Network Commander

Fareham, Hampshire
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Job summary

We welcome applications from all communities and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.

Are you an exceptional leader with experience in command and control in an operational response environment?

Can you build lasting relationships, influencing and directing stakeholders across all levels

Do you thrive in a busy and varied environment where no two days are the same?

If so, 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.

Job description

HM Coastguard (HMCG) is the operational arm of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency with responsibility for 6 key functions: Search and Rescue, Pollution Response, Vessel Traffic Management, Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Emergency and Disaster Management.

There are three delivery disciplines within HM Coastguard: Maritime and Aeronautical Operations, which coordinate activities from an operations room environment, and; Coastal Operations, which manages resources and service provision on the coast.

Based in our office in Fareham we have a fantastic opportunity for 2 Network Commanders to join our dynamic team as part of Maritime Operations. You will be providing tactical leadership and operational oversight of the HMCG National Network across the UK.

Reporting to the HMCG National Network Operations Manager, the successful applicants will provide guidance and direction to operational teams and dynamically manage a network of rescue coordination centres, ensuring that the most appropriate staffing resources are assigned to coordinate the best response to incidents across the United Kingdom’s search and rescue region.

The Network Commanders will maintain network oversight of staff activity, resources, resilience and technical capability, and plan and instigate business continuity arrangements as and when required, effectively and confidently leading and directing Coastguard operational teams.

Collaboration is key in this role and you will build strong working relationships across HMCG with maritime, aviation, coastal and counter pollution colleagues and other category 1 emergency services.

This is a rewarding role in a very unique operational environment where every day brings a new exciting challenge with national responsibility. You will be constantly learning and developing, attending training to enhance your maritime technical knowledge to assist in making dynamic decisions around the safety of lives and seas.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Acting as the senior Coastguard officer (Maritime) on duty within the National Network, responsible for maintaining the link to on-call Strategic Commanders and other senior officers, including the preparation and presentation of relevant briefs as required.
• Continuously monitoring operational workload, performance and staff welfare across the network, anticipating and providing support to teams by dynamic network flexing and the assigning of remote operational specialists (Search Mission Co-ordinator (SMC), search planning, comms operator, etc.)
• Providing sound leadership, tactical direction and guidance to operational teams, including medium-and longer-term tactical planning and the coordination of resources and functions based on dynamic risk analysis, and identifying, reporting and responding to tactical and strategic organisational risks.
• Ensuring oversight of the HMCG National Network infrastructure, identifying and reporting technical hardware and software issues, undertaking impact assessments, instigating impact mitigations, and providing operational expertise to ICT helpdesk/engineers.
• Maintaining knowledge and currency of HMCG operational business continuity (BC) and disaster recovery (DR) plans, and coordinating the Network response during any planned or unplanned network disruption, including the implementation of appropriate BC/DR plan(s).
• Undertaking the role of HMCG Tactical or Silver Commander when required during national SAR and other maritime-related incidents, and when delegated or necessary, undertaking the role of HMCG Strategic or Gold Commander.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

The roles are permanent, with the role holders required to work shifts 24/7 within an overall national staffing system including weekends and public holidays.

‘The role holders may also periodically rotate out of the watch rota in order to fulfil the requirements as an assessor or investigator, undertake training or meetings, or conduct project work.

Additional to the listed salary, this role attracts an allowance of up to 5250 per annum (2000 shift working, 2250 night working, 1000 weekends and public holiday working).

There may be a requirement for occasional travel to attend formal training events and this may require spending time away from home and the normal workplace.

Periodic travel to the HMCG Business Continuity Suite in Southampton may be required to exercise or conduct business continuity or disaster response.

‘Successful candidates will be expected to undertake a medical. This will be in line with that required for a Maritime Operations Controller, detailed within the attached document.

Person specification

You will come to us with an excellent knowledge of command and control at a tactical level in an operational response environment. As a critical thinker you can make multiple decisions across a matrix of matters whilst remaining calm under pressure.

You are a motivational leader who leads by example ensuring teams understand their role, responsibilities and business priorities. Your exceptional communication skills mean you’re able to gather intelligence from various sources and interpret it to clearly articulate succinct operational, tactical and strategic briefs.

Using your good judgement skills, you are able to asses complex and dynamic situations and make critical decisions confidently, based on sound will thrive managing a varied and challenging workload and your fantastic organisational skills mean you are able to balance and prioritise tasks. This role would suit somebody who enjoys collaborating with others and building up strong working relationships in a career where you can develop your skillset and make a real difference for end users.

You will have a Maritime Operations Officer Qualification or a willingness to work towards one, once in post.

About Operational Delivery Profession (ODP)

Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) is the largest and most diverse professional community across the Civil Service. Many of us will have an association with several professional communities or specialisms, ODP applies to all public facing roles / or a role that is primarily aligned to supporting the work of those with public facing roles. All critical to the delivery of UK public services.

Licences

A full driving licence valid for driving in the UK is required.

Behaviours

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

• Developing Self and Others
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

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.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How to Apply

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.

Please provide a CV outlining your career history, and the key responsibilities you had in each of your roles.

Within your CV and personal statement please demonstrate your:

• Experience and knowledge of command, control and management of teams in a response environment.
• Experience of preparing and delivering intelligent and succinct operational, tactical and strategic briefs.
• Experience of communicating with a diverse range of stakeholders at all levels.

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 750 words.

Sift and Interview Dates

The sift is due to take place from 27th June 2023.

Interviews are due to take place week commencing 17th July 2023.

This interview will be conducted face to face at one of our offices. Further details 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 . click apply for full job details