Hydrography Programme Lead

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.

About You

This role requires an individual with a background in programme and contract management. You will also have knowledge and experience of budget and financial management, and we will train you to collate and report information in line with our standards and policies.

Although this role is in the Hydrography arena, a hydrographic background or experience in this area is not required. This is an opportunity to learn about this industry while utilising your contract management and financial skills.

You will have excellent forward-planning skills, being able to see the big picture and make considerations in relation to future circumstances and requirements when forming a plan. You will have excellent organisational skills, capable of balancing multiple priorities and have good attention to detail, ensuing tasks are completed on time and effectively.

You are a team player but also able to work with autonomy, self-driven with a focus on achieving your objectives and supporting others to do the same.

Able to build rapport with a variety of stakeholders both internally and externally, you will possess strong communication skills and are confident in expressing yourself to a variety of audiences delivering messages and information in a professional and concise manner.

You will possess a qualification in project management and an understanding of contract management – e.g. Govt Commercial Function Management – (Practitioner Level) or will have a willingness to work towards it in post.

This role will be based in the Southampton HQ (or relevant office).  MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work.

The expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace or out on official business. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager.

There may be a requirement for occasional travel on official duty within the UK, which may involve overnight stays. Notice will be given prior to travel.

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Project Delivery Capability Framework: Assurance
• Project Delivery Capability Framework: Risk and Issue Management
• Project Delivery Capability Framework: Planning

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)