Business Manager

Job summary

Do you have experience in building and motivating teams?

Are you able to provide data and analytical insights to help inform business decisions?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are seeking a Business Manager within UK Technical Maritime Services Directorate (UKTMS). UKTMS inspects and surveys ships to ensure compliance with UK and international safety, security and environmental standards. It also certifies ships and seafarers, registers vessels on the UK Flag, and, with Coastguard teams, responds to marine pollution incidents. Survey & Inspection (S&I) part of UKTMS, supports the Government’s strategy for “Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas” by carrying out consistent survey and inspection operations across two Divisions. Marine and Satellite Offices provide frontline services, supported by a National Business Unit managing financial transactions and reporting.

Our mission statement, that UKTMS embodies is; Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas.

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

As Business Manager, you’ll be responsible for the smooth running of the Marine Office (MO) managing surveyor workloads, driving consistent Business Support, and ensuring alignment with national S&I priorities. You’ll work closely with the Technical Manager (TM), S&I Business Partners and National Business Unit, whilst line managing Business Support staff to deliver high performance and promote continuous development. You’ll also oversee all surveyor timesheet and expense activity for your MO, ensuring accurate approvals, reconciliation and financial compliance that keep our operations running efficiently.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

1. The post-holder is responsible and accountable for leading on business related S&I matters within the Marine Office to assist the Divisional Area in fully contributing to achieving its annual target activities and ‘Big Picture’ objectives.
2. Leading and mentoring the Business Support team within the Marine Office on business related administrative matters, and line managing the Business Support Manager within the Marine Office to ensure completion of PMR’s; identifying training/development needs; and setting challenging, and relevant objectives aligned to the MCA Big Picture and to the annual activities that the Marine Office and Divisional Area must achieve.
3. Contributing to the management of the Marine Office Network by playing a full role in the National Management Group; co-chairing Marine Office Management meetings with the TM; working with the TM to lead on business support and management initiatives to steer cultural change within the Marine Office in order to implement the Agency’s operational and transformational business objectives.
4. Providing advice to industry and the public in accordance with MCA policies, including being a point of contact for business related communications; contributing to the management, provision, and delivery of a first-class S&I service by the Marine Office to both customers and stakeholders of the Agency’s maritime services; leading the Marine Office Business Support team to provide a high quality customer service experience that both meets and manages customer expectations; contributing in the delivery of a regulatory climate that is clear, consistent and supportive of the UK maritime industries.
5. Producing a Monthly Report for the Deputy Director which includes management information on volume of surveys booked with comparative year on year modelling; financial forecasting; surveyor utilization rates and progress against MO/National targets; forward look/risk modelling; stakeholder complaints/resolutions; and concerns arising, with suggestions for remedial action.
6. Planning, allocating and managing surveyor resource and workloads within the Marine Office (i.e., Surveyor working patterns, job allocations, agreement of Annual Leave/TOIL) to ensure that MO annual S&I business commitments are met; Liaising with BM colleagues across the national Network to ensure that Business Support activities are performed and monitored consistently across all Marine Offices.
7. Co-ordinating Port State Control (PSC) activity within the Marine Office to support the UK in meeting its’ obligations under the Paris MOU Agreement in the inspection of foreign registered ships calling at UK Ports.
8. Managing MO Recruitment activity (for both surveyors & support staff).

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Excellent level of numeracy and literacy (in English) for the post.
• Knowledge of resource planning, performance management and development.
• Experience of financial management and control, including interpretation of trends and developments to facilitate development of future business strategies.
• Well-developed inter-personal, oral and written communications including the ability to influence and persuade effectively.
• Evidence of management and leadership skills including the ability to build and motivate teams especially during periods of change.
• Good organisational and time management skills, ability to prioritise work and allocate resources effectively.
• An understanding of media queries and the ability to handle criticism and complaints.
• Analytical skills coupled with the ability to solve problems and make decisions, sometimes under time constraints.
• Understanding the concepts of change management.
• Computer literate and familiar in the use of Microsoft Office IT software.
• General understanding of shipping & fishing industry.
• An understanding of how government operates.
• Understanding of HR issues including the application and impact of employment law.

Additional Information

Please note – A full UK Driving License is required for this role.

This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis, for 24 months, to complete a finite piece of work, however this may be extended or made permanent.

Permanent Civil Servants will be appointed on an inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan. You must have your home departments approval to return to them at the end of the loan before you apply. 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 your home department cannot agree to release you on loan, there is the opportunity for you to move across to the department on a fixed term appointment. In this instance the Department for Transport would become your home department and if there is no role available for you at the end of this appointment, you would be subject to the redeployment and redundancy process.

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.

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkR_okX2T1U

Working hours, office attendance and travel rqeuirements

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 32 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.

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.

Regular travel to other offices 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.

Licences

Full UK Driving License

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £12,816 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).

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

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: Interview

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:
• Evidence of management and leadership skills including the ability to build and motivate teams especially during periods of change.
• Analytical skills coupled with the ability to solve problems and make decisions, sometimes under time constraints.
• Knowledge of resource planning, performance management and development.

The sift will take place week commencing 23/02/2026

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – Making Effective Decisions, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture
• Strengths

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Behaviour Seeing the Big Picture. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place week commencing 9th March for applicants applying to Hull.

The Interviews for Liverpool will take place week commencing 16th March.

The Interviews for Belfast will take place commencing week commencing 30th March.

This interview will be conducted in person at our our Hull, Liverpool and Belfast office depending on the location you apply for. The addresses for each location are as follows: Belfast - Bregenz House, Quay Street, Bangor, Co Down, BT20 5ED. Hull - Crosskill House, Mill Lane, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU17 9JB. Liverpool - HM Coastguard, Hall Road West, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 8SY.

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.

During your application, you should indicate which location(s) you wish to be considered for and, if successful, you will be placed on an individual list of candidates for each location. Candidates will be held on that list and drawn from it in merit order. We advise you to carefully consider which locations you wish to be considered for. If you decline an offer for a location you have expressed a preference in or have expressed an interest in more than one location and accept an offer, you will be withdrawn from any lists you may be held on. We may also offer candidates a location that they have not expressed a preference for where we have the requirement to do so but this will again be done on the basis of your place in the overall merit order and, in this event, you will not be removed from the list if you decline.

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 theHow 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.

All External applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:

Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour

Threats or acts of violence

Illegal activity or substance misuse

Sexually explicit material

Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public.

Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle—it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture.

If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

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) (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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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 : Lesley Copeland
• Email : Lesley.Copeland@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

Attachments

Role Profile - Business Manager MCA Opens in new window (docx, 68kB)