Maritime Digitalisation and Autonomy Technology Lead

Can you turn insight on emerging digital and autonomous technologies into clear, practical advice?

Do you build effective networks and engage confidently with industry, government, academia and innovators?

Have you used horizon scanning to identify opportunities and risks and influence policy or regulatory thinking?

If so, wed love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Maritime Digitalisation and Autonomy Technology Lead to join the Maritime Innovation Hub. You will help the MCA anticipate and respond to developments in digitalisation, artificial intelligence, data, connected technologies and maritime autonomous surface ships. Working across industry, academia and government, you will generate insight, support policy and regulatory colleagues, and help innovators understand the maritime regulatory environment. This outward-facing role offers the opportunity to shape how emerging technologies are understood and applied across the maritime sector, supporting safer, more sustainable and efficient shipping while contributing to the governments growth mission.

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 Kings 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

As Maritime Digitalisation and Autonomy Technology Lead, you will lead high-level policy engagement on digitalisation and maritime autonomy, maintain a strong understanding of emerging technologies and industry developments, and translate insight into practical guidance. You will build networks, support innovators, contribute to national and international policy activity, and help the MCA respond to the opportunities and risks created by automation, remote operation and data-driven decision making.

Your responsibilities will include, but arent limited to:

1. Leading the MCAs input to the IMO Digitalisation Strategy and support delivery of the wider international digitalisation agenda.
2. Maintaining an in-depth understanding of maritime digitalisation, autonomy, maritime autonomous surface ships and remote operation.
3. Establishing industry networks and horizon-scanning mechanisms to identify emerging opportunities, risks and regulatory implications.
4. Producing clear internal and industry guidance on new digital and autonomous technologies.
5. Supporting policy and regulatory colleagues in responding to technological, industrial and regulatory change.
6. Helping UK innovators understand the maritime regulatory regime and opportunities to enter or operate in the market.
7. Coordinating engagement across the MCA, Department for Transport, wider government, industry and external partners.
8. Delivering stakeholder events and gather customer insight to improve Maritime Innovation Hub services.

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.

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

1. Proven ability to develop and sustain a thorough understanding of digitalisation trends, emerging technologies, maritime autonomy and their impact on industry practices.
2. Experience building industry networks or using horizon scanning to generate insights and drive sector-wide engagement on digitalisation or maritime autonomy.
3. Experience engaging with senior stakeholders, facilitating customer engagement initiatives, and efficiently gathering and responding to feedback.
4. Proven ability to translate complex technical detail into clear, practical recommendations.

Additional Information

Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) is the largest and most diverse professional community across the Civil Service. Many of us will have an association with several professional communities or specialisms, ODP applies to all public facing roles / or a role that is primarily aligned to supporting the work of those with public facing roles. All critical to the delivery of UK public services.

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Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 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.

Some domestic and international travel will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

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.