Head of Platform Development

Details ----------- Reference number 478583 Salary £57,515 This role comes with a DDaT allowance of up to £24,915 A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP Job grade Grade 7### Contract type Permanent### Business area MCA - Digital and Technology### Type of role Digital Information Technology### Working pattern Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time### Number of jobs available 1 Contents ------------ * Location * About the job * Benefits * Things you need to know * Apply and further information Location ------------ SouthamptonAbout the job ----------------- Job summary Can you provide senior technical leadership for Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365 and modern software development? Do you enjoy building high-performing technical teams, setting clear standards and driving continuous improvement? Have you led platform development, governance or assurance across internal teams and third-party suppliers? If so, we’d love to hear from you! The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Head of Platform Development to join our Digital and Technology Directorate. MCA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport, delivering statutory functions as flag, port and coastal State and supporting search and rescue, environmental protection and major maritime incident response. The Digital and Technology Directorate brings together digital, data and technology capabilities to design, build, operate and assure the systems and services that support MCA’s operational responsibilities. This role sits within the platform development team, leading the Agency’s software and platform development capability across Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Foundry, operational AI and Copilot technologies. You will help shape technical strategy, strengthen governance and assurance, and build a high-performing team delivering secure, scalable and user-centred digital services. 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 and a privilege day for the King’s birthday * Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance. Read more in the Benefits section below! Find out more about what it's like working at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers Job description As the Head of Platform Development, you will provide senior technical and strategic leadership for MCA’s software platforms and services. You will lead the Platform Development team, set development and assurance standards, and shape delivery across Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Foundry, operational AI and Copilot technologies, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, maintainable and aligned to MCA priorities and government digital standards. On the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework, this role is mapped to the role of Software Developer on level: Lead Developer - Management. Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to: * Leading MCA’s platform and software development strategy across internal and supplier-delivered solutions. * Providing technical leadership across Power Platform and Dynamics 365. * Define an approach to Microsoft Foundry and Copilot Studio Development. * Defining and maintaining development, testing, release, integration and assurance standards. * Building and leading a strong platform engineering capability, supporting recruitment, development and succession planning. * Overseeing governance, quality standards and proportionate assurance processes across platform development. * Owning the governance framework for citizen-developed Power Platform solutions, ensuring that makers across the Agency can innovate safely within clear standards, controls and support models. * Assuring third-party developed systems, including design review, standards compliance and readiness for live service. * Acting as technical authority for complex or high-risk development and integration initiatives. * Building strong relationships with Digital, Architecture, Security, Commercial, operational teams and suppliers. Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public. For further information on the role, please read the role profile*.* Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process. Person specification To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience: Technical Skill * Extensive experience with Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365, including enterprise‑scale implementation and operation. * Strong understanding of Dataverse, integrations, and end‑to‑end software and platform lifecycle management, including design, build, release and live service. * Good working knowledge of C# and .NET based development, with demonstrable experience providing technical leadership, governance and design assurance for bespoke or supplier built digital systems, including APIs, services and Dynamics 365 plugins, through the review of solutions, design documentation, standards compliance and readiness for live service. * Strong Agile delivery skills, including coaching, technical leadership and assurance across multidisciplinary teams and mixed delivery models (internal and supplier‑led). * Ability to define and enforce development standards, architectural patterns and technical guardrails across multiple teams and third-party suppliers. * Appreciation of AI/ML systems, generative AI, and/or agentic AI frameworks and tooling. Leadership \& Management Experience * Proven experience leading technical teams or platform engineering functions, influencing senior stakeholders to drive organisational change while building sustainable internal capability and thriving communities of practice. Governance \& Quality * Experience designing or running governance frameworks, quality assurance processes, or Centre of Excellence-based governance structures. * Awareness of data, security and compliance standards relevant to enterprise platforms. Desirable Certifications You may hold or be willing to work towards the following (or equivalent) qualifications: * MB-910 Dynamics 365 (CRM) Fundamentals * MB-230 Dynamics 365 Customer Service * PL-900 Power Platform Fundamentals * PL-200 Power Platform Functional Consultant * AZ-900 / AZ-200 Azure Fundamentals * AZ-204 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure (or equivalent experience of governing C# / .NET-based solutions) Additional Information The role is part of the Government Digital and Data (or Government Security Profession Career Framework) profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance. The base pay is £57,717. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £24,915. The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process. Here are more details on the pay framework. Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 32 hours per week. This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly to meet business needs, including occasional travel to other MCA locations, partner organisations or supplier sites. Due to the nature of MCA’s statutory and operational responsibilities, the role may require engagement with business-critical or time sensitive issues, including supporting delivery or assurance activity during periods of heightened operational demand. If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details). Visa Sponsorship Please note that we will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. Therefore, this role is not open to applications from those who require sponsorship – candidates must ensure they have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: * Leadership * Changing and Improving Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: * Systems Design - Practitioner https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/software-developer#lead-developer-management * Service Support - Practitioner https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/software-developer#lead-developer-management * Availability and capacity management - Practitioner https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/software-developer#lead-developer-management * Information Security - Practitioner https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/software-developer#lead-developer-management * Systems Integration - Practitioner https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/software-developer#lead-developer-management * User Focus - Practitioner https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/software-developer#lead-developer-management * Programming and build (software engineering) - Practitioner https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/software-developer#lead-developer-management * Prototyping - Practitioner https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/software-developer#lead-developer-management Benefits ------------ Alongside your salary of £57,515, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £16,662 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides . Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits: * 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). * 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday. * Access to the staff discount portal. * Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc. * Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues. * 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff. * Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance. Find out more about the benefits of working at MCA . Things you need to know --------------------------- Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.### Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's skills, and potential fit within our organisation. The selection process for this role will be: Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement Stage 2: First Stage Interview (on Teams) Stage 3: Second Stage Interview (in person) You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage. Stage 1: Sift At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements: Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1000-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following: * Extensive experience with Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365, including enterprise‑scale implementation and operation. * Good working knowledge of C# and .NET based development, with demonstrable experience providing technical leadership, governance and design assurance for bespoke or supplier built digital systems, including APIs, services and Dynamics 365 plugins, through the review of solutions, design documentation, standards compliance and readiness for live service. * Strong Agile delivery skills, including coaching, technical leadership and assurance across multidisciplinary teams and mixed delivery models (internal and supplier‑led). * Ability to define and enforce development standards, architectural patterns and technical guardrails across multiple teams and third-party suppliers. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element, Extensive experience with Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365, including enterprise‑scale implementation and operation. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. The sift will take place week commencing 21/09/2026 Stage 2: First Stage Interview At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements: * Experience – Microsoft Development Standards * Technical – aligned to Software Developer – Lead Developer Management Digital, Data \& Technology (DDaT) + Systems Design – Practitioner The interviews will take place 30/09/2026 and 01/10/2026. This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview. Stage 3: Second Stage Interview At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements: * Behaviour + Leadership + Changing and Improving * Technical – aligned to Software Developer – Lead Developer Management Digital, Data \& Technology (DDaT) + Development process optimisation – Practitioner – This is being assessed under the behaviour Leadership + Availability and capacity management – Practitioner + Information security – Practitioner + Programming and build (software engineering) – Practitioner + Prototyping – Practitioner + Systems Integration – Practitioner + User Focus – Practitioner + Service Support – Practitioner You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Behaviours: Leadership and Changing and Improving. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview. The interviews will take place 08/10/2026, 09/10/2026, 12/10/2026. This interview will be conducted in person at our Southampton office (Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 5EG). Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview. You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site . Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. Further information on the selection process We will also hold a 12 month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements). If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit. If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage depending on the nature of the dismissal. Reasonable Adjustments As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Document Accessibility This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. Further Information For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role. Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. All external applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as: * Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour * Threats or acts of violence * Illegal activity or substance misuse * Sexually explicit material * Extremist views or affiliations Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public. Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle - it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture. If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly. Feedback Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.### Security Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check . See our vetting charter . 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) * 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 Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code 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 . 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .Apply and further information --------------------------------- This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.### Contact point for applicants Job contact : * Name : Helen Wentworth * Email : helen.wentworth@mcga.gov.uk Recruitment team * Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here