Hydrography Programme Lead

About the job

Do you have experience in Project and Contract Management?

Are you a confident communicator, with the ability to develop and strengthen excellent relationships with contractors and stakeholders?

Are you experienced in budget management?

If so, we are looking for a Hydrography Programme 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 welcome applications from all communities, and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.  

Job description

Within the UK Maritime Services Directorate, the UK Technical Services Navigation (UKTSN) branch delivers the UK implementation of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention: to minimise risk to mariners, their ships and marine environment by facilitating safe and efficient navigation.

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to join an ambitious and supportive team as the Programme Lead for Hydrography. Reporting directly to the Head of Hydrography and Meteorology (Hydro&Met). The role holder will provide programme and contract management in order to successfully deliver the multi-million pound a year UK Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP) and other survey and collaborative initiatives, including any externally funded projects, undertaken by the Hydro and Met Team.

As part of the largest commissioner of sea-bed mapping within the UK, the successful applicant will have the fantastic opportunity to work in an area utilising the latest cutting-edge technology and equipment to explore and map areas that may never have been surveyed before.

Our programme is highly regarded as a global leader in seabed mapping, and we receive requests from other countries for advice on the design and structure of a national-scale survey programme, as well as sharing expertise and data with the UK government and industry.

Providing support and line management for the Hydrography and Meteorology Programmes Coordinator, the role will include liaising with a variety of stakeholders, including Contractors, Project Managers and Survey Teams on matters such as survey operation schedules and progress, and the monitoring of CHP deliverables and key performance indicators, and contractor performance management. The role will also involve participating in the tender evaluation panel and ensuring contract management documents are updated and compliant with procurement requirements and legislation. You will report to Procurement and the Cabinet Office, keeping them informed of delivery metrics, contractor performance, contract assurance and ensuring governance compliance.

You will also oversee the financial payment milestones for the CHP contracts and co-ordinate the reporting for the UK Technical Services Navigation (UKTSN) department’s finances.

This a very interesting and varied role which includes a requirement for travel on official duty within the UK and overseas, potentially involving overnight stays away from home. A full UK driving licence is required.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Managing the long-term CHP contracts covering all hydrographic operations, maintaining oversight of spend, progress against milestones and deliverables, in accordance with the CHP specification and the contract terms and conditions. Liaising with the MCA Contracts and Procurement team in the management and implementation of the procurement process for the CHP and other ad hoc purchases. Providing programme and contract assurance for DfT/Cabinet Office as required by ensuring that the appropriate assurance and governance processes and procedures are in place, in line with Government Commercial Function Guidance. Acting as Key Account Manager for CHP contractors, and Deputy Key Account Manager for agreements MCA holds with the UK Hydrographic Office, British Geological Survey, Channel Coastal Observatory, Cefas, and others as appropriate. Ensuring all financial returns for the Hydro and Met team and UKTSN are completed accurately and on time including the month-end accruals and pre-payments, cash forecast, budget and resource profiling.