Hydrographic Programmes Manager (x3) & Lead Offshore Survey Specialist (Client Rep) (x1)

The UK Hydrographic Office has a core cross-divisional Hydrographic Survey Capability.  Our remit in this space is evolving, and we are building our capability to support current and emerging requirements for hydrographic and bathymetric expertise at the UK Hydrographic Office.  To this end, we are recruiting 3 Hydrographic Programmes Managers and a Lead Offshore Survey Specialist (Client Rep) to augment our existing pool of experts.

These posts are a key component of UKHO’s efforts to ensure that hydrographic opportunities are exploited in support of UKHO strategic objectives including UKHO’s strategy relating to Primary Charting Authority (PCA) responsibilities.

These roles are pivotal to support UKHO’s broader partnering and engagement objectives as well as increased programme activity and capacity building activity relating to hydrography, hydrographic governance and policy implementation.  Increasing the capacity of the team will ensure it can maintain a high-quality service to the UKHO whilst also satisfying wider government programmes and assistance to our partners.

These roles will have differing responsibilities as they span both programme planning and survey delivery.  Applicants are invited to express an interest in a particular role, however the final allocation of roles to successful candidates will be based on “best fit” and business need.

Reference number: 163512

Salary: £42,507 You will be compensated for additional hours worked which are over your standard contracted hours of 37 hours per week

Grade: Senior Executive Officer

Contract type: Permanent

Business area: UKHO – Operations Production

Type of role: Environment and Sustainability Project Delivery Science

Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of posts: 4

We are looking for candidates who are accredited to HPAS Level 1 or Ø and/or will have successfully completed a Cat A hydrographic education or equivalent.

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate their depth and currency of hydrographic survey experience and will have passion for using seabed mapping to improve outcomes for people and the environment. An appreciation of the wider utility of updated bathymetry, particularly in the context of developing nations will also be key. They will also have demonstrable experience of managing operational delivery.

You will be able to work with a high degree of initiative and autonomy and have the drive to deliver the very best outcomes for the business and our customers, achieving results through effective collaboration and communication.

Hydrographic Programme Managers:

These posts are a key component of UKHO’s efforts to ensure that hydrographic opportunities are exploited in support of UKHO strategic objectives including UKHO’s strategy relating to Primary Charting Authority (PCA) responsibilities.

Reporting to the Head of Hydrographic Programmes (HHP), the post holder will have responsibility to identify, co-ordinate and manage hydrographic projects and programmes, provide consultancy and technical assistance as required by foreign governments, non-governmental organisations and commercial companies to maximise data acquisition for subsequent use in UKHO products and services.

The roles are pivotal to support UKHO’s broader partnering and engagement objectives as well as increased programme activity and capacity building activity relating to hydrography, hydrographic governance and policy implementation. They will also provide technical advice & training to overseas organisations.

Lead Offshore Survey Specialist:

Via functional tasking by the Survey Delivery Manager, the post holder will act as the Lead Offshore Survey Specialist for the UKHO’s Hydrographic Programmes (HP) survey and geospatial data collection activities.

Where HP survey operations are conducted by commercial contractors, they will act as the UKHO Client Representative. Where HP survey operations are conducted by the UKHO Survey Team, they will act as the UKHO Offshore Survey Specialist.

The post holder will conduct stakeholder engagement and build productive and culturally attuned working relationships with local government officials and other interested parties and organisations in the area of operation.

Hydrographic Programme Manager:

Activities will include:

• Using your hydrographic experience to manage and oversee a portfolio of hydrographic projects and programmes of a variety of types and complexities. Potential programmes and activity include the UK Civil Hydrographic Programme, the Overseas Territories Seabed Mapping Programme, the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme, the UK Centre for Seabed Mapping initiative and the UKHO Primary Charting Authority Programme.
• Providing a focal point within UKHO for hydrographic assistance to HMG, devolved administrations, Crown Dependencies, UK Overseas Territories, and foreign governments. In doing so, maintaining links with relevant officials to further UK and UKHO interests in hydrography.
• Conducting hydrographic technical assessments of foreign governments. Where necessary, leading such visits and being responsible for advising foreign governments on the establishment or enhancement of national hydrographic governance and frameworks.
• Developing concept notes/business cases, funding submissions and national hydrographic survey strategies as required by other government departments, UK development agencies, donor funders, international partners and foreign governments in pursuit of the UKHOs data requirements.
• Conducting project/programme management tasks, performance and resource management, financial oversight and production of briefing material/reporting according to the governance structure.
• Providing and collating hydrographic advice to external partners.
• Maintaining a prominent external profile as a leading expert in international hydrographic development, hydrographic governance and data collection methodologies by attending/presenting at conferences, conducting business development activities and engaging with international bodies, partners and forums.

Lead Offshore Survey Specialist:

The post holder will undertake the following activities:

• Acting as the Lead Offshore Survey Specialist for UKHO conducted surveys, on-board vessels and at office-based locations worldwide to enable the delivery of survey projects.
• Acting as the UKHO’s Client Representative for HP surveys, attending contractor aircraft/vessels during mobilisation; survey operations and post survey office processing as necessary to ensure compliance with contract specification requirements and to safeguard the quality of the end-product of the hydrographic contract.
• Providing technical advice and training to overseas organisations to support UKHO’s overseas capacity building programme.
• Carrying out processing and reporting of UKHO survey activities.
• Analysing and validating rendered complex bathymetric datasets to ensure that the specification has been met.
• Supporting with the preparation of Hydrographic Instructions (HI) for overseas surveys and associated contracts.
• Supporting with the preparation of specifications of the UKHO produced survey tender documentation and subsequent marking of tender documents.

Full details of the roles and how to apply can be found on the Civil Service Jobs website, click on the Apply Now button to go to the website.