Marine Management Organisation (MMO)

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Welcome

Thank you for expressing an interest in the role of Chief Executive of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), a new delivery body (to be established by the Marine and Coastal Access Bill) that will play a key part in ensuring that the seas around England will be clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse.

Based in Newcastle, but with an extensive presence and profile around the coast, the MMO will be a professional and very active marine manager, trusted by stakeholders and the public to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the marine area. As such, it will deliver functions and take forward the policy interests of several Government Departments and reflect the aspirations of a wide, disparate community of stakeholders and partners. My vision as Chair is that the organisation will set the standard, both nationally and internationally, in balancing the requirements of conservation, energy and other socio-economic and resource needs in the marine and coastal environment.

Your primary roles as Chief Executive will be to lead a dynamic Non-Departmental Public Body in delivering the Government's expectations with regard to the marine environment and to provide an exemplary working environment for our people. Vesting Day will be in early April 2010 and much of the personnel, culture and working practices will be well established by the time that you are appointed, reflecting the combination of structure, expertise and experience that will be required to ensure that the organisation is authoritative and effective right from the start. You will, of course, want to add your own distinctive contribution and style in taking the organisation forward from that point and in responding with vigour to the many, varied challenges that lie ahead.

I hope that this exciting appointment will greatly appeal to you and that you will find the accompanying information useful in coming to a decision about applying to be the MMO's Chief Executive and Accounting Officer. If you do decide to apply and are successful in the initial selection process, I very much look forward to meeting you soon and, if you are ultimately selected, to working with you in making a decisive difference in the marine and coastal environment.

Christopher Parry
Chair

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About Us

We want the MMO to be a professional and proactive marine manager, trusted by all stakeholders.

Initially, the MMO will benefit considerably from building on the expertise of the Marine and Fisheries Agency, which is a successful Defra Agency currently delivering the marine licensing and fisheries management functions that the MMO take over responsible for. However, the MMO will also have new responsibilities and become a delivery body for the whole of Government. It will therefore need to equip itself for its new and distinctive role.

The MMO's Board will determine the overall capability and structures that have to be put in place so that the MMO can do its job. It is therefore not possible to be prescriptive about precisely how the MMO will go about this process, but I can set out what has been planned to enable that to happen and to anticipate the skills and expertise the MMO will need to have available.

To facilitate preparations for the MMO, the Chair-designate has been recruited and Board will be in place ahead of vesting. The MMO will therefore operate for a short time as a 'skeleton body'. We expect that they will work with an implementation team and the MFA to ensure that staff with the right skills are available from 'day 1'. Following Royal Assent we anticipate that MFA will start to recruit staff with specialist skills relating to the MMO's new functions so that they can prepare for its launch and following its launch the MMO will continue to develop further.

The MMO will need to have a strong and competent science base to support its work as regulator, marine manager and marine planner. It will also need to make the best use of data and will therefore need appropriate expertise in that, as well as the statistical expertise to assess data related to its fisheries work and to ensure that its use of data in other areas follows sound statistical practices.

As a body charged with contributing to sustainable development, it will need to be able to assess the possible effects of potential actions according to all 3 pillars of sustainability. It will therefore need environmental, economic and social science expertise to inform its planning and regulation work and the advice it gives to government.

The MMO's work on marine plans is likely to be undertaken by teams with a range of skills representative of all of the MMO's functions. This is also likely to call on input from individuals with expertise in social, economic and legal aspects, together with experience gained in other areas such as town and country planning.

The MMO will also need to work effectively with other organisations both formally and informally. For example, the MMO will have a formal relationship with the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) where the MMO has a formal role in providing advice on marine planning.

We want the MMO to be an authoritative marine manager, regulator and source of advice to government based on expertise it progressively gains through its work in delivering a range of marine management functions and this is something that will also develop and deepen in time.

For further information please click the relevant links below and download the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.

www.mfa.gov.uk
www.mfa.gov.uk/about/marinebill.htm
www.defra.gov.uk/marine/legislation/index.htm

For details on the MMO including a brochure:

www.mfa.gov.uk/mmo/index.htm

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Job Description

The Marine and Coastal Access Bill, currently being considered by Parliament, seeks to establish the Marine Management Organisation (MMO): a new independent Non Departmental Public Body, as the UK Government's strategic delivery body in the marine area and its centre of marine management expertise. This will ensure effective planning and management of our seas.

The Government's vision for the MMO is that it will be a professional and proactive marine manager, trusted by all stakeholders to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development in the marine area. It will make decisions on the majority of marine developments and, where it is not the decision making body, will be a key advisor on marine issues.

The MMO will be the marine planning authority on behalf of the UK Government and its principal regulator in English territorial waters and the UK offshore area for matters that are not devolved. It will deliver functions on behalf of several Government Departments. As the Government's key marine regulator, the MMO will have an important role in contributing to the Government's objectives for nature conservation.

In addition to its new responsibilities, the MMO will take on the functions currently delivered by the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) (an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). These include marine and fisheries enforcement, licensing and management of fishing activity under the European Common Fisheries Policy, licensing of marine activities and developments (such as wind farms, wave and tidal power, marine sand and gravel extraction) and contingency for pollution incidents. The Marine and Coastal Access Bill will provide the MMO with modernised enforcement powers and new streamlined marine licensing arrangements. It is envisaged that the MMO will come into operation on 1 April 2010 and on that date will subsume the MFA and its functions.

To facilitate preparations for the MMO, Chris Parry has been appointed as the Chair-designate of the MMO. He is working closely with the MFA to ensure that staff with the right skills are available in good time for launch of the MMO in April 2010. Recruitment for the Board of the MMO is due to start shortly.

The Chair and Board set the strategic direction of the MMO. The Chief Executive is responsible for developing and providing advice to the Board on the strategic direction and for leading the MMO in the delivery of the strategic aims.

The Chief Executive is responsible to the MMO Chair and Board for the day to day management and executive leadership and for the performance of the organisation.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop plans for Board approval on how the organisation will meet its strategic aims and objectives, consistent with the Marine and Coastal Bill.
  
  
• Deliver a business planning process, organisational structure and annual business plan that underpins the achievement of the MMO's purpose and strategy.
  
  
• Evaluate and report to the Board on the overall performance of the organisation.
  
  
• Recruit, lead, manage and motivate the senior management team and staff including the development of an organisational culture that promotes high performance and commitment.
  
  
• As Accounting Officer, be responsible for propriety, regularity and value for money of MMO expenditure.
  
  
• Promote and maintain effective stakeholder and partner engagement and collaboration at strategic, developmental and operational levels to support the achievement of MMO aims.
  
  
• Working in conjunction with the Chair of the MMO, represent the organisation externally with stakeholders, the media and the corporate and public sector.
  
  
• Assess the strategic and operational implications of proposed new business areas.
  
  
• Implement an effective marketing and communications programme to raise and promote the profile of the organisation
  
  
• Ensure the existence of robust management disciplines including performance management arrangements and controls
  
  
• Advise the Board on the operational implications of Government policy and legislative developments in both the UK and EU

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Person Specification

Part One

• A successful track record at senior level management of either a stand-alone organisation or a distinctive sector of a large organisation demonstrating success in the management and delivery of successful change management programmes.
  
  
• Experience of successfully managing new organisations requiring the deployment of positive leadership skills to make such ventures successful.
  
  
• A track record of success in working in a sophisticated stakeholder environment requiring diplomacy and sensitivity; building and maintaining positive working relationships to represent a wide range of views.
  
  
• Extensive experience of strategy and operational policy development within a statutory framework resulting in achieving a demonstrable record of service delivery.
  
  
• Proven track record of success in managing assets of comparable scale in a start up organisation, with experience of financial management including preparing budgets, financial planning and control.
  
  
• Clear evidence of expertise in strategic resource and people management, harnessing the strengths and talent of employees at all levels, combined with a clear understanding of the importance of equality and diversity in employment and in service delivery.
  
  
• Experience and knowledge of creating and establishing information management and quality assurance systems with an understanding of the importance of effective data collection and management.

• An ability, vision and capacity to lead and represent the MMO, providing a clear sense of overall strategic direction and purpose. A clear appreciation of the respective role of the Chief Executive and Chair and the need to create and sustain a strong working partnership to achieve change and continuous improvement.
  
  
• An ability to inspire the delivery of results and outcomes in complex environments using public money in an efficient and accountable manner. Knowledge of the workings of Government and public accountability would be an advantage.
  
  
• An ability to negotiate and communicate effectively using a range of media and influencing skills, with an ability to communicate with Ministers, staff, the Board, a diverse range of stakeholders, the public and Parliament.
  
  
• A high degree of probity and integrity, able to take a lead in the championing of equality of opportunity. Recognition and valuing or colleagues and their diversity and a clear commitment to public service values of accountability, openness and transparency. Is ready to demonstrate in a transparent manner that this role will be compatible with his/her other interests/activities
  
  
• An ability to build strong working relationships across a wide and diverse range of stakeholders, able to work as a member of a team, acting and thinking corporately, with a collaborative style that engages people at all levels including working with government departments.

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Terms and Conditions

Conditions for the appointment of the CEO/CEO designate for the MMO

(Note that there are particular conditions for existing public and civil servants)

Length of Appointment

The appointment term is fixed for three years with options to renew for a further year.

Salary

Up to £110,000

Bonus

A discretionary non-consolidated, non-pensionable performance bonus of up to a maximum of 15% of basic salary may be payable, subject to the achievement of agreed Corporate and Individual Performance objectives.

Pension

The post is pensionable.

The successful applicant will be able to choose between two pensions arrangements:

• Membership of the nuvos defined benefit occupational pension scheme, which is based on career average pensionable earnings i.e. for each year of service. It has a membership contribution rate of 3.5%.
  
  
• Joining a partnership pension account, a stakeholder pension with an employer contribution based on your age. You do not have to contribute but if you do your employer will also match your contributions up to 3% of pensionable pay.

For rejoiners who were in were in classic, classic plus, premium or nuvos and who join your organisation after a break of no more than 28 days in CSP employment, except those who left under:

• redundancy
• normal retirement or actuarially reduced retirement
• early (flexible or compulsory) retirement
• ill health retirement

You will be covered by the Civil Service pension arrangements during this appointment. You will rejoin the pension scheme that you recently left.

We suggest candidates speaks direct to their pension administrator in order to satisfy themselves about the effects on his pension.

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Timetable

Advert appears - Sunday 13th September
Closing date - Monday 5th October
Long List Meeting - 21st October
Preliminary interviews - w/c 19th October
Short List Meeting - 6th November
References and assessment - w/c 2nd November
Final Panel - 13th November

Please note that these dates have the potential to change throughout the process; any updates will be reflected on this site.

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How to Apply

To apply for this post, please complete the online application form below and ensure you provide the following:

• a supporting statement, explaining how you believe your skills and experience match the requirements of the role, directly addressing the criteria in Part One of the person specification
  
  
• a short introductory statement demonstrating your motivation for this role,
  
  
• a comprehensive CV including details of your achievements in each role, and including details of two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer. Please let us know whether you would be happy for us to contact them as part of the process. Referees will not, of course, be contacted without your prior consent

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Help

Where ever possible, we endeavour to produce all of our downloads in PDF format. The PDF format protects data integrity and is an accepted standard across the private and public sectors. PDF files can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free software tool available from Adobe.

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If you have experienced any other problems with this site, please contact Harry Hawks on 0207 017 0974 or e-mail: harry.hawks@rockpools.co.uk.

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If you are having difficulty accessing any of the information on this site, please contact us at harry.hawks@rockpools.co.uk

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Welcome

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Job Description

Person Specification

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