Vacancy -- Marine Enforcement Officer (WFMC) - (x4)

• The Control & Enforcement Branch of Marine and Fisheries Division is responsible for all aspects of fish, fishing and fisheries enforcement. Fisheries policy in Wales is underpinned by the Wales Fisheries Strategy. One of the major policy areas within Fisheries relates to Sea Fishing. This area brings staff in direct contact with the fishing industry, the Control and Technical measures that govern the industry and with other parts of the UK and Europe.
• The main purpose of this post is to deliver the functions of the Welsh Fisheries Monitoring Centre (WFMC).  
• The primary role is to ensure that our seas are protected through effective surveillance and control measures. The FMC is a new concept for Wales and will be directly responsible for monitoring activity by UK and foreign vessels in our waters and Welsh vessels wherever they may be, checking Statutory Data from all sectors, both UK and Foreign, facilitate trade by processing catch certificates and prevent Illegal, Unreported and Unregistered issues, foreign and UK vessel licensing requirements and form part of a larger UK wide Marine Intelligence group. There will be a requirement that the FMC will have the capacity to operate on a 24 hour basis, where and when required, for example to support our Fishery Patrol Vessels when on task. This will require the centre to be open during weekends and bank holidays and so MEO’s would be required to word a shift rotation and employed on an annualised hour contract.
• The post holder may be required to support the wider role of the Marine and Fisheries Control and Enforcement Team carrying out enforcement duties around the Welsh Coast.

As part of a team approach:

• 24hr FMC management.
• Monitoring of all commercial fishing activity within the Welsh Zone through Vessel Monitoring systems and statutory data submissions
• Validation of catch certificates for the export of fisheries products to the EU
• Handling Sensitive Intelligence with required clearances
• Conduct investigations into breaches of fisheries legislation
• Preparing and handling evidence-case files and the administration of all Investigation files on behalf of the Branch
• Financial Administrative Penalties administration
• Intelligence sharing with Devolved Organisations
• Statutory data analysis
• Intelligence handling, prioritisation of Illegal Unregulated and Unreported fishing activity.
• Monitoring of quota uptake by non UK vessels operating within the Welsh Zone
• Real time tasking  and support to our Fishery Patrol Vessels while at sea
• Administration and management of Marine Consents Licensing 

Although office based, the role may require individuals to assist with the inspection of fishing vessels, examine the fish caught or landed and therefore requires a degree of physical fitness.

Individuals will be required to train to become fully warranted Marine Enforcement Officers.  The training and supervision will take around a year to complete and will include intensive courses in a range of activities.

31/12/2019, 16:00

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:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

• 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.

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability 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 a disability 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)

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.