Vacancy -- Fishery Patrol Vessel Engineer

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Economy, Skills and Natural Resources
Marine Enforcement
EO - £26,900 - £30,610
A starting salary between £25,860 and £29,430 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge and experience and performance at interview. Salary is negotiable
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
North Wales
TBC

Purpose of Post:

The Welsh Government’s Marine and Fisheries Division licenses, regulates and plans marine activities in Welsh waters to ensure they’re carried out in a sustainable way.  The Marine Enforcement Branch aims to uphold regulations and help create clean, healthy, productive and biologically diverse seas.  We control and enforce in line with fisheries regulations, marine conservation and wildlife legislation, as well as marine licensing regulations.  We are based in various locations around the Welsh coast.

We have three fisheries patrol vessels that operate in Welsh waters and as Engineer you will be responsible for the maintenance of all plant and machinery of one of the vessels to ensure that it is able to patrol at sea carrying out inspections of fishing vessels and other marine activity.

The patrol weeks of vessels are set up to a year in advance and specific tasks are determined on a week-by-week basis dependent on fisheries priorities, intelligence and on weather conditions.  In a typical week a crew will spend a day preparing for patrol, two long days at sea (sometimes overnight), and a day doing post patrol maintenance.

Key tasks:

  • Responsible for the operation of the engine room and any onboard maintenance of plant and machinery.
  • Keep appropriate accurate maintenance records for the Vessel’s machinery and systems.
  • To arrange for, and maintain, adequate stocks of fuel oil/spares/engineering stores.
  • To assist in ‘watch-keeping duties’ as required.
  • To perform any duties commensurate with the Post.
  • The Post Holder will also be required regularly to work unsocial hours, including night-time and at weekends.
  • Role based training will be provided and this is a unique opportunity for individuals to develop highly technical skills and sound interpersonal skills that are transferrable.

Development opportunities:

The Jobholder will have the opportunity to develop their engineering skills.

Closing Date:

16/12/2021, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Competencies;

Leading and communicating

  • Confidently handle challenging conversations with the crew.

Collaborating & Partnering

  • Listen attentively to crew members and check understanding by asking questions.

Delivering value for money

  • Ensure recognised maritime control procedures and practices are followed.

Delivering at pace

  • Take ownership of problems in their own area of responsibility.

Job Specific Criteria;

The following job specifics skills are also ESSENTIAL for this role.  Please ensure you attach a CV which demonstrates your ability in relation to these skills.

  1. A marine engineering and seafaring qualifications including Yachtmaster (or equivalent).
  2. A valid ENG1 medical certificate.
  3. Experience of vessel engineering, with a working knowledge of small ship systems and carrying out planned maintenance aboard vessels.
  4. Demonstrable experience of working at sea and in the marine industry.
  5. Experience of keeping appropriate accurate maintenance records for a vessel’s machinery and systems.
  6. An understanding of health and safety on a vessel. 

Assessment Process

1. Sift Stage
As part of your application you will be asked to upload a copy of your CV. This should be no more than 2 sides of A4. Anything above 2 sides of A4 will be discounted and will not be considered as part of the sift. Please remove from your CV your name and address to support us in undertaking a “name free” sift.

An initial sift will be carried out against your CV and the first 3 essential job specific skills:

1.    Marine engineering and seafaring qualifications including Yachtmaster (or equivalent) 
2.    Experience of vessel engineering, with a working knowledge of small ship systems and carrying out planned maintenance aboard vessels. 
3.    A valid ENG1 medical certificate.  

The remaining four job specific skills will be evaluated against CVs that have passed the initial sift and will be tested at interview.

2. Interview Stage
Candidates who have passed the sift stage, will be invited to participate in an Interview Remote video session with Interview Panel plus a technical exercise on board on of our 3 vessels, (in line with Covid guidance).
The remaining three job specific skills and competencies listed below will be evaluated at interview stage:

Job specifics 
4.    Demonstrable experience of working at sea and in the marine industry. 
5.    Experience of keeping appropriate accurate maintenance records for a vessel’s machinery and systems.
6.    An understanding of health and safety on a vessel.

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

This vacancy is based in Pwllheli however the successful candidate will be expected to work across locations and vessels as the business need requires.  Pan Wales- Vessels are situated in the following locations  Pembroke Dock, Pwllheli, Aberystwyth and Conwy. There is a possibility that future similar vacancies maybe available in other Pan Wales locations and therefore we may take from the reserve list of successful candidates from this vacancy.

This post will be subject to the Welsh Government’s Annualised Hours contract which will require staff to work a fixed number of hours per year (1924 hours) but hours will be more intensive in certain periods and less intensive in other periods.

Staff are required to undertake 3-4 day patrols at sea on a regular basis and also work unsociable hours.

Huw Hughes - Huw.Hughes@gov.wales - 07866 591903

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have an impairment which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to an impairment in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.