HEO Marine Surveyor - Stability & Plan Approval

Job summary

Do you want to work for a company where having a good work life balance is important?

Are you a Maritime Professional looking for an opportunity to develop your skills and experience to further your career?

If so, we are looking for a Marine Surveyor (Stability & Plan Approval) to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and we'd love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s 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.

We are committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams.

We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at MCA.

This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks groups covering, Women’s, LGBTQI+, Race, Carers, Mental Wellbeing and volunteer Respect Ambassadors.

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 Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

The Statutory Services Delivery Team (SSDT) sits within the Survey and Inspection Network, a part of UKTMS Directorate of the MCA, and its objective is to enable the Government’s Maritime Strategy for ‘Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas’, by ensuring high standards of marine safety and marine environmental protection through the delivery of high-quality Statutory Services and the implementation of consistent survey and inspection operations.

The Network’s function is to provide a first-class survey and inspection service undertaken by qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable surveyors, resulting in positive engagement with customers and stakeholders of the MCA’s maritime services. The Network is supported by local Business Delivery teams, which are responsible for facilitating survey/inspection, and plan approval allocation, and a National Business Unit which facilitates the Network’s financial transactions and provides budgetary oversight.

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

1. Assisting the Statutory Services Delivery Team in achieving its agreed MCA Business Plan (‘Big Picture’) activities and objectives.
2. Reviewing technical information and plans for vessels — carrying out examination and assessment of vessel stability information, structural information, construction, outfit, and safety plan plans.
3. Supporting customers and colleagues throughout the approval process, ensuring submissions are complete, accurate, and in the correct format.
4. Creating computer‑based hull definitions for any vessel type as required.
5. Working with MCA colleagues to ensure all new vessels have the required approved plans and stability information in place.
6. Maintaining and developing your specialist skills in stability assessment and drawing reviews.
7. Contributing to the provision and delivery of first-class Statutory Services to both internal and external customers. Work with the Technical Manager, Principal Marine Surveyor (Stability & Plan Approval), and Business Manager to provide a customer service experience that both meets and manages expectations; helping to deliver a regulatory climate that is clear, consistent and supportive of UK maritime industries.

Person specification

To be successful, you will be a Maritime Professional with the required qualification stated below and a have good understanding of the fundamentals of ship stability and plan approval.

The post holder will possess strong analytical and critical‑thinking skills and have an ability to make balanced, well‑reasoned decisions.

They will demonstrate excellent communication skills, and be confident in explaining complex topics to technical and non‑technical audiences.

The post‑holder will have the opportunity to develop their technical knowledge of statutory maritime requirements, vessel stability, and plan approval processes. They will demonstrate analytical ability, attention to detail, and capability to assess routine stability data, plans, and inspections. Effective communication skills are essential for providing clear technical advice to industry and colleagues and customers. The individual will be organised, able to manage workloads, meet service standards, and maintain accurate records. They will show commitment to continuous professional development, uphold MCA quality, safety, and compliance standards, and work collaboratively across teams. Professional integrity, customer focus, and willingness to support audits, training, and wider MCA initiatives are essential.

Essential licenses:

1. A valid passport for international travel

2. full UK driving license

Essential qualifications:

Naval Architect/Ship: A degree accredited by RINA/SNAME as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer. A degree accredited by RINA/IMarEst as meeting the academic requirements for Incorporated Engineer

Applicants without the qualifications stated above may also be eligible if they are an Incorporated Engineer (I.Eng) or Chartered Engineer (C.Eng) through the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA), the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEst), or Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), but in such cases evidence of the equivalent level of learning plus relevant marine industry experience will need to be demonstrated to the satisfaction of an MCA S&I technical review panel.

Relevant marine industry experience’ is that which provides understanding and experience of the underpinning competencies expected of a Ship surveyor (see MSF4989) which includes marine structural design, construction or repair, and stability measurement or analysis.

Those applicants meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer by RINA / IMarEst need not supplement this with any industrial experience. Those holding qualifications as Incorporated Engineer are required to support this with sufficient experience in a role at the given level in a technical capacity of responsibility within the maritime industry, or onboard ship.

The MCA would welcome applications from candidates with HND qualifications and relevant marine experience in small commercial craft, who should note the Engineering Council requirements for qualifications that may lead to I.Eng.

‘Sufficient experience’ means experience working in the marine industry in a capacity that develops and broadens the knowledge gained at qualification over a minimum of 3 years and is unlikely to be achievable in a period of less than 5 years. Whilst this time-period is not fixed, it provides a benchmark for the likely time-period to gain the breadth of experiences in a variety of situations which underpins the work of a Marine Surveyor. It is expected that the marine industry experience is in a field very closely related to the work of MCA Surveyors. A direct entrant with the above qualifications, skills and experience would take approximately 2 years to get up to sped with all aspects of the work, including accreditation within the MCA Marine Surveyor Development Scheme.

Further details of essential minimum qualification requirements and criteria can be found on the Role Profile.

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. You will be an experienced Maritime Professional with a degree in Naval Architecture and a have good understanding of the fundamentals of ship stability and plan approval.
2. You will have proven customer service skills and can make quick, effective decisions, that are always focused on achieving the best outcomes.
3. You will be resilient, flexible and able to manage a varied workload with competing priorities.
4. You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to effectively build relationships with a variety of stakeholders across different cultures and industries, and communicate complex, technical information in a clear and concise way.
5. You will have a keen eye for detail and approach your work in a methodical manner, whilst also bringing innovation to the role. If this sounds like you, then please apply.

Please note, due to the nature of the role you will also be required to undergo a Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) before commencing employment with us. Gaining CTC Clearance will require you to provide proof that you have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 full consecutive years from your date of application and only candidates who meet this requirement will be considered for the role.

Additional Information

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

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 18.5 hours per week.

MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work.

Please ensure you meet the eligibility requirements before applying. Due to the nature of this role, you will need to have resided in the UK for the last 3 years. You will be asked to provide evidence of this at interview stage.

Please take note that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are currently unable to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship

The expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace or out on official business. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager. There may be a requirement for occasional travel on official duty within the UK, which may involve overnight stays. Notice will be given prior to travel.

Licences

A full driving licence and a passport valid for international travel are required.

This must be held at the point of application.

Qualifications

The minimum academic qualification required is one of:

•Naval Architect: A degree accredited by RINA/SNAME as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer.

Applicants without the qualifications stated above may also be eligible if they are a Chartered Engineer (C.Eng) through the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA), the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEst), but in such cases evidence of the equivalent level of learning plus relevant marine industry experience will need to be demonstrated to the satisfaction of an MCA S&I technical review panel.

Further details of essential minimum qualification requirements and criteria can be found on the Role Profile.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Surveyor Competency Framework - Underpinning competencies (as detailed in MCA document MSF 4989) understanding of stability theory - Level 2
• Surveyor Competency Framework - Underpinning competencies (as detailed in MCA document MSF 4989) understanding of marine structural design and assessment on small vessels - Level 2

Benefits

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.

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

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 word count).

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

Within your CV, please ensure you outline your previous jobs including the company you worked for, job title, length of employment and a brief description of your duties and responsibilities. In addition, please can you list any qualifications you have including the full degree titles and full name of the university/s you studied at to obtain the qualifications/degrees.

For guidance on the CV please click the following link: Candidate Guidance for CV.

The sift is due to take place between 23-25 February 2026.

Stage 2: Interview

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

• Behaviours – Communicating & Influencing and Making Effective Decision.
• Technical – Understanding of marine structural design and assessment on small vessels - Level 2.
• Technical - Understanding of the principles of the safe operation of large commercial ships - level 2.
• Technical - Understanding of the use of mandatory ships equipment on ships - Level 2.

As part of your interview you will be assessed against Marine Surveyor Competencies (Level 2)

The interview will take place online via Microsoft Teams.

The interviews will take place week commencing WC 16 March 2026.

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.

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.

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.

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 : Holly Pitches
• Email : holly.pitches@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

Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 194kB)Annex E - SI Health Standards Opens in new window (pdf, 512kB)MSF4989 R09.22 Recruitment Opens in new window (pdf, 598kB)