Chief Coastguard
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 17th November 2024
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Location
As a member of the SCS you will be leading teams working on a hybrid basis. The expectation is that you will spend over the 60% workplace attendance requirement of your time in the workplace. Some travel to other workplaces may be required.
About the job
Job summary
His Majesty’s Coastguard is a Category One emergency service and the only service which operates nationally across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. It is both a partner and service provider to the other emergency services, local authorities and UKSAR providers.
HM Coastguard is the operational arm of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency with responsibility for 6 Coastguard functions:
- Search and Rescue
- Pollution Response
- Vessel Traffic Management
- Maritime Safety
- Maritime Security
- Emergency and Disaster Management
There are four delivery disciplines within HM Coastguard Operations; Maritime, which coordinates activities from an operations room environment, Aviation which operates the Aeronautical Coordination Centre (ARRC) from an operations room environment, Coastal which provides a frontline emergency response on the coast and Counter Pollution which operates as the UK Competent Authority with specific responsibility for counter pollution preparedness and responding to at-sea pollution from shipping and offshore installations within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the management of the UK Government’s stockpiles of equipment and dispersant.
The Chief Coastguard has strategic operational oversight of around 500 staff and 3,500 Volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers and manages a budget of £36M RDEL £3M CDEL.
To support operational delivery, the Chief Coastguard has operational oversight of 22 helicopters, 3 Fixed Wing Aircraft, S100 drones, 480 response vehicles, spray aircraft, counter pollution equipment.
Job description
Principle Responsibilities
- Accountable to the Director HMCG , ensure that HM Coastguard Operations delivers its UK's Coastal State responsibilities (6 Coastguard functions) and provides leadership and strategic oversight of a UK wide critical emergency service function.
- Provide strong leadership and direction across the whole of HM Coastguard Operations to ensure effective service wide performance and operational delivery.
- Setting strategic direction and priorities ensuring that operational policy development is informed by, and congruent with national and international Coastguard developments for example at the IMO.
- Provide strategic oversight and guidance to ensure effective governance, supervision and management of both Capital and Programme budgets and resources is embedded across the Coastguard service.
- Be accountable to the Director for providing strategic oversight on current Projects and through regular meetings with Programme and Project leads, ensure the successful, effective and timely delivery of projects through advanced planning and ongoing review against agreed targets.
- Represent HM Coastguard Operations at the UKSAR Strategic Board which oversees risk and Search and Rescue strategy for 30,000 volunteers.
- Act as Chair for the UKSAR Operators Group which oversees and mitigates tactical operational risk matters across UK Search and Rescue voluntary services
- Ensure that HM Coastguard Operations has suitable UK wide business continuity plans in place to ensure delivery of its statutory functions in the event of a catastrophic incident.
- Providing strategic oversight to ensure that HMCG Operations remains underpinned by effective technology and staffing structure that is both fit for purpose and capable of adapting to meet future demands.
Person specification
As part of the application process, alongside a CV, a Personal Statement is also required. Both documents form a critical step in your application process.
A Statement of Suitability will evidence your own suitability for the role. In this step of the process, which is conducted online via the Civil Service portal, please ensure to reference the following criteria outlined below:
1.Proven ability to lead organisational and cultural change at a strategic level.
2.Outstanding leadership of remote diverse multi-discipline teams and the ability to lead, motivate and empower.
3.A dynamic record of success working at a senior level which has involved extensive networking, developing, and managing relationships with complex stakeholders.
4.Proven track record of strategic operational effectiveness, improvement and delivery.
5.A demonstrable ability to understand complex stakeholder environments and to develop the levels of influence necessary to deliver challenging change agendas.
Benefits
The Benefits of Working for the Civil Service
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service values and supports all its employees. We have strong and pro-active staff networks, special leave policies for hospital appointments, reasonable adjustments put in place for those who need them, and diversity talent programmes to help everyone irrespective of background, to achieve their potential
Pension
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package. A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. Visit Civil Service Pension Scheme for more details.
Generous Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Allowance
25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service (allowance is pro rata for part-time employees). This is in addition to 8 public holidays.
This will be complimented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday.
Flexible working
Due to the nature of the role, it is offered on a full-time working basis only.
Generous paid maternity and paternity leave
This is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers.
Childcare benefits
Policy for new employees as of 5 April 2018: The government has introduced the Tax Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. Working parents can open an online childcare account and for every £8 they pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2000 a year for each child or £4000 for a disabled child. Parents then use the funds to pay for registered childcare. Existing employees may be able to continue to claim childcare vouchers, so please check how the policy would work for you here.
Season Ticket and Bicycle Loan
Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
The Recruitment Process
Application
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process by no later than 23:55 Sunday 17th November 2024.
The application will include:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1250 words) explaining how you can evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the following section, entitled: ‘Personal Statement’.
- Failure to submit both CV and Personal Statement documents will mean the panel will only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria.
As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say’. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be provided to the selection panel.
Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us via scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Shortlist
Your application will be acknowledged once it has been received.
The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the essential criteria set out in the Person Specification. Candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme who meet the minimum selection criteria in the job specification are guaranteed an interview.
Interview and Presentation
You will be requested to attend a panel assessment which will include an interview and presentation, in order to gain a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Interviews will take place in person at MCA Headquarters in Southampton. Full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.
Outcome and Feedback
Due to the anticipated number of applicants, we are unable to offer feedback to those not selected at longlist stage. Shortlisted candidates who attend an interview will be offered verbal feedback from a member of the interview panel.
The timeline contained in this pack indicates the dates by which decisions are expected to be made. All candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter, and we will be advising of any delays.
Key Dates
We will offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable and exercising flexibility throughout the recruitment and selection process in order to meet the provided dates.
Selection Panel
The panel will consist of:
- Virginia McVea, Chief Executive Officer
- Claire Hughes, Director, His Majesty’s Coastguard
- Matthew Briggs, Director, People and Safety
Advert Closes: 23:55 Sunday 17th November 2024
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Sift: Monday 25th November 2024
Assessment: Presentation and Interview: Monday 2nd December 2024 & Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Contact us
Should candidates like to discuss the role in more detail before submitting an application, please contact HR.Resourcing@mcga.gov.uk
This campaign is being run on behalf of the department by the team at Government Recruitment Service, part of Government Business Services, a central government expert service specialising in the attraction, assessment and recruitment of senior civil servants.
The team is regularly commissioned by departments and other government organisations to deliver end-to-end recruitment for some of society’s most important leadership and specialist positions.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SCS Recruitment Team
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here
