Are you credible and authentic leader?
Do you have experience leading, establishing and maintaining high standards of support to senior executives, non-executives and chief executives?
Would you like the opportunity to lead the MCA work on Parliamentary business including managing responses to Parliamentary questions and MPs correspondence?
If so, we are looking for a Head of Private Office 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 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.
This is a Full-Time post.
What is the Corporate Services Directorate?
The Directorate of Corporate Services is responsible for the effective delivery of Corporate Services to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). Corporate Services includes Governance, Performance, Private Office, Internal Audit and Assurance, Communications, Procurement, Finance, Health & Safety, Human Resources, Programme Management Office, Property & Facilities, and Regulatory Compliance Investigations.
What is the purpose of the Head of Private Office?
As the Head of Private Office, you will report to the Assistant Director of Corporate Governance. You will be responsible for leading the Private Office functions for the Chief Executive and the MCA’s Parliamentary and Ministerial business.
You will work closely with the Chief Executive, Executive Director of Corporate Services and Assistant Director of Corporate Governance on matters for Ministerial or Parliamentary attention, ensuring any briefings, submissions and correspondence from the MCA meet required standards and are of a good quality.
You will establish and maintain a high standard of support to the Chief Executive, assisting them on many important aspects of their work and assisting with relaying their priorities across the Agency. This includes overseeing their secretarial support.
You will establish and maintain a high standard of support to the Chair and Non Executive Directors, assisting them on many important aspects of their role including supporting the key governance meetings.
Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:
* Provide effective and inspiring leadership to your functional areas within MCA. Fostering a high performing culture based on excellence and continuous improvement through effective performance management, communication, colleague engagement and the development of staff.
* Lead the Private Office team to ensure it operates efficiently, by overseeing and improving processes to prioritise the day-to-day work of the team, including flow of papers, day packs, management of diaries, travel bookings, meetings and wider business activities.
* As a visible and professional ambassador for the Agency, ensure that the Private Office functions as the first point of contact for external senior level engagement with the MCA, including with ministerial private offices and senior industry leaders.
* Lead the Agency’s work on Parliamentary business, including managing responses to Parliamentary Questions and MPs' correspondence, the preparations of Ministerial briefings for Ministerial meetings and Parliamentary events
* Collaborate with senior leaders across the MCA as necessary to ensure that all papers, briefings, submissions and other correspondence for the Chief Executive, executive meetings or Ministers meet content and quality standards.
For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile.
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