Details
Reference number
409458
Salary
£67,313
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Grade 6
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
MCA - His Majesty's Coastguard
Type of role
Procurement and Contracts Management
Project Delivery
Senior leadership
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Southampton
About the job
Job summary
Can you lead complex, high-profile government projects that deliver real-world impact?
Would you thrive in a senior leadership role where your expertise shapes the future of UK maritime safety?
Are you ready to bring your project delivery skills to a nationally significant organisation like HM Coastguard?
If so, we'd love to hear from you
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 Operations and Aeronautical Operations, both of which coordinate activities from an operations room environment; and Coastal Operations, which manages resources and service provision on the coast.
The HM Coastguard Major Programmes Team is responsible for delivery of the HM Coastguard major programmes portfolio; delivering over £2Bn worth of programmes and projects which are of high value and complex in nature, including the GMPP Second Generation UK SAR Aviation (UKSAR2G) Programme. The team ensures delivery into service and contracts monitoring through life; ensuring that all projects and programmes deliver the intended outcomes and realise benefits.
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 a privilege day for the King's birthday
Read more in the Benefits section below
Find out more about what it's like working at MCA:
* MCA roles: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers
Job description
In this pivotal senior role, you'll report directly to the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for Major Programmes and will be responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of all major projects within the HM Coastguard portfolio. You'll provide the strategic governance and day-to-day management needed to ensure projects meet their intended outcomes and deliver real public value.
This is a high-profile opportunity that calls for deep expertise in complex project delivery, strong leadership, and a commitment to excellence. As the lead authority on project delivery within HM Coastguard, you'll champion best practices, mentor delivery teams, and shape the future of our major programmes.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:
* Support the SRO to drive delivery of all major programmes. Provide strategic and detailed oversight to ensure that objectives are clearly defined and achievable to approved time, cost, and performance.
* Working with the SRO, develop and agree the vision and measurable success criteria for major programmes. Engage with MCA Business Partners to develop the budget and generate metrics to track, monitor and control delivery within budget.
* Monitor and control project progress and performance as chair of all Programme Boards within the portfolio, providing the SRO with clear and effective report to enable realisation of benefits.
* Ensure solutions are designed and business cases and plans prepared, including development of the Strategic and Project Management cases for all Business Cases related to major programmes.
* Define the approach, accountabilities, work scope and targets for the team, setting appropriate and effective project controls and 'stop / go' decision points for all major programmes.
* Provide project delivery function support to Assistant Director Commercial for monitoring and managing supplier performance in the delivery of major programmes.
* Ensure appropriate standards, good practice and lessons learned are captured and applied. Engage on assurance activities and reviews, acting on recommendations to realise success.
* Manage risks and issues, escalating to the SRO where appropriate. Ensure effective change control mechanisms are in place. Agree and document all scope changes with the SRO and other stakeholders.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
* Demonstrable experience of senior Programme/Project Director ability within the context of major programme development and delivery, ideally at for £100 million programmes. Successful track record of delivering programme benefits and outcomes.
* Strong and effective senior and strategic leadership, with demonstrable experience of guiding teams to deliver successful major programme outcomes.
* Experience and proven ability in effectively managing senior stakeholders and decision-makers; within an organisation, externally across government and with industry partners.
Additional Information
The successful candidate must either hold or be willing to work towards the Government Project Delivery Accreditation once in role.
Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements
Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.
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.
information on how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see below for contact details).
The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your principal workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, visiting stakeholders and colleagues, or carrying out detached duty in another DfT or agency workplace. The chosen principal workplace will be the designated place of work and any remote or home working arrangement does not constitute a change to the designated place of work or contractual terms and conditions. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation. Applicants can request further information on how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see below for contact details).
Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.
Visa Sponsorship
Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates should ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Communicating and Influencing
* Managing a Quality Service
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £67,313, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £19,500 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 DfT and its agencies
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
How to apply:
Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, 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: Interview and presentation.
You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.
Stage 1: Sift
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
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:
* Demonstrable experience of senior Programme/Project Director ability within the context of major programme development and delivery, ideally at for £100 million programmes. Successful track record of delivering programme benefits and outcomes.
* Strong and effective senior and strategic leadership, with demonstrable experience of guiding teams to deliver successful major programme outcomes.
* Experience and proven ability in effectively managing senior stakeholders and decision-makers; within an organisation, externally across government and with industry partners.
The sift will take place week commencing 15/09/2025
Stage 2: Interview
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
* Behaviours – Leadership, Managing a Quality Service, Making Effective Decisions.
* Experience – Demonstrable experience of senior Programme/Project Director ability within the context of major programme development and delivery, ideally at for £100 million programmes. Successful track record of delivering programme benefits and outcomes.
* You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Behaviours Seeing the Picture and Communicating and Influencing. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.
The interviews will take place week commencing 19/09/2025.
This interview will be conducted in person at our Southampton office. 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 .
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
We may also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role. You can read more about our reserve lists here.
AI Tools and Platforms
During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) tools and platforms to support them in writing their Behaviours, CVs and Personal Statements. However, you must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview is truthful and factually accurate. Applications may be rejected if plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or concepts generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. You can read more here.
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.
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.
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.
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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Steve Bentley
* 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