Network Commander 17 views

Are you an exceptional leader with experience in command and control in an operational response environment?

Can you build lasting relationships, influencing and directing stakeholders across all levels??

Do you thrive in a busy and varied environment where no two days are the same?

If so, we are looking for a Network Commander to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.

Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas. 

Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.

We welcome applications from all communities, and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.

HM Coastguard (HMCG) is the operational arm of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency with responsibility for 6 key functions: Search and Rescue, Pollution Response, Vessel Traffic Management, Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Emergency and Disaster Management.

There are three delivery disciplines within HM Coastguard: Maritime and Aeronautical Operations, which coordinate activities from an operations room environment, and; Coastal Operations, which manages resources and service provision on the coast.

Based in our office in Fareham we have a fantastic opportunity for 2 Network Commanders to join our dynamic team as part of Maritime Operations. You will be providing tactical leadership and operational oversight of the HMCG National Network across the UK.

Reporting to the HMCG National Network Operations Manager, the successful applicants will provide guidance and direction to operational teams and dynamically manage a network of rescue coordination centres, ensuring that the most appropriate staffing resources are assigned to coordinate the best response to incidents across the United Kingdom’s search and rescue region.

The Network Commanders will maintain network oversight of staff activity, resources, resilience and technical capability, and plan and instigate business continuity arrangements as and when required, effectively and confidently leading and directing Coastguard operational teams.

This is a rewarding role in a very unique operational environment where every day brings a new exciting challenge with national responsibility. You will be constantly learning and developing, attending training to enhance your maritime technical knowledge to assist in making dynamic decisions around the safety of lives and seas.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

•  Acting as the senior Coastguard officer (Maritime) on duty within the National Network, responsible for maintaining the link to on-call Strategic Commanders and other senior officers, including the preparation and presentation of relevant briefs as required.
• Continuously monitoring operational workload, performance and staff welfare across the network, anticipating and providing support to teams by dynamic network flexing and the assigning of remote operational specialists (Search Mission Co-ordinator (SMC), search planning, comms operator, etc.)
• Providing sound leadership, tactical direction and guidance to operational teams, including medium-and longer-term tactical planning and the coordination of resources and functions based on dynamic risk analysis, and identifying, reporting and responding to tactical and strategic organisational risks.
• Ensuring oversight of the HMCG National Network infrastructure, identifying and reporting technical hardware and software issues, undertaking impact assessments, instigating impact mitigations, and providing operational expertise to ICT helpdesk/engineers.
• Maintaining knowledge and currency of HMCG operational business continuity (BC) and disaster recovery (DR) plans, and coordinating the Network response during any planned or unplanned network disruption, including the implementation of appropriate BC/DR plan(s).
• Undertaking the role of HMCG Tactical or Silver Commander when required during national SAR and other maritime-related incidents, and when delegated or necessary, undertaking the role of HMCG Strategic or Gold Commander.

For an in-depth insight into the role, please refer to the Role Profile attached to this advert.

You will come to us with an excellent knowledge of command and control at a tactical level in an operational response environment. As a critical thinker you can make multiple decisions across a matrix of matters whilst remaining calm under pressure.

You are a motivational leader who leads by example ensuring teams understand their role, responsibilities and business priorities. Your exceptional communication skills mean you’re able to gather intelligence from various sources and interpret it to clearly articulate succinct operational, tactical and strategic briefs.

Using your good judgement skills, you are able to asses complex and dynamic situations and make critical decisions confidently, based on sound rationale. You will thrive managing a varied and challenging workload and your fantastic organisational skills mean you are able to balance and prioritise tasks. This role would suit somebody who enjoys collaborating with others and building up strong working relationships in a career where you can develop your skillset and make a real difference for end users.