Assistant Director Project Delivery
| Posting date: | 28 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £67,313 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 14 September 2025 |
| Location: | Southampton |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 409458/1 |
Summary
Would you thrive in a senior leadership role where your expertise shapes the future of UK maritime safety?
Are you ready to bring your project delivery skills to a nationally significant organisation like HM Coastguard?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
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 Operations and Aeronautical Operations, both of which coordinate activities from an operations room environment; and Coastal Operations, which manages resources and service provision on the coast.
The HM Coastguard Major Programmes Team is responsible for delivery of the HM Coastguard major programmes portfolio; delivering over £2Bn worth of programmes and projects which are of high value and complex in nature, including the GMPP Second Generation UK SAR Aviation (UKSAR2G) Programme. The team ensures delivery into service and contracts monitoring through life; ensuring that all projects and programmes deliver the intended outcomes and realise benefits.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
Read more in the Benefits section below!
Find out more about what it's like working at MCA:
- MCA roles: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers
In this pivotal senior role, you’ll report directly to the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for Major Programmes and will be responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of all major projects within the HM Coastguard portfolio. You'll provide the strategic governance and day-to-day management needed to ensure projects meet their intended outcomes and deliver real public value.
This is a high-profile opportunity that calls for deep expertise in complex project delivery, strong leadership, and a commitment to excellence. As the lead authority on project delivery within HM Coastguard, you’ll champion best practices, mentor delivery teams, and shape the future of our major programmes.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:
Support the SRO to drive delivery of all major programmes. Provide strategic and detailed oversight to ensure that objectives are clearly defined and achievable to approved time, cost, and performance.Working with the SRO, develop and agree the vision and measurable success criteria for major programmes. Engage with MCA Business Partners to develop the budget and generate metrics to track, monitor and control delivery within budget.Monitor and control project progress and performance as chair of all Programme Boards within the portfolio, providing the SRO with clear and effective report to enable realisation of benefits.Ensure solutions are designed and business cases and plans prepared, including development of the Strategic and Project Management cases for all Business Cases related to major programmes.Define the approach, accountabilities, work scope and targets for the team, setting appropriate and effective project controls and ‘stop / go’ decision points for all major programmes.Provide project delivery function support to Assistant Director Commercial for monitoring and managing supplier performance in the delivery of major programmes.Ensure appropriate standards, good practice and lessons learned are captured and applied. Engage on assurance activities and reviews, acting on recommendations to realise success.Manage risks and issues, escalating to the SRO where appropriate. Ensure effective change control mechanisms are in place. Agree and document all scope changes with the SRO and other stakeholders.Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme