Contract Lead - Hydrography

We are seeking a motivated Contract Lead to join our ambitious and supportive team. Reporting directly to the Head of Hydrography and Meteorology, you will provide programme and contract management to successfully deliver the multi-million-pound UK Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP) and other survey initiatives. As a key player in the largest commissioner of sea-bed mapping in the UK, you will work with cutting-edge technology to explore and map previously uncharted areas.
In addition, this role will include financial management and budgetary responsibilities, and you will be required to oversee the financial payment milestones for CHP contracts and co-ordinate the reporting for the UK Technical Services Navigation (UKTSN) department’s finances.
The role will also involve participating in the tender evaluation panel and ensuring contract management documents are updated and compliant with procurement requirements and legislation. You will be required to measure and report on delivery metrics, contractor performance, contract assurance and ensuring governance compliance. You will also be required to support contract awards and renewals.
You will line manage the Hydrography Programme Coordinator and be expected to liaise and work closely with a variety of stakeholders (including Contractors, Project Managers, international customers and survey teams) on matters such as survey operation schedules and progress, and the monitoring of CHP deliverables and key performance indicators, and contractor performance management.
There may be a requirement for travel on official duty within the UK (which may require overnight stays away from home) and there is potential for overseas visits. We will therefore require the successful candidate to have a valid passport for travel.
Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:
+ Managing the long-term UK CHP contracts covering all hydrographic operations, maintaining oversight of spend, progress against milestones and deliverables, in accordance with the UK CHP Survey Specification and the contract terms and conditions.
+ Liaising with the MCA Contracts and Procurement team in the management and implementation of the procurement process for the CHP and other ad hoc purchases.
+ Acting as Key Account Manager for CHP contractors, and Deputy Key Account Manager for agreements MCA holds with the UK Hydrographic Office, British Geological Survey, Channel Coastal Observatory, Cefas, and others as appropriate.
+ Ensuring all financial returns for the Hydrography and Meteorology team and UKTSN are completed accurately and on time including the month-end accruals and pre-payments, cash forecast, budget and resource profiling.
For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile., 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.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Working Together
+ Seeing the Big Picture, 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:
+ Contract and Programme Management
+ Budget and Financial Management
+ Stakeholder management and engagement
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 from 27th November 2024
Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from 10th December 2024
This interview will be conducted 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.
You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
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., 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 applicant’s 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.
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).
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Do you have experience in contract and programme management?
Can you excel and build strong relationships with contractors and stakeholders?
Do you possess strong skills in budget and financial management?, This role requires an individual with a background in programme and contract management. You will also have knowledge and experience of budget and financial management, and we will train you to collate and report information in line with our standards and policies.
Although this role is in the Hydrography and Meteorology team, a hydrographic background or experience in this field is not required. This is an opportunity to learn about this industry while utilising your contract management and financial skills.
You will be able to build rapport with a variety of stakeholders both internally and externally and will possess strong communication skills. You will be confident in expressing yourself to a variety of audiences delivering messages and information in a professional and concise manner.
You will also be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (particularly Word and Excel).

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 role will internally be referred to as the Hydrography Contract Lead.

Alongside your salary of £40,808, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £11,822 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.