Southampton
Job Summary
Can you lead the development and implementation of an Environmental Management System that meets ISO 14001 standards?
Do you have experience influencing and engaging stakeholders across different levels to drive sustainability initiatives?
Have you delivered carbon reduction projects that included feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis, and post-completion audits
If so, we'd love to hear from you
The Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability (HSES) Team sits within the Corporate Services Directorate of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), based at Southampton. This specialist team provides strategic advice, guidance, and oversight across all aspects of environmental, and sustainability management, health and safety. They play a key role in ensuring the Agency's systems are compliant, effective, and continuously improving. The team engages with stakeholders across the organisation and represents HSES matters at senior management levels. Although the Environmental and Sustainability Lead role has no direct reports, it operates with significant influence driving initiatives, shaping policy, and leading cross-functional working groups to deliver on government commitments such as Net Zero and the Greening Government agenda. It's a dynamic and high-impact environment focused on meaningful change.
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.
Read more in the Benefits section below
Find out more about what it's like working at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers
Job Description
The Environmental and Sustainability Lead develops and manages the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Environmental Management System, driving compliance with legislation and delivering carbon reduction initiatives. Acting as the Agency's subject matter expert, the role leads strategy, reporting, and stakeholder engagement to meet Net Zero and Greening Government targets. It combines technical leadership with strategic influence, shaping sustainable practices across the organisation and representing the MCA in government-wide environmental matters
Your Responsibilities Will Include, But Aren't Limited To:
* Develop and lead the MCA's Sustainability Strategy to meet Net Zero and Greening Government targets.
* Act as the Agency's subject matter expert on environmental management and sustainability.
* Design, implement, and maintain the Environmental Management System (EMS) for continuous improvement.
* When ready, drive ISO 14001 accreditation for the Agency's EMS.
* Identify, assess, and oversee carbon reduction projects, including feasibility and cost-benefit analysis.
* Report on sustainability performance for Annual Accounts and government commitments.
* Liaise with the Department for Transport and other bodies on sustainability matters.
* Manage utility contracts and energy audits to support sustainable procurement and monitoring.
The Environmental and Sustainability Lead develops and manages the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Environmental Management System, driving compliance with legislation and delivering carbon reduction initiatives. Acting as the Agency's subject matter expert, the role leads strategy, reporting, and stakeholder engagement to meet Net Zero and Greening Government targets. It combines technical leadership with strategic influence, shaping sustainable practices across the organisation and representing the MCA in government-wide environmental matters
Your Responsibilities Will Include, But Aren't Limited To:
* Develop and lead the MCA's Sustainability Strategy to meet Net Zero and Greening Government targets.
* Act as the Agency's subject matter expert on environmental management and sustainability.
* Design, implement, and maintain the Environmental Management System (EMS) for continuous improvement.
* When ready, drive ISO 14001 accreditation for the Agency's EMS.
* Identify, assess, and oversee carbon reduction projects, including feasibility and cost-benefit analysis.
* Report on sustainability performance for Annual Accounts and government commitments.
* Liaise with the Department for Transport and other bodies on sustainability matters.
* Manage utility contracts and energy audits to support sustainable procurement and monitoring.
Person specification
Required Experience:
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
* Experience and knowledge of ISO14001 and ISO50001
* Knowledge and skills in developing and establishing an Environmental and Sustainability Management System.
* Hold or Working towards a relevant professional qualification in Sustainability/Carbon Management/Environmental Sciences and Member of an appropriate professional body such as ISEP (Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals)
* Skilled in influencing and engaging a variety of internal and external stakeholders at different levels within an organisation.
*Working Hours, Office Attendance And Travel Requirements*
Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Whilst we can accommodate part time working via a job share, the role will be 37 hours per week.
Hybrid working available
This role
is suitable
for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.
The expectation at present is a minimum of
60%
of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.
Occasional travel to other offices and facilities will be required, which may involve overnight stays.
If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).
Visa Sponsorship
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.
Security Checks
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Changing and Improving
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Developing Self and Others
* Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Technical 1 Competent environmental and sustainability (practitioner)
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:
* 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 MCA (opens in a new window).
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
*How To Apply:*
Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's skills, and potential fit within our organisation.
The Selection Process For This Role Will Be:
Stage 1: Sift of CV and Personal Statement
Stage 2: 1st Interview (Online: Microsoft Teams)
Stage 3: 2nd Interview and Presentation (In person)
You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Stage 1: Sift
At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
* Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (750 word count). Please provide evidence of your experience of the following:
* Experience and knowledge of ISO14001 and ISO50001
* Knowledge and experience in developing and establishing an Environmental and Sustainability Management System.
* Experience in influencing and engaging a variety of internal and external stakeholders at different levels within an organisation.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element experience - Knowledge and experience in developing and establishing an Environmental and Sustainability Management System. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Please note: the sift will be completed on a rolling basis whilst the campaign is still live, so you may receive your sift scores before the advert closing date.
The sift will take place week commencing 14/10/2025
Stage 2:
Interview (Microsoft Teams)
* At this stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
* Experience and knowledge in delivering and establishing an environmental and sustainability management system.
* Communicating and Influencing
The Microsoft Teams interviews will take place week commencing 20/10/2025
This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
Stage 3:
Interview and Presentation (In person)
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
* Behaviours:
Changing and Improving
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service
* Technical:
Competent environmental and sustainability (practitioner).
You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing and Managing a Quality Service and Technical - Competent environmental and sustainability (practitioner). Link: IOSH Competency framework Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.
The interviews will take place week commencing 3/11/2025
This interview will be conducted in person at our Southampton office (Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1EG). Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).
Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.
Further information on the selection process
Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Adverts with a reserve list
We will also hold a
12
month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.
AI Tools and Platforms
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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.
Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
Pre-employment Checking
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.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
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.
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).
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).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
* Name : Jo Hackwell
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email:
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here