Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Southampton About the job Job summary Have you got a Marine industry background and a passion for making a positive difference to the Seafarer Training? Are you a confident communicator able to represent the MCA at industry and regulatory fora in a technical capacity? Could you develop and implement strategies to establish the UK as a global leader in Seafarer Education and Training, with a focus on modernisation and alternative fuels? If so, we are looking for a Training Strategy Technical 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 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 The successful applicant will join the Seafarers Technical Delivery team, supporting the MCAs mission of Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas by ensuring high standards of marine safety for UK-certified seafarers and fishers. The role of Training Strategy Technical Lead will oversee the skills and qualifications of all seafarers working on UK vessels, including merchant navy vessels, fishing fleets, inland waterways, large yachts, tugs, and workboats. The MCA is also taking a leading role in enabling training for future technology and autonomous vessels, both domestically and internationally. This is a fantastic opportunity to support the delivery of the MCA's Strategic Objectives through the effective leadership and management to ensure that: seafarers choosing the UK Certificate of Competency have access to high quality, effective and relevant training and assessments, wherever they choose to study, ensuring all national and international standards and obligations are met. The successful applicant will also be a part of the modernisation of seafarer training (including digitised assessments) and interfaces with our Training Providers, the development of training and certification to support the fishing industry, future shipping technologies and innovations, and other activities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of seafarers and all those working in the maritime environment. This role will provide significant opportunity to lead innovation, there will be a chance to finalise papers for submission for IMO HTW and ensuring that the key proposals from UK align with technological changes onboard and supports targets for decarbonisation. Your responsibilities include but are not limited to: Lead on developing and implementing the Maritime Skills Commission (MSC) Recommendations to Modernise Seafarer Education and Training. Lead on developing the UKs Strategy to modernise the requirements of the STCW Convention and Code through proposing IMO papers and taking a key role in the comprehensive review of the Convention and Code. Use an evidence-based approach to formulate the UKs strategy by considering the needs of the UK seafarer and the shipping industry. Support the Chief Examiner by attending branch management meetings and various stakeholder meetings, as requested. For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile. Person specification To succeed in this role, you are an enthusiastic individual who holds one of the advertised qualifications and has experience of working in a managerial role on board ship, or in a technical capacity of responsibility within the maritime industry. You are a confident communicator and can successfully tailor your approach to suit the audience that you are working with, including the ability to present at high level meetings. You have excellent interpersonal skills and can positively work with others to achieve results. You are computer literate and are familiar in the use of IT office software. 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 nationally and overseas, which may involve overnight stays. Notice will be given prior to travel. A passport valid for international travel is required for this role. Qualifications Applicants are required to hold one of the following qualifications. Master Mariner: UK STCW II/2 Unlimited Certificate of Competency Chief Engineer: UK STCW III/2 Unlimited Certificate of Competency Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Making Effective Decisions Leadership Communicating and Influencing Working Together Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Marine Surveyor Competencies - understanding of seafarer standards as applied to seagoing commercial vessels (except FVs) (Level 3). Applicants are able to: summarise the principles of STCW summarise domestic application of manning requirements 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 CV and Personal Statement: 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: Your experience of leading or chairing working groups or strategic meetings. Your experience of making improvements or modernisation to make efficiencies. Your experience within a managerial role on board ship or a technical capacity of responsibility within the maritime industry. 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 on 25 February 2025. Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 10 March 2025. This interview will be conducted via a video interview. 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. As part of your interview you will be assessed against the attached technical framework, details of which can also be found here MCA Surveyor Technical Competencies Framework. Youre encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. Further Information 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. 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 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 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. 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 : Ajit Jacob Email : ajit.jacobmcga.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: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission Attachments Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 171kB) MSF4989 R04.22 Framework Opens in new window (pdf, 245kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail