Ship Safety Lead (Fire Safety & Engineering)

Can you work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders to develop domestic and international regulations?

Do you have engineering or technical maritime experience?

Can you draft high quality documents?

If so, wed love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the governments maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.   

Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.   

Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.  

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 MCA.

Within UK Technical Maritime Services, Technical Standards develops, negotiates and maintains UK technical decisions and regulations covering ship safety and environmental issues across all vessel types. The Ship Safety team researches, develops and implements UK technical objectives for fire safety, life-saving appliances, domestic passenger safety and other specialist ship designs and operations.

Leading the management and development of UK objectives, regulations and guidance for the assigned subject area, supporting a safe, commercially successful UK fleet through technical expertise and collaboration. The role acts as the focal point for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring MCA decisions are informed, balanced and aligned with Government obligations, industry needs and public expectations.

Your responsibilities will include, but arent limited to:

• To contribute to the negotiation, development, implementation and management of subject specific objectives
• To provide a focal point role for industry and colleagues on matters regarding UK objectives and regulations
• Draft instructions for Government lawyers for preparation and timely implementation of regulations and codes and guidance
• Provide responses to stakeholders, including responding to Freedom of Information Act enquiries, Parliamentary Questions, and other official correspondence

For further information on the role, please read the role profile which 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:

• Experience in applying scientific and technical knowledge.
• Experience of locating, understanding and using data, evidence, and advice from analytical, scientific, and technical sources.
• Experience of working within a relevant regulatory or maritime or marine equipment or engineering sector.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and proven ability to research and draft high quality documents using a range of different media.

Additional Information

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 30 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.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight or international 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.