About the job

Job summary

Are you a Maritime Professional with experience on small craft, looking for a varied and rewarding career?

Do you have excellent communication and interpersonal skills?

Would you love to make a difference to the environment and the safety of lives at sea?

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 are committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams. 

We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at MCA. 

This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks groups covering, Women’s, LGBTQI+, Race, Carers, Mental Wellbeing and volunteer Respect Ambassadors.

Job description

We have a fantastic opportunity at the MCA for an enthusiastic individual to join us as a Small/Non-Convention Vessel Surveyor (internally this role will be known as HEO Surveyor) in our UK Maritime Services (UKMS) directorate.

The UKMS directorate inspect and survey ships to ensure they meet UK and international safety, security and anti-pollution standards and provide a first-class quality survey and inspection service to stakeholders.

Reporting to a Principal Marine Surveyor, the successful applicant will assist the Marine Office and Divisional Area in achieving its agreed annual Business Plan activities and objectives.  As a Small/Non-Convention Vessel Surveyor, you will compete statutory surveys, audits and inspections of small vessels such as work boats, fishing boats and small passenger boats.  If qualified as an Examiner, you will also undertake oral examinations so as to ensure high standards of training and competence amongst seafarers.

Positive stakeholder interaction is key in this role and you will liaise with a variety of clients and customers such as harbour masters and small vessel owners, communicating effectively with them to ensure they are informed and understand throughout each survey and inspection.  You will also engage with internal stakeholders including marine office colleagues, policy teams and business support teams.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join us in a diverse role where no two days are the same.  You’ll experience different vessels and different working environments and you will make a real difference doing the right thing to ensure people have safe working conditions and positive changes are made in relation to pollution and the environment.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Carrying out surveys leading to the issue of statutory certificates for small/non-convention vessels (e.g. Small Passenger Ship Certificate of Classes III - VI(A), EU C or EU D but excluding initial surveys or any surveys related to Ro-Ro / small passenger vessels, Domestic Safety Management Code Certificate, Survey for Record of Safety Equipment, Code Vessels, Fishing Vessel Certificates for <24m FV's and Fishing Vessel Certificates for >24m FV's which are Classed or Unclassed, Maritime Labour Convention Certificate, UK Load Line and UK Load Line Exemption for <24m vessels, Guard Ship Survey etc.). To include acting as lead surveyor in all but the most complex cases - issue of certification, provide advice to the public and colleagues, approve ships plans, investigate complaints, witness stability measurements of small vessels.
• Carrying out inspections of small/non-convention vessels and port installations in all but the most complex cases to ensure compliance with International Conventions, EU legislation and UK statutory requirements (e.g. general inspection of UK small/non-convention vessels, maritime security inspections and plan approvals under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, inspection of Bulk Carrier Terminals (terminals only), inspection of port waste management facilities, EU Sulphur Directive inspections and inspection of Life-Saving Appliance Service Stations). A proportion of the inspections of small/non-convention vessels are carried out in cooperation with other regulatory authorities (e.g. HSE, local Port Health). Complete inspections and surveys against the Work In Fishing Convention to ensure fishers terms and conditions and onboard welfare is as to the required standards.
• Providing advice to industry and public in accordance with MCA policies, including as point of contact for technically related communications with designated 'Minor/Small size' companies or individual vessel owners. Contribute to the management, provision and delivery of a first-class quality survey and inspection service by the Marine Office to both customers and clients of the Agency's maritime services. Work with the BM and the Marine Office technical/administrative team in affording a level of customer service experience that both meets and manages customer expectations. Contribute in the delivery of a regulatory climate that is clear, consistent and supportive of the UK maritime industries.

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

Person specification

You will come to us with one of the listed qualifications and experience of working in the marine industry.

You will be passionate and knowledgeable about safety on small vessels and will have fantastic organisational skills, able to manage a varied workload and prioritise tasks.

Excellent communication skills are pivotal to this role and you enjoy liaising with a variety of people, ensuing your guidance and advice is conveyed clearly and understood.  Confident in your approach, you’re able to remain robust and hold your own during challenging conversations.

You are a sound decision maker, able to consider all relevant factors and use your expertise to shape your final conclusions.

Please note, due to the nature of the role you will also be required to undergo a Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) before commencing employment with us. Gaining CTC Clearance will require you to provide proof that you have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 full consecutive years from your date of application and only candidates who meet this requirement will be considered for the role.

You will also be required to pass a medical - the health standards are attached to this advert.

Important Information

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.

The post-holder will operate to a flexible working pattern consisting of a 7.4 hour working day and over the course of a year the post-holder is contracted to work 1931 net conditioned hours. On occasion, there will be a requirement to work outside of normal conditioned hours.

Please note: This is a uniformed role and uniform will be required to be worn at all times when on duty.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply

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

Within your CV please ensure you outline your previous jobs including the company you worked for, job title, length of employment and a brief description of your duties and responsibilities. In addition, please can you list any qualifications you have including the full degree titles and full name of the university/s you studied at to obtain the qualifications/degrees.

For guidance on the CV please click the following link: Candidate Guidance for CV and Statement of suitability.

If your application meets the requirements of the role you will be invited to the next part of the recruitment process which is a two stage interview process.

The first stage consists of a short initial video interview where we will assess your technical knowledge. Further information will be provided if you are invited to this online interview. If you are successful after the 1st stage, you will then be invited to a 2nd stage/final assessment which will involve a role play. Both stages are planned to be conducted via teams.

The sift is due to take place on 15th & 16th July 2024.

The first stage of interviews are likely to be held from w/c 29th July 2024.

Final assessments are likely to be held from w/c 12th August 2024.

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.

As part of your interview you will be assessed against Marine Surveyor Competencies (Level 2).

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

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.

Reserve List

During your application, you should indicate which location(s) you wish to be considered for and, if successful, you will be placed on an individual list of candidates for each location. Candidates will be held on that list and drawn from it in merit order. Your application will be held on a list if you have met the minimum criteria for the role but there are no available posts to offer, at that time, in your preferred location(s).

Please note that in the event you are offered a role (and your application is being held on a reserve list) in one of your listed preferred location(s), and you accept this offer, your application will be removed from the reserve list for any other locations chosen for this campaign. In the event you are offered a role (and your application is being held on a reserve list) in one of your listed preferred location(s), and you decline the offer, you will be removed from the reserve list for any other locations chosen for this campaign.

Where there is a requirement we may offer candidates a location that they have not expressed a preference for, in the event that you decline this offer, you will not be removed from the reserve list.  If you choose to relocate, you must still reside within the 25mile/45 minute drive (at the time of appointment) from the marine office you are posted to for contractual purposes. Any relocation is done at the individuals’ expense.

A criminal record is not necessarily a bar to obtaining employment.

Before submitting your application, we encourage you to visit our Recruitment in detail page of the DfT Careers website. You will find detailed information about the entire recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role in the Civil Service.Throughout this job advert there are links to the DfT Careers Website, which provides you further information to support your application. Should you be unable to access the information on our website, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.