Business Manager – Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)

Do you have experience in building and motivating teams? Are you able to provide data and analytical insights to help inform business decisions? The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Business Manager within the UK Technical Maritime Services Directorate (UKTMS). As part of our mission—Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas—you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operational and financial running of our Marine Offices, supporting the UK’s commitment to international maritime safety and environmental standards.

About the Role

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.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership: Manage surveyor resource allocation, workloads, and working patterns to ensure annual business commitments and targets are met.
Team Management: Lead, mentor, and line manage the Marine Office Business Support team, setting objectives and identifying training needs.
Financial Oversight: Manage financial transactions, including surveyor timesheets and expenses, ensuring accurate reconciliation and compliance.
Strategic Reporting: Produce comprehensive monthly reports for the Deputy Director, featuring data on survey volumes, financial forecasting, and surveyor utilization.
Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a key point of contact for industry and public inquiries, ensuring a high-quality customer service experience.
International Compliance: Coordinate Port State Control (PSC) activities to support the UK’s obligations under the Paris MOU Agreement.

Requirements & Qualifications

Required 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.

Essential License:

A full UK Driving License is required for this role.

Benefits & Flexibility

Competitive Pension: An exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
Generous Leave: 25 days annual leave (increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
Work-Life Balance: Flexible working options encouraged to support personal wellbeing.
Professional Growth: Access to the Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) community and line management skills development.

Working Arrangements

This is a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) for 24 months, with the potential for extension or permanency. The role consists of 37 hours per week, though flexible arrangements may be discussed. Please note that this post involves managing front-line maritime services and ensuring regulatory consistency across the national network.

To apply for this job please visit restless.co.uk.