Deputy Director - Survey and Inspection (North)

Job summary

Are you ready to provide strategic leadership for survey and inspection at the MCA?

Can you bring your experience in marine surveying and strategic management to shape the future of maritime?

Do you want to make a real difference?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Deputy Director – Survey and Inspection (North) to join the Directorate of UK Technical Maritime Services (UKTMS) which is responsible for the UK's Flag and Port State function including the survey and inspection operations, the UK's safety, security and environmental regulatory regimes, navigational safety, and civil hydrography programme. The Directorate is responsible for all vessels registered on the UK flag operating anywhere in the world, the UK's domestic passenger ship and fishing vessel fleet, and foreign flagged vessels in UK waters.

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 Deputy Director – Survey and Inspection (North) you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight to Survey & Inspection (S&I) activities within the North area (Glasgow, Aberdeen, Belfast, Liverpool, and Hull Marine Offices). You will ensure operational effectiveness and efficiency through best use of resources ensuring that ships and seafarers meet UK maritime regulatory requirements. Working in close collaboration with the Director and fellow Deputy Directors, you will contribute to setting strategic priorities, supporting governance functions, and driving continuous improvement in alignment with MCA and Department for Transport (DfT) objectives.

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

1. Providing leadership to the team and the wider Agency creating an environment in which staff embrace individual accountability and professional responsibility
2. Oversight of budgets (remaining within 1% of forecasted spend) and resources, in order to match output with demand, whilst striving to achieve value for money.
3. Executive, Board, Departmental and Ministerial level briefings, submissions and/or business cases for significant events, policy changes and policy implementations.
4. Driving forwards innovative data and digital solutions with other Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors to improve safety outcomes, data governance, customer service, and supplier relationships.
5. Ensuring risks are adequately assessed, mitigated, and acted upon to resolution.
6. Represent UKTMS and the MCA at stakeholder meetings at International, National, and Local Level.
7. Operational effectiveness of Survey and Inspection by directing resources to ensure ships and seafarers meet maritime regulatory requirements.
8. Providing strategic leadership to the National Management Group and engage with other groups such as the Red Ensign Group Technical Forum, Surveyor Training Group, Technical Advisory Group and Quality Management Network Forum.
9. Collaborate and provide leadership as the Directorate drives forward with fundamental changes and improvement to safety in the fishing sector.
10. Collaborate with Regulatory Compliance and Investigations Team (RCIT) to improve compliance with Maritime Regulations and provide support with ongoing investigations as required.
11. Provide resource support to the Secretary of State's Representative (SOSREP) and MCA Counter Pollution Unit when requested and ensure that S&I resources within the Divisional Area are ready to assist in dealing with major maritime incidents.

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

Essential qualifications/licenses:

1. Valid passport for international travel
2. Driving license valid for driving in the UK
   
   
3. Qualification in either discipline:
   1. Engineer: MCA recognised STCW III/2 Chief Engineer Unlimited Certificate of Competency
   2. Nautical: MCA recognised STCW II/2 Master Unlimited Certificate of Competency
   3. Naval Architect: A degree accredited by RINA/SNAME as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer.
   4. Ship: A degree accredited by IMarEst/IMechE as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications/licenses at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

Required experience:

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

1. Experienced Marine Surveyor
2. Knowledge of international maritime conventions, UK Merchant Shipping Legislation & maritime policy
3. Knowledge of UK & International Port State Control policies and regimes
4. A sound understanding of SAR and Counter Pollution activities
5. Knowledge of the working regimes of IMO and ILO
6. Knowledge of safety management and its impact on ship safety and security
7. General shipping and fishing industry knowledge
8. An understanding of how government operates
9. An understanding of media management and the ability to handle criticism and complaints
10. Well-developed interpersonal, oral, presentational and written communication skills including the ability to influence and persuade effectively
11. Ability to explain complex issues and positions to a variety of audiences in order to influence and effectively build consensus to achieve strategic objectives.
12. Leadership skills and experience in managing a diverse team of staff and budgetary resources.
13. Proven analytical and organisational skills with the ability to focus on outcomes.
14. Good organisational and time management skills, ability to prioritise work and allocate resources effectively.
15. Proven experience in providing authoritative advice to senior leaders and diverse teams.
16. Demonstrable knowledge of, and experience using Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Additional Information

Successful candidates will be expected to undertake a physical medical health questionnaire for this role. Please see the attached document for further information.

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.

Regular travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays. International travel will require a valid passport.

If you have a question about hybrid working, 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.

Licences

Valid passport for international travel
Driving license valid for driving in the UK

Qualifications

Qualification in either discipline:
a.Engineer: MCA recognised STCW III/2 Chief Engineer Unlimited Certificate of Competency
b.Nautical: MCA recognised STCW II/2 Master Unlimited Certificate of Competency
c.Naval Architect: A degree accredited by RINA/SNAME as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer.
d.Ship: A degree accredited by IMarEst/IMechE as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Understanding of the principles of the safe operation of large commercial ships. – level 4
• Understanding of the factors influencing the design and operation of ships of various types. – level 4

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £76,157, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £22,062 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 (opens in a new window).

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, 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: Interview

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 (750-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

1. Knowledge of international maritime conventions, UK Merchant Shipping Legislation & Maritime policy
2. Ability to explain complex issues and positions to a variety of audiences in order to influence and effectively build consensus to achieve strategic objectives.
3. Leadership skills and experience in managing a diverse team of staff and budgetary resources.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element, Experience – Knowledge of international maritime conventions, UK Merchant Shipping Legislation & Maritime policy. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Please note: the sift will be completed on a rolling basis whilst the campaign is still live, so you may receive your sift scores before the advert closing date.

The sift will take place week commencing 26th January 2026.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours –
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Changing and Improving
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
    
    
• Technical –
  • Understanding of the principles of the safe operation of large commercial ships. – level 4
  • Understanding of the factors influencing the design and operation of ships of various types. – level 4

Please note that the technical elements of the role will be assessed against Surveyor Technical Competencies for Marine Surveyor Development Scheme (MSDS) which you can access via the attached MSDS document.

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Behaviour: Changing and Improving. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place week commencing 2nd February 2026.

This interview will be conducted in person at our Glasgow office (Glasgow Marine Office, Albex House, Westpoint Business Park, 1 Marchfield Drive, Paisley, PA3 2RB). 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 (opens in a new window).

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. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

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

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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 cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit theHow 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.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : Rachel Millican
• Email : Rachel.Millican@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

Attachments

Deputy Director – Survey and Inspection (North)- APPROVED Opens in new window (pdf, 199kB)Annex E SI Health Standards Opens in new window (pdf, 512kB)MSF4989 R09.22 Recruitment (1) (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 598kB)