Southampton
Job Summary
Are you a pro-active, creative and engaging person?
Do you have experience working in a Learning and Development environment?
Are you someone who enjoys working collaboratively with different business areas?
If so, we would love to hear from you.
In this position there is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the development and continual enhancement of services offered to all Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) staff. This is a varied role, where no two days are the same.
The 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, Veterans Network and volunteer Respect Ambassadors.
Job Description
The Learning and Development team are responsible for designing and delivering talent, learning and development interventions, equipping MCA employees with the knowledge, skills, behaviours and expertise to ensure the organisation achieves its ambitious aims.
Reporting to the Learning and Development Manager, the Learning and Development Specialist will be responsible for a variety of workstreams associated with management development, learning and development, and driving cultural change in the Agency.
The role involves designing learning materials and delivering training, creating learning and development programmes as well as methods for training needs analysis, tools for supporting talent, and supporting the varied professions across the MCA in achieving their learning pathways. This role is a focal point for coaching and mentoring in the MCA.
We are a dedicated small team of motivated, trustworthy, supportive individuals, who enjoy what we do and are proud of how we do it.
Responsibilities
Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:
* Designing and delivering bespoke development programmes across the organisation to meet evolving business needs
* Evaluating the success of learning programmes and initiatives to ensure effectiveness
* Conducting quantitative and qualitative research to develop a deep understanding of our customers, ensuring that decision-making and strategies are informed by robust evidence and actionable insights
* Collaborating with leaders and managers across the organisation to design strategies that identify and maximise the potential of development at every grade
For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile.
The Learning and Development team are responsible for designing and delivering talent, learning and development interventions, equipping MCA employees with the knowledge, skills, behaviours and expertise to ensure the organisation achieves its ambitious aims.
Reporting to the Learning and Development Manager, the Learning and Development Specialist will be responsible for a variety of workstreams associated with management development, learning and development, and driving cultural change in the Agency.
The role involves designing learning materials and delivering training, creating learning and development programmes as well as methods for training needs analysis, tools for supporting talent, and supporting the varied professions across the MCA in achieving their learning pathways. This role is a focal point for coaching and mentoring in the MCA.
We are a dedicated small team of motivated, trustworthy, supportive individuals, who enjoy what we do and are proud of how we do it.
Your Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To
* Designing and delivering bespoke development programmes across the organisation to meet evolving business needs
* Evaluating the success of learning programmes and initiatives to ensure effectiveness
* Conducting quantitative and qualitative research to develop a deep understanding of our customers, ensuring that decision-making and strategies are informed by robust evidence and actionable insights
* Collaborating with leaders and managers across the organisation to design strategies that identify and maximise the potential of development at every grade
For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile.
Person specification
* Ability to work autonomously, with the confidence to make independent decisions
* Ability to understand and interpret organisational strategy and longer-term goals into programs of work
* Ability to diagnose capability gaps and identify learning interventions
* Good stakeholder management skills, accustomed to tailoring your approach to different individuals and an ability to deliver a customer centric service
* Highly developed skills in the management of time, setting priorities and planning, to achieve outcomes
* Passion for developing skills, a positive ‘can do’ attitude, and you will want to make a difference in your role and be willing and able to take the initiative
* Excellent communication skills are pivotal to this role, along with the ability to tailor your methods to suit your audience
Additional Information
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.
The post requires occasional travel within the UK for training delivery and to liaise with both internal & external partners and stakeholders.
Please take note that the MCA are currently unable to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis to cover maternity leave.
For permanent Civil Servants, this role is only available on loan, so you must have your home departments approval to return to them at the end of the loan before you apply. There is no opportunity for a permanent Civil Servant to take on this role as a fixed term appointment. OGD applicants will be appointed on an inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan. Internal candidates will return to their previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance.
If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Developing Self and Others
* Communicating and Influencing
* Managing a Quality Service
* Working Together
* Seeing the Big Picture
Alongside your salary of £34,233, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £9,917 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.
Click here to get a copy of the MCA Staff Benefits Brochure
Find out what it's like to work at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
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 1000 word Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
When considering your experience, please tailor your CV and personal statement to provide evidence of the following:
* Demonstrable experience in a learning and development role in a complex organisation
* Experience of mentoring or coaching and developing individuals and teams
* Experience of designing, developing, delivering and facilitating training to professional adults in a workshop setting
* Customer and stakeholder management, building relationships and working with customers and colleagues at different levels to support the delivery of business objectives
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 on Tuesday 10th June 2025.
Interviews are likely to be held on Tuesday 24th June 2025.
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
* 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.
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 dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 DRGComms@dft.gov.uk 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
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 and Experience.
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 : Joanna Loyd
* Email : joanna.loyd@mcga.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : DFTRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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 #J-18808-Ljbffr