Ship Construction & Equipment Lead


Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Salary:	£45,900 to £45,900 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Southampton
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	3 Nov 2026
Closing date:	17 Nov 2026

Apply for this job

Summary

Are you interested in using your technical knowledge and research skills to contribute to the maritime sector?

Can you communicate complex information clearly and produce high-quality written work for a range of audiences?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

This is an exciting opportunity to join a specialist policy team working within the Directorate of UK Technical Maritime Services (UKTMS), where you’ll apply scientific and technical knowledge to support important areas of work in developing UK regulations for the shipping sector. You’ll use your research, analytical and communication skills to explore complex technical matters and produce clear, high-quality written outputs, while working with colleagues and stakeholders across the maritime sector.

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 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 MCA roles: MCA Homepage | Civil Service Careers

This role offers an exciting opportunity to help shape the UK’s approach to maritime regulation. You will proactively support the development and management of UK objectives, regulations and guidance, drawing on your knowledge and the technical expertise of colleagues. Working with stakeholders across government, industry and the maritime sector, you will help ensure regulation supports a safe, innovative and commercially successful UK fleet, while contributing to wider government priorities, regulatory development and goals.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

To contribute to, and where appropriate lead, the negotiation, development, implementation and management of regulation in order to maintain and further develop a safety-focused, consistent and proportionate regulatory framework for merchant ships in the UK, in particular where this relates to policies concerning ship construction and equipment, with a focus on, but not limited to Inland Waterways, SOLAS XIV (Polar Code), SOLAS XII (Bulk Carriers), SOLAS XV (Industrial Personnel), Inland Waterways, Load Line, Tonnage and Stability.

To provide a focal point for industry and colleagues on matters regarding UK policies covered by the ship construction and equipment team and maintain a positive and proactive role in liaison with MCA consultant surveyors, relevant Directorates and Branches within the MCA, DfT, and external stakeholders.

Participate in discussions and negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the UK representative for your areas of responsibility.

Develop and maintain an awareness of the national and international political and regulatory context of the subject area through discussion and liaison with key stakeholders, for example, internal and external government colleagues, industry, Non-Government Organisations, Red Ensign Group, other governments etc. Handling of technical questions, especially those related to policies covered by ship construction and equipment team raised both internally and externally, and provide advice to senior managers in the MCA, DfT, other government departments and Ministers.

Act as regulatory lead for relevant international and domestic regulations covered by Technical standards and to assist in other areas as assigned by line manager.

Work collaboratively across Technical Standards, MCA, and wider network of stakeholders to support the effective delivery of their own work and the work of the team.

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.

Apply for this job

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.