Maritime Safety and Designated Person Ashore Lead (x 1)

Job description

About the job

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Border Security Command works to disrupt and dismantle organised immigration crime, including organised criminal gangs. We reduce illicit goods and irregular migration and deliver detection and interception at the border. We safeguard people exploited through trafficking and smuggling and help build public confidence in the UK's border security.

The Maritime Safety and Designated Person Ashore (DPA) lead provides strategic leadership for maritime safety across Border Security Command Maritime. The post holder will shape and deliver the organisation's safety vision, supporting its ambition to be the UK's leading maritime law enforcement authority while protecting the safety and integrity of the UK's maritime borders.

The role supports the UK's only national law enforcement maritime capability. The work is high profile and offers a high degree of job satisfaction. This role will also see the transition to a new fleet over the next few years.

Job description

The successful candidate will be responsible for maritime safety governance, assurance and compliance frameworks that manage risk and improve operational performance. As a principal adviser to senior leaders and colleagues across Border Security Command, the post holder will lead cross-functional activity that embeds safety, quality and continuous improvement throughout operational delivery.

The post holder will ensure the safe, compliant and effective operation of government-owned vessels used for border enforcement, immigration control and maritime surveillance. They will provide strategic oversight of health and safety and environmental protection, ensure that maritime activity meets statutory obligations, and promote a proactive safety culture both ashore and at sea.

As the organisation's Designated Person Ashore, the post holder will fulfil the key role identified by the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. Although Border Security Command Maritime operates under a government exemption, it voluntarily applies the ISM framework in recognition of its importance to safe and effective operations at sea.

The post holder will oversee the Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS) in accordance with the ISM Code, UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency requirements, and Border Security Command operational standards. Acting as an independent link between vessel crews and shore-based management, they will monitor adherence to safety policies and operational procedures under national and international maritime regulations.

The successful candidate will be an experienced senior leader with detailed knowledge of maritime safety legislation, regulation and recognised good practice. They will combine sound professional judgement with strong operational leadership, stakeholder engagement and the ability to influence effectively at senior levels.

Key accountabilities include maintaining compliance with health and safety legislation, overseeing risk management arrangements, and upholding internal governance and assurance frameworks. The post holder will lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the ISM Code and act as the principal point of contact for maritime health and safety, staff education and regulatory compliance.

Key responsibilities (list is not exhaustive):

• Provide strategic leadership and maritime expertise as the main point of contact for vessel crews in relation to maritime safety, ensuring seamless communication on safety, compliance, and operational matters.
• Direct the ongoing development and implementation of the Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS) for all Border Security Command Maritime units.
• Monitor, evaluate and direct vessel operations to ensure full compliance with ISM Code, MCA regulations, and Border Security Command protocols.
• Lead Health and Safety initiatives, maintaining organisational alignment with UK legislation and Home Office policies.
• Direct and manage risk assessments, safety audits, and incident investigations, ensuring timely reporting and the implementation of improvements.
• Manage and direct operational support and resource planning within BSC Maritime and partner agencies.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with external regulators such as the MCA, MAIB, HSE, and port authorities to influence policy and ensure continued compliance and readiness.

Working Pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 3 days per week due to business requirements.

On Call

• There will be a requirement that the role holder will be expected to perform on-call duties.

Travel

• There will be an expectation of some travel with over night stays with this role.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience in a seagoing role or maritime enforcement environment
• Strong strategic leadership skills, with the ability to set direction, provide authoritative maritime safety advice and influence senior leaders.
• Detailed knowledge of maritime safety legislation, the ISM Code, MCA requirements, health and safety law, and recognised industry good practice.
• Proven ability to develop, implement and continuously improve Safety and Environmental Management Systems, governance arrangements and compliance frameworks.
• Excellent risk management and assurance skills, including leading risk assessments, safety audits, incident investigations and the delivery of corrective improvements.
• Highly effective communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with vessel crews, shore-based teams, partner agencies and external regulators.

Desirable Criteria

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates following interview.

• Experience of planning or coordinating multi-agency maritime emergency-response exercises, including the use of Incident Command System principles.
• Experience of producing maritime safety-performance reports and trend analysis for senior governance boards to support operational planning and resource decisions.

Licences

Due to the nature of the work, driving is a key requirement for this role. It is essential you hold a full valid UK manual/automatic driving licence at the time of application.

Your licence will be checked at interview stage and you must confirm you hold one when you apply.

Qualifications

It is essential that you hold the required qualification(s) for this role at the time of application. Evidence of your qualification(s) will be checked during the selection process. Candidates who do not hold the required qualification(s) or are unable to provide evidence, will be deemed ineligible and withdrawn from the recruitment process.

Must hold the following qualifications:

ISM Internal Auditor Qualification OR equivalent/higher recognised ISM auditing qualification
NEBOSH General Certificate or IOSH Managing Safely

Designated Person should have a minimum of formal education as follows:

1.Qualifications from a recognised higher education institution in management, engineering, physical science or a related subject.

or

2. Qualifications and seagoing experience as a certified ship officer pursuant to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended

or

3. Other formal education combined with not less than three years practical senior level experience in ship management operations

Must hold or willing to work towards the following qualifications:

Ship Security Officer Qualification

If invited to interview, you must provide valid qualification certificates. After booking your interview, the vacancy holder will email you to request copies. Failure to submit these in advance will result in withdrawal of your application.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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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.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application - by 23rd November 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift - commencing 26th November 2026

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and CV.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (Personal Statement). Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview - commencing 11th January 2027

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions. All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

The interview will take place online via MS Teams.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you've made a mistake on an initial application, please contact [email protected], including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location

You can select up to two. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviours and strengths have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Integrity Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, you will also be subject to an additional Integrity Check, as part of the pre-employment process, to determine your suitability to work for Border Force, Border Security Command or Immigration Enforcement. For further information on what this involves, please visit our website.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the "Assistance Required" section in the "Additional Requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.

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 : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.