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Job description

The primary focus of the post-holder will be on delivering operationally on MFD compliance and enforcement responsibilities. The concept is to deliver a comprehensive, innovative, and streamlined MFD compliance and enforcement capability, to protect sustainable fisheries and the environment. The post-holder will be responsible for structuring the function and leading on the delivery of multi-disciplinary teams of scientific, fisheries and administrative staff. They will lead and manage the teams to deliver operational objectives in respect of a wide range of legislation obligations including the relevant EU Regulations under which DAERA MFD regulatory, compliance and enforcement teams operate. Integrated throughout this work is Windsor Framework implementation. This is a significant programme of work to ensure the Department is fully compliant with its statutory obligations. Work plans are required for each individual piece of legislation listed in Annex II of the Windsor Framework. Please see employer website for full job details & person specification.

Responsibilities

• Contribution to the management of the overall division, providing support to the Director and working with other Heads of Function as required for efficient, effective and economic delivery of business objectives.
• Setting up a Marine and Fisheries Division Compliance and Enforcement Delivery Unit working proactively through a programme of change alongside the Regulation Branches.
• Leading the Compliance and Enforcement Delivery Unit to ensure MFD uses its compliance and investigative powers consistently and effectively to meet the requirements of Regulations.
• Leading on the full range of activities to ensure compliance with a wide range of legislation including full Windsor Framework Implementation and reporting its progress to completion and integration into normal business to the Director of MFD.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, stakeholders and meaningfully engaging with Trade Union Side and service end users.
• Scoping the level of operational and supporting resources required in connection with the identification and delivery of an extensive and unprecedented implementation programme to deliver Windsor Framework.
• Engaging with senior business area representatives to fully understand and articulate the impact of business change including organisational, people, process, data and information and technology considerations.
• Clearly communicating the strategic direction, principles and progress of implementation and delivery.
• Identifying risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies and managing these appropriately by putting in place mitigating actions or escalating as required.
• Leading the preparation of written and oral evidence for appearance before Senior Civil Service including the Director, Deputy Secretary, Permanent Secretary and Minister when required and act as principal departmental representative.
• Management of five direct reports and 56 staff under the current structure.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• At least 2 years’ experience at a professional level gained within the past 5 years in an environmental-related field.
• At least 2 years’ senior management experience of successfully leading and managing an enforcement team, dealing with complex criminal investigations to deliver against environmental legislation.
• At least 2 years’ senior management experience of building effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and successfully negotiating and influencing to deliver improvements or agreed outcomes.

Further Information

Location: Clare House. NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date 6th February 2026 at 12 noon. Applications from Protestants, females, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit