drive to learn more by exploring this sector.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• To contribute to, and where appropriate lead, the negotiation, development, implementation and management of policy and regulation in order to maintain and further develop a consistent and proportionate regulatory framework for UK maritime sector within the context of REUL reform commitments.
• Provide a focal point role for internal colleagues and stakeholders on matters regarding UKMS response to REUL Act and maintain a positive and proactive role in liaison with MCA Consultant Surveyors, relevant Directorates and Branches within the MCA, DfT, and external stakeholders.
• As directed by line manager, to draft instructions for Government lawyers for preparation and timely implementation of regulations and codes and guidance and coordinate associated impact assessments. This includes the development of M Notices, Safety Bulletins, Instructions to Surveyors and Advice Notes as required.
• Develop and maintain an understanding of the national and international political and policy context of UKMS work through discussion and liaison with key stakeholders, for example, internal and external government colleagues, industry, Non-Government Organisations, Red Ensign Group, other governments etc.
• Handling of technical and policy questions raised internally and provide advice to senior managers in the MCA and as required by the Regulatory Reform Lead.
• Draft responses to stakeholders, including responding to Freedom of Information Act enquiries, Parliamentary Questions and other official correspondence, within the set timescales and agreed deadlines.

For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile. 

Person specification

To be successful in this role, you will need to have experience of working in a regulatory policy role and delivering legislative changes.

It is essential that you have excellent written and oral communication skills and proven ability to draft high standard submissions and other policy documents.

You will need to have the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders and know the importance of being able to lead a team and positively influence others.

Additional Information

This role will be based in the Southampton HQ, Belfast Marine Office (located in Bangor, Northern Ireland), or Glasgow Marine Office (near Glasgow Airport) or Cardiff Marine Office. The 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. 

This role requires occasional UK and overseas travel which may involve overnight stays and working outside of normal hours, potentially at weekends. 

This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis to complete a finite piece of work. 

Permanent Civil Servants will not be expected to change their employment status from permanent to fixed term appointment.

Internal applicants will be appointed on inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan agreement. The expectation is that you will return to your previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance.  

If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment.

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:   

• Working in a regulatory policy role and delivering legislative changes.
• Demonstrating excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Drafting high standard submissions and other policy documents.

Your Personal Statement will be limited to a maximum of 1,000 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 on 8th & 9th February 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from w/c 19th February 2024.

This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. 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 written exercise.

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

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

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.