Deputy Director Maritime Ports and Shipping

Department for Transport; London; Hybrid; GBP 81,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK government department is seeking a capable leader to guide Maritime policy and ensure the growth of the ports and shipping sector. This role involves overseeing policy development, leading teams, and engaging with senior stakeholders to drive strategic objectives. The successful candidate will possess strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of the maritime industry. A salary of £81,000 plus generous benefits is offered.

Benefits

Civil Service pension contribution

25 days annual leave

Childcare benefits

Flexible working options

Fitness centre access

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and policy delivery skills.
• Proven ability to engage with senior stakeholders.
• Understanding of maritime industry and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver ports and shipping policy.
• Lead teams ensuring effective collaboration.
• Build networks with maritime stakeholders.
• Drive policy development for growth of the shipping sector.

Skills

Dynamic leadership

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Collaboration across departments

Strategic thinking

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Birmingham and Leeds. Frequent travel to other sites may be required.
As a member of the SCS you will be leading teams working on a hybrid basis. The expectation is that you will spend over the 60% workplace attendance requirement of your time in the workplace. Some travel to other DfT workplaces may be required, Transport plays a crucial role in connecting people across the country and is vital to our prosperity and quality of life. Transport is central to the UK's growth agenda and ensuring that our transport network is secure and resilient is fundamental to the functioning of our economy and the wellbeing of our citizens and how we go about everyday life.
The UK maritime sector is at the heart of the government's plans for economic growth and the UK's position as a global trading nation. This is an opportunity to help lead a vitally important and hugely successful sector through a period of significant change. We are rightly proud of the UK's position as a global maritime leader and the Department's expertise and influence on maritime matters around the world.
The postholder will have a key role in shaping the strategic direction for Maritime policy, and driving delivery across a broad policy portfolio, and able to build constructive and collaborative relationships across Whitehall and the maritime industry.
The Port's sector is independent and predominately privately owned. The post holder will need to develop an understanding of the different ownership models across the sector, build up commercial understanding of the sector across the team to ensure that opportunities for the sector to deliver the Government's growth mission are maximised.
The Shipping team works closely across government and with the MCA to deliver international obligations, proactively championing the UK to international companies and is focused on supporting innovation and technology in the shipping sector in the UK, including through the promotion of Autonomous shipping, as well as leaning in on hot topic local shipping issues, and key shipping sectors.
Dynamic leadership will be key, ensuring the team works in a flexible and agile way across a broad range of policy areas., The Ports and Shipping team acts as a centre of expertise for port and shipping policy, championing and challenging the sector to deliver on Government missions of economic growth and making Britain a clean energy super power. You will be responsible for shaping and delivering ports and shipping policy across the Department and Whitehall, with a focus on growth, regulatory reform, innovation, and industry engagement.
This role requires leadership of two different but related teams. The Ports team is focused on streamlining the regulatory environment to attract inward investment into the UK and working across other government departments to deliver growth across the Ports sector. Dynamic leadership will be key, ensuring the team works in a flexible and agile way.
The shipping team works closely with the MCA to deliver international obligations, proactively championing the UK to international companies and is focused on supporting the growth of the shipping sector in the UK with a particular focus on new technologies.
The postholder will have a key role in shaping the strategic direction for Maritime policy and driving delivery across a broad policy portfolio, and able to build constructive and collaborative relationships across Whitehall and the maritime industry.
This role requires strong leadership and policy delivery skills to oversee and deliver on a broad and deep policy, strategy, and delivery remit. This role involves working in close partnership across DfT, the MCA, and other government departments, particularly DBT, DESNZ, MHCLG and DEFRA, the Marine Management Organisation and the Crown Estate. You will also work closely with the Secretary of State and Maritime Minister, their Private Offices and Special Advisers. You will be a key part of the Maritime senior management team, taking a key role in ensuring and inclusive leadership culture and supporting the Director in ensuring the of the Directorate functions effectively.
The post will require some travel both within the UK and potentially overseas as part of engagement with the maritime sector, executive agencies, arms-length bodies, other government departments and international organisations.
Responsibilities of the role include:
+ Build and maintain a network of senior maritime industry stakeholders to inform and develop policy ensuring growth is aligned to Government missions.
+ Lead policy development to improve planning processes to unlock investment across all ports, including through engagement with MHCLG, MMO and the Crown Estate.
+ Support transport connectivity projects, playing a key role in shaping strategic priorities for the ports sector and working with the National Wealth Fund to support growth.
+ Work across government and with industry to identify opportunities to grow the shipping sector including professional services in the UK and to attract international investment.
+ Establishing the UK as a world leader in new and emerging shipping technologies such as autonomous shipping and digitalization, including work closely with MCA on the development of the maritime innovation hub.
+ Ensure effective representation of ports and shipping interests internationally including through the Red Ensign Group and effective engagement with the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds., The panel will review reports on those longlisted and will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the essential criteria set out in the Personal Specification
Assessment
Shortlisted candidates may be asked to take part in a series of assessments which could include:
Staff Engagement Exercise - a presentation and Q&A with a representative staff group from across the DfT.
These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel's decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.
Interview
You will be asked to attend a panel interview where you will be asked to give a presentation and then have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
Interviews are expected to take place face to face in our Leeds or Birmingham office.
Outcome and Feedback
Unfortunately, due to the anticipated number of applicants for this role, we are unable to provide feedback to those not successful at longlist stage.
Timeline
The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, all candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter, and we will advise on any delays.
Interviews are expected to take place face to face in our London office, all shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation.
Expected Timeline
We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.
The anticipated timetable is as follows:
Advert Closing Date: 23:55, 14th September 2025
Shortlist: 22nd September 2025
Staff Engagement Exercise: w/c 29th September 2025
Panel Interviews: 14th October 2025
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
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)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

You will need to be able to show, through your application, that you have the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post, as well as the leadership skills to succeed at Deputy Director level in the Senior Civil Service.
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their capabilities and experience in the following areas:
+ An authentic and credible corporate leader, with the ability to engage and motivate those around you and lead an inclusive and collaborative culture including during periods of pressure and uncertainty.
+ Excellent policy skills and strong decision-making ensuring policy delivery thinking is robust including through working with multi-disciplinary teams, identifying solutions to key risks and emerging issues.
+ A strong track record of working collaboratively across organisational boundaries and with industry partners. Able to build strong and effective relationships including with senior leaders and ministers to influence and deliver government priorities, especially in challenging or unique situations
+ Able to effectively analyse complex and inter-related issues and the ability to deliver information in a clear and concise manner.
+ Proven ability to develop and deliver policy, understand commercial realities, using project and programme management skills and governance.

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Department for Transport contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service.
It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you'll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you'll be entitled to a large range of benefits.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service values and supports all its employees.
We have strong and pro-active staff networks, special leave policies for hospital appointments, reasonable adjustments put in place for those who need them, and diversity talent programmes to help everyone irrespective of background, to achieve their potential.
Pension
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package.
A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. Visit Civil Service Pension Scheme for more details.
Generous Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Allowance
25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years' service (allowance is pro rata for part-time employees). This is in addition to 8 public holidays.
This will be complimented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King's Birthday.
(Leave is Pro rata basis for part time/job share)
Staff Wellbeing
Flexible working including part-time or term-time working and access to Flexible Working Schemes allowing you to vary your working day as long as you work your total hours.
Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers.
Childcare benefits (policy for new employees as of 5 April 2018): The government has introduced the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. Working parents can open an online childcare account and for every £8 they pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2000 a year for each child or £4000 for a disabled child. Parents then use the funds to pay for registered childcare. Existing employees may be able to continue to claim childcare vouchers, so please check how the policy would work for you here. Any move to the DfT from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
Onsite facilities Opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable).