About the job

Job summary

Can you work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders to develop international regulations?

Would you like to work as part of a strategic and dynamic team on high priority policy issues?
   
If so, we are looking for a Ship Standards Autonomy Policy Lead to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and 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

As the Ship Standards Autonomy Policy Lead, it will be your responsibility to take a proactive lead in managing and developing UK policy regulations and guidance for the specific policy area as directed by their Line Manager. This will be in support of UK government objectives for a safe and commercially successful UK fleet supported by your own technical knowledge and the expertise of colleagues.

You will provide a focal point for your area of responsibility for liaison with stakeholders (both internal and external) to ensure the MCA has an informed and balanced approach that meets the Government's obligations, industry needs, and public expectations.

This will be an exciting opportunity for a driven individual to work in an innovate area, working on new projects that have not been done before and experiencing new challenges and questions. There will be plenty of exposure to meeting a variety of people at all grades, across the whole of the maritime sector, as you will be helping to develop policy for autonomous shipping where you will have the opportunity to attend international meetings to develop international regulations.

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 safety-focused, consistent and proportionate regulatory framework for merchant ships in the UK, in particular where this relates to policies concerning the Maritime Autonomy Team.
• In conjunction with senior colleagues, to represent the MCA, and/or the UK, at internal, external and international meetings and working groups (e.g. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Department for Transport (DfT) etc.) associated with their areas of responsibility, including the drafting and presentation of substantive papers where necessary.
• To provide a focal point role for industry and colleagues on matters regarding UK policies covered by the ship safety team and maintain a positive and proactive role in liaison with MCA consultant surveyors, relevant Directorates and Branches within the MCA, DfT, and external stakeholders.
• To draft instructions for Government lawyers for preparation and timely implementation of regulations and codes and guidance related to UK policy and coordinate associated impact assessments. This includes the development of M-Notices, Safety Bulletins, Instructions to Surveyors and Advice Notes as required.

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

Person specification

About You  

• To be successful in this role, you will have the ability to apply scientific and technical knowledge, as well as the ability to locate, understand and use data, evidence and advice from analytical, scientific and technical sources.
• You will have experience of working within a relevant sector such as the maritime sector or autonomous technology.
• Written and oral communication skills will be a strength of yours and researching and drafting high quality documents using a range of different media will come naturally to you.
• You will be a highly organised individual with a high attention to detail. You can work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders but also know the importance of working autonomously.  

Additional Information

This role will be based in the Southampton HQ (or relevant office).  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.

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: 

• Ability to apply scientific and technical knowledge, drawing on your relevant experience.
• Ability to locate, understand and use data, evidence and advice from analytical, scientific and technical sources.
• Working within a relevant sector such as the maritime sector or autonomous technology.
• Written and oral communication skills and proven ability to research and draft high quality documents using a range of different media.

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.    

Sift and Interview Dates

The sift is due to take place on 12th & 13th March 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 25th March 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 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.

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.