Nautical Licensing Lead

This role is vital to ensure the MCA is able to fulfil its statutory obligations with regards to marine licensing, and offshore consenting in the UK.
This role will provide navigation and other nautical advice to each project consultation received, and will ensure MCA responses are robust, comprehensive and all potential impact on shipping and navigation are fully considered from a mariner’s perspective. This will help contribute to the effective management of the high volume of consultation applications received within the Marine Licensing and Consenting Team.
The role will apply a mariner’s navigational experience to lead the nautical assessment of applications for Offshore Renewable Energy Installations ((OREIs) including wind, wave and tidal), oil and gas installations and other marine licensable activities, including nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs).
This will be done through close working arrangements with the Nautical Manager, OREI Leads and Marine Licensing Leads, through direct consultation with offshore developers, the Marine Licensing administrators, the relevant consenting authority or through the Planning Inspectorate.
Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects -
+ To lead the nautical assessment of applications for Offshore Renewable Energy Installations ((OREIs) including wind, wave and tidal), oil and gas and other marine licensable activities including cables, pipelines, aquaculture, port developments, nuclear, low carbon hydrogen (carbon capture utilisation and storage), and other nationally significant infrastructure projects. These are received from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DES&NZ), The Planning Inspectorate, Marine Management Organisation, Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly or other relevant government agency for comment.
+ To lead the technical input for responses submitted during pre-application consultation, during the examination phase and after consent. This will include providing technical advice and guidance on Navigation Risk Assessments, zonal assessment, Collision Risk Assessments, Collision Risk Management and the discharge of licence conditions.
Applications and consultations from developers –
+ To lead the technical assessment of applications as above received from developers for MCA comment, both formally and informally at submission stage, to assist all applicants / developers in establishing the content of their Environmental Impact Assessment and supporting documentation including Navigational Risk Assessments.
Additional requirements –
+ To advise and offer drafting input to ad hoc briefing requests and specialist programmes of work on marine licensing and offshore consenting as required by MCA or DfT Shipping Policy and provide regular updates for the Head of Navigation on all applications received and status reports in good time. This includes assisting in the development of initiatives which help the navigation team contribute to the Big Picture.
+ To develop and maintain MCA policy, guidance, desk instructions and internal processes on the execution of the above objectives, to be used by MCA staff in the future.
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.
There may be a requirement for occasional travel on official duty within the UK and occasionally within EU as required. This may involve overnight stays. Notice will be given prior to travel.

Licences
A valid passport is required for this role., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace, + Working in a role responsible for navigational portfolio and passage planning (e.g. Second officer)
+ High level of numeracy, analysis and writing skills.
+ Understanding of OREIs (wind, wave and tide) and oil and gas installations, and their impact on shipping and safe navigation.
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 between 2nd - 4th December 2024.
Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 16th December 2024.
This interview will be conducted via 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.
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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Are you a focused individual with attention to detail?

Do you have nautical experience and are looking for an exciting new role?

Have you got a proactive approach to problem solving?, To be successful in this role, you will hold a valid MCA recognised STCW II/2 Chief mate or Master’s unlimited Certificate of Competency or
MCA recognised STCW II/1 Officer of the Watch Unlimited Certificate of Competency with a degree Qualification or above (Level 6 of the England, Wales and Northern Ireland register of Regulated Qualifications) - candidate would be expected to work towards a chartership qualification.
In addition, you will have experience in role where you have been responsible for navigational portfolio and passage planning (e.g. Second officer). A high level of numeracy, analysis and writing skills is a strength of yours and you have an understanding of OREIs (wind, wave and tide) and oil and gas installations, and their impact on shipping and safe navigation., To be successful in this role, you will hold a valid MCA recognised STCW II/2 Chief mate or Master’s unlimited Certificate of Competency or
MCA recognised STCW II/1 Officer of the Watch Unlimited Certificate of Competency with a degree Qualification or above (Level 6 of the England, Wales and Northern Ireland register of Regulated Qualifications) - candidate would be expected to work towards a chartership qualification.

If so, we are looking for a Nautical Licensing 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 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.

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. 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.