Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Southampton About the job Job summary Are you experienced in leading a HR team, setting and delivering strategy and managing teams? Do you have comprehensive knowledge of HR legislation and best practice? Would you like to support change and transformation programmes, lead on Trade Union relationships and provide specialist knowledge and expertise? If so, we are looking for a Head of Employee Relations 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 governments 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, Womens, LGBTQI, Race, Carers, Mental Wellbeing and volunteer Respect Ambassadors. Job description What is Corporate Services? The Directorate of Corporate Services is responsible for the effective delivery of Corporate Services to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). Corporate Services includes Communications, Procurement, Finance, Health & Safety, Human Resources, Internal Audit and Assurance, Programme Management Office, and Property & Facilities. Human Resources is a key enabling function responsible for the planning and delivery of the MCA's People Strategy and a full range of HR services including Organisational Design and Development, Talent Management and HR Operations. The Head of Employee Relations delivers effective HR services to the MCA. In addition, this role is part of the MCA HR Leadership Team (HRLT) and works collaboratively with MCA and Department for Transport (DfT) leaders to enable the DfT Group HR Model. Who is the Head of Employee Relations? The role holder will be accountable for the effective, efficient and business focused delivery of specialist HR services for the MCA and will lead the development and implementation of employee relations strategies. They will also support change and transformation programmes across the organisation, leading on Trade Unions relationships and providing specialist knowledge and expertise. Your responsibilities include but are not limited to: Setting strategic direction for the delivery of Employee Relations to ensure quality HR services to managers and leaders, staff and volunteers ensuring alignment to Civil Service, Departmental and Organisational strategy Leading the HR team to deliver against the People Strategy providing quality services to the business. Guiding and coaching the team on service and programme delivery, tactical planning and forecasting ensuring that mechanisms are in place to measure impact and feedback from end users. Proactively working with the Executive Team, HRLT and Senior Leaders to fully understand current and future business performance issues, objectives and drivers to ensure Employee Relations strategies align to business need. Leading complex casework and employee relations issues for the MCA ensuring a fair and consistent approach, aligning with Civil Policy and employment law. Leading relationships with external legal advisors where appropriate. Advising and guiding the Executive Team and senior leaders on financial and reputational risk For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile. Person specification About You To be successful as the Head of Employee Relations, you will have: Comprehensive knowledge of HR legislation and best practice relating to employees and volunteers, with the ability to lead on complex casework. Experience of leading a HR team, setting and delivering strategy and managing teams to deliver effective solutions. Strong interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to establish relationships quickly with a wide range of internal and external senior stakeholders. 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 may be a requirement for occasional travel on official duty within the UK, which may involve overnight stays. Notice will be given prior to travel. Please take note that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are currently unable to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Qualifications Chartered CIPD (Level 7) or be ready to qualify through experience assessment or demonstrate equivalent HR work experience at a senior level. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Managing a Quality Service Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Making Effective Decisions Seeing the Big Picture Benefits Alongside your salary of £54,857, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £15,892 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. 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. As part of your application, you will be required to complete a CV and a 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: Comprehensive knowledge of HR legislation and best practice relating to employees and volunteers, with the ability to lead on complex casework. Experience of leading a HR team, setting and delivering strategy and managing teams to deliver effective solutions. Strong interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to establish relationships quickly with a wide range of internal and external senior stakeholders Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 750 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 24th February 2025. Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 10th March 2025. This interview will be conducted via face to face at one of our offices. Further details of which 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. Youre encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. 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 youre 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.grscabinetoffice.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 DRGCommsdft.gov.uk for assistance. Further Information For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting 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 applicants 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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Jo Hackwell Email : jo.hackwellmcga.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : dftrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 Attachments Role Profile Opens in new window (docx, 65kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail