Director of Corporate Services - Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in Bristol

Location

Bristol, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Preston, York

About the job

Job summary

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is an executive non-departmental public body of theDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Driven by government’s aim for clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas, MMO’s purpose is to protect and enhance our precious marine environment, and support UK economic growth by enabling sustainable marine activities and development.

We are the independent regulator for England’s seas, professionally delivering service‑focussed outcomes for our customers.

We are a team of around 500 people and combine our Newcastle on Tyne and London operations with a local presence around the English coastline in Brixham, Beverley, Harwich, Hastings, Lowestoft, North Shields, Hayle, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Preston, Scarborough, Shoreham, Whitehaven

The Director of Corporate Services provides strategic leadership and oversight for the MMO’s core enabling functions, including Finance, Human Resources, Estates, Commercial & Procurement, Corporate Governance, Business Planning, Risk & Assurance. The post‑holder ensures that the MMO operates as a financially sustainable, well‑governed, transparent, and high‑performing organisation, capable of delivering its statutory marine management responsibilities.

The role is central to ensuring that the MMO has the resources, systems, culture, and organisational resilience required to deliver its strategic goals. The Director leads the development of corporate strategies, oversees statutory and regulatory compliance, and ensures that corporate services operate to the highest professional standards. The post‑holder acts as a key adviser to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and MMO Board on financial stewardship, organisational performance, and corporate risk.

Providing strategic leadership for all Corporate Services functions, ensuring they operate as a unified, high‑performing directorate that supports MMO’s operational and regulatory delivery. Leading the development and delivery of the MMO’s financial strategy, ensuring long‑term sustainability, value for money, and compliance with Managing Public Money.

Oversee the Estates Strategy, ensuring safe, modern, and efficient workplaces across MMO’s national footprint.

Job description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The role holder provides visible, strategic leadership and direction across all corporate enabling functions, ensuring they work cohesively to support MMO’s mission. This role requires “vision, drive, and creativity” to shape services that “make a significant and lasting difference through their work and your ability to influence others” by providing strategic leadership for all Corporate Services functions, ensuring they operate as a unified, high‑performing directorate that supports MMO’s operational and regulatory delivery.

• Lead the development and delivery of the MMO’s financial strategy and People Strategy, ensuring long‑term sustainability, value for money, and compliance with Managing Public Money.
• Leadership of the People function, shaping the MMO people strategy, defining and shaping alignment to MMO
• Lead the MMO’s financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with HMT, Defra Group Finance, and NAO requirements.
• Oversee financial controls, audit responses, and stewardship of public funds.
• Provide strategic advice to the CEO and Board on financial risks and opportunities
• Lead the development of the MMO Corporate Plan, Annual Report & Accounts, and business planning cycle.
• Ensure effective governance structures, including Board and Committee support.
• Oversee organisational performance reporting and corporate risk management.
• Lead the delivery of the Estates Strategy, ensuring safe, compliant, and cost‑effective workplaces.
• Act as a key member of the ELT, shaping corporate strategy and organisational direction.
• Provide cross‑cutting leadership across the MMO, ensuring alignment between corporate services and operational delivery.

Accountabilities

The Director of Corporate Services holds full accountability for the strategic direction, operational delivery, and integrity of MMO’s corporate services teams. This includes responsibility for the performance of finance, HR, Governance and risk. The post‑holder reports directly to the MMO CEO and operates with a high degree of autonomy and discretion.

• Financial stewardship of the MMO’s budget and funding.
• Oversight of estates contracts, commercial agreements, and corporate suppliers.
• Statutory reporting, including Annual Report & Accounts.
• Corporate governance, risk management, and audit response.
• Organisational performance reporting to the CEO, Board, and Defra.
• The post‑holder has overall responsibility for the success and impact of Corporate services across MMO, including governance, finance, and HR.
• Accountable for ensuring that corporate services aligns with MMO’s organisational goals, enabling evidence‑based decision‑making and long‑term value creation.
• Building and mentoring teams, fostering a culture of innovation.
• Accountable for delivery to the CEO to provide robust and credible outputs and information to support MMO funding and efficiencies – including commissions to inform Ministerial decision making.
• Accountable as SRO for corporate services for the MMO. This includes putting measures in place, and monitoring/responding to Governance/Audit and organisational capability.
• Ensuring the department uses public money legally, efficiently, and transparently.
• Embedding value‑for‑money principles across HR, estates, digital, procurement, and other corporate functions.
• Providing assurance to ministers, Parliament, and the public that the department is compliant, well‑run, and transparent.
• Accountable for the MMO financial budget (people and contracts) which equates to circa £6m per year. This includes acting as SRO for delivery of the grant‑funded projects up to £4m.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Senior Leadership-Proven track record of senior leadership across corporate functions (Finance, HR, Estates, Governance, Commercial), with demonstrated success in building a unified, high‑performing "corporate core." Proven experience as an inspiring people leader skilled at building, mentoring, and empowering multidisciplinary teams, driving high performance, and shaping a strong people‑centered culture.
• Financial Governance-Strong knowledge of public sector finance, Managing Public Money, and audit requirements. Proven capability acting as a Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), with full accountability for multi‑million‑pound budgets (including core operational budgets and grant‑funded programmes) to ensure value for money, legal transparency, and robust advice to Ministers and Boards.
• Governance & Strategic Assurance-Extensive experience overseeing robust corporate governance, risk management, and statutory reporting cycles, including the delivery of Annual Report & Accounts, Corporate Plans, and performance frameworks. Proven ability to provide credible, evidence‑based assurance to Chief Executives, Boards, and external oversight bodies in a highly regulated environment.
• Stakeholder Management-Experience operating with political sensitivity and integrity in a cross‑departmental environment. Ability to act as a dynamic, enthusiastic change agent who collaborates cross‑functionally with senior leadership and Directors to align corporate strategy with operational delivery. A strategic thinker with a commitment to driving the strategic aims of MMO.
• Strategic Insight- Ability to Interpret complex financial, operational, and risk information to inform long‑term strategic decisions, influence policy, and shape ministerial commissions. Demonstrated experience balancing competing organisational needs to deliver resilient, cost‑effective, and safe operational footprints.

Desirable Criteria

• CCAB or equivalent professional finance qualification.