Staff Officer

About the job

Job summary

Are youa problem solver who is enthusiastic in finding creative solutions?

Do you enjoy building relationships and working with a diverse range of stakeholders?

Would you like to use your skills in IT to improve the way operational systems are used to safeguard lives?

If so, we are looking for a Staff Officer Technical Services (Coastal Operations) to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and we'd love to hear from you! 

His Majesty’s Coastguard (HM Coastguard, HMCG) is the operational arm of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency with responsibility for 6 key missions - Search and Rescue, Pollution Response, Vessel Traffic Management, Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Emergency and Disaster management.

The successful applicant will join our close knit and supportive team to contribute to improving safety at sea. We will look to you to provide technical and professional recommendations, guidance and advice on the most effective use of the Coastguard technical systems to senior management and other stakeholders and lead on the development of user requirements for future coastguard systems. You will monitor and implement coherent and consistent national procedures, processes, strategies and policies through expert contribution and ensure HM Coastguard's adherence to and compliance with agreed national and international operational legislation, regulations, procedures, processes, rules and guidelines.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including: 

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance. 

Job description

Your responsibilities would include, but aren’t limited to: 

• Supervise and monitor the operational use of current and future Coastguard technical systems in order to ensure high quality delivery.
• Apply specialist knowledge and provide expert advice in support of the execution of the Coastguard missions and assist MCA Technical Services and other MCA branches as and when.
• Act as senior user and business change manager during implementation of Coastguard technical systems functional system projects, chair and lead systems working groups to develop user requirements and develop, manage, and implement user acceptance testing for these systems.
• Maintain a detailed operational understanding of international and national resolutions, directives, legislation to ensure the UK meets its obligation.
• Represent the UK as a subject matter expert in working groups and in support at high level meetings with UK, European and international partners, authorities, stakeholders, and organisations to ensure that UK interests are properly represented and protected.
• Maintaining a high level of operational currency in the delivery of the key Coastguard missions to enable the provision of detailed advice, guidance and support to users and managers.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process. 

Person specification

We are looking for a proactive and adaptable individual with strong communication skills, capable of translating technical information into clear, non-technical language. In this role, you will engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, ensuring their needs are met while providing tailored support. As this is a tech-focused role, you will play a key part in simplifying processes for volunteers, helping them find practical solutions to support their life-saving work.

You will be responsible for identifying trends and resolving issues efficiently, working across multiple workstreams and portfolios. Building strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders is essential, ensuring that products and solutions deliver the best possible value for both users and the organisation.

This role requires someone who can work autonomously, using their initiative to deliver multiple high-priority projects at pace. You thrive in a fast-moving environment and are passionate about problem-solving.

• Demonstrable experience in HMCG or an organisation dealing with emergency response.• Applicants with less experience would be considered based on evidence of competence relating to job specific knowledge and skills.• An understanding of the operational systems in use by HM Coastguard or similar emergency response environment.• The role holder will be required to pass a medical for this role.

Additional Information

This role will be based from one of our advertised locations. 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.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 37 hours per week. We can accommodate part time applications via job share.

The role requires occasional domestic and international travel to attend meetings and working groups which will involve some time away from home and the regular workplace.

Please note that we will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. Therefore, this role is not open to applications from those who require sponsorship – candidates must ensure they have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. 

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,848, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £12,413 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. 

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits: 

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here

• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).

• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.

• Access to the staff discount portal. 

• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc. 

• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues. 

• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff. 

• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance. 

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).