Maritime Strategy and Arm's Length Body Sponsorship

Transport plays a crucial role in connecting people across the country and is vital to our prosperity and quality of life. Transport is central to the UK's growth agenda and ensuring that our transport network is secure and resilient is fundamental to the functioning of our economy and the wellbeing of our citizens and how we go about everyday life. The UK maritime sector is at the heart of the government's plans for economic growth and the UK's position as a global trading nation. This is an opportunity to help lead a vitally important and hugely successful sector through a period of significant change. We are rightly proud of the UK's position as a global maritime leader and the Department's expertise and influence on maritime matters around the world. The UK remains the world's most important maritime centre, servicing the majority of the world's shipping on which the global economy depends. The UK is dependent on maritime trade to move much of the food, energy, goods and commodities on which we depend, moving 95% of everything that enters or leaves the United Kingdom. UK ports are also the crucial link in our export chain. As Deputy Director for Maritime Strategy and Arm's Length Body (ALB) Sponsorship you will drive delivery of maritime strategy priorities and ensure effective sponsorship of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and The General Lighthouse Authorities. This is a great high-profile role, and you will need to provide influential thought leadership to the sector, building trust and working closely with Ministers, across government, arm's length bodies and industry partners. You will be responsible for Maritime Strategy and sponsorship, this includes responsibility for a team covering strategy and governance (including oversight of the Maritime Council), sponsorship of maritime Arms Length Bodies (including sponsorship of the maritime and coastguard agency), Ministerial support (briefings, correspondence, and visits) and the Programme Management Office. You will set the direction for how Maritime will deliver its priorities and objectives, ensuring that outputs are delivered to time and to budget. This will include overall oversight of any forthcoming Spending Review bids - including coordination across government as required. This role requires exemplary leadership with a broad and deep policy, strategy, governance, and corporate delivery remit. You will lead relations with the MCA to provide governance and support them in delivering their priorities, work collaboratively and innovatively with a range of stakeholders including ports, shipping operators, investors, local and devolved administrations, business groups, regulators and the rest of the maritime sector to design policy The roles will involve working in close partnership across DfT, the maritime and coastguard agency, the general lighthouse authorities and HMT. You will also work closely with the Secretary of State and Maritime Minister, their Private Offices and Special Advisers. You will also be a key part of the Maritime senior management team, taking a key role in ensuring the leadership of the Directorate functions effectively. This is an interesting and wide-ranging role where you can make a real-world impact and improve the global maritime sector. You will need to be confident engaging and supporting senior Ministers and officials in testing and fast-moving circumstances. The post requires regular travel both in the UK and occasionally overseas as part of engagement with the maritime sector, executive agencies, Arms Length Bodies, and other government departments. Responsibilities of the role include:

• Leadership of multi-disciplinary teams, setting direction and providing strategic oversight
• Oversight of strategic direction across the Directorate including delivery of Ministerial priorities on maritime and for the sector>
• Sponsoring the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the General Lighthouse Authorities
• Delivering London International Shipping Week, a biennial global event showcasing the UK maritime sector to a domestic and international audience
• Supporting the development of the maritime cluster development fund/maritime clusters across the UK structure through effective working with industry representative bodies>.
• Delivering the Merchant Navy Medal, a state honour delegated to DfT
• Oversight of business planning and programme management of the Directorate - including setting and monitoring progress against Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and finance targets