Principal Surveyor - External Monitoring and Assurance

Job summary

Can you lead complex maritime assurance projects with confidence?

Do you thrive on driving compliance and improving safety standards?

Have you got the expertise to influence and shape industry best practice?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Principal Surveyor to join our External Monitoring and Assurance (EMA) team within the Maritime Governance, Improvement and Regulatory Compliance Directorate.

The MCA implements the UK Government’s maritime safety policy, working to prevent loss of life and pollution at sea. The EMA branch provides assurance that external organisations, such as Classification Societies, Certifying Authorities, and UK Overseas Territories, comply with international and national standards. Our team monitors and audits these bodies to ensure robust governance and adherence to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) codes, supporting the UK’s obligations as a flag, port, and coastal State.

You’ll work alongside experienced auditors and technical specialists, influencing policy and representing the UK at high-level international forums. This is a unique opportunity to shape industry best practice, strengthen regulatory compliance, and contribute to safer seas worldwide.

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 a Principal Surveyor, you will lead the monitoring and assurance of external organisations, including Classification Societies and Certifying Authorities, ensuring compliance with international and UK maritime standards. You’ll manage delegation agreements, conduct audits, and provide technical expertise to influence policy and governance. Representing the UK at high-level forums, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening regulatory frameworks, promoting compliance supporting safe shipping practices, and mentoring team members to deliver excellence.

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

1. Lead audits and monitoring of Classification Societies/ Recognised Organisations (ROs) and Certifying Authorities (CAs) to ensure compliance with UK and international standards.
2. Manage delegation agreements and maintain strong relationships with Recognised Organisations and other external bodies.
3. Represent the UK at high-level international forums, influencing policy and regulatory frameworks.
4. Provide technical expertise and policy advice to internal and external stakeholders on maritime assurance matters.
5. Develop and update guidance for external organisations, ensuring alignment with IMO codes and UK legislation.
6. Mentor and manage team members, fostering professional development and high performance.
7. Oversee digital systems for risk monitoring and performance analysis of external bodies. 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.

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:

Qualifications: The minimum academic qualification required is one of:

• Engineer: MCA recognised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) III/2 Chief Engineer Unlimited Certificate of Competency
• Nautical: MCA recognised STCW II/2 Master Unlimited Certificate of Competency.
• Naval Architect: A degree accredited by RINA/SNAME as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer.

MCA recognised means certificates issued by a country whose seafarer training is recognized by the UK. A list of those countries can be found on our website at www.gov.uk and search MCA CEC (those without UK issued STCW Certificates of Competency will need to complete UKLAP training at an early stage after entry).

Or

• Applicants without the qualification stated above may also be eligible if they are a Chartered Engineer (CEng) through the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA) or 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.

And

• ‘Relevant marine industry experience’ is that which provides understanding and experience of the underpinning competencies expected of a Naval Architect Surveyor (see MSF4989) which includes marine structural design, construction or repair, and stability measurement or analysis.
• Ship: A degree accredited by Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) / Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMechE) as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer
• Applicants without the qualification stated above may also be eligible if they are Chartered Engineer (CEng) through the 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.
• ‘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.

Licenses:

• A valid passport for international travel
• A full UK driving license

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. Capable of Managing UK–RO relationships: Oversee all matters relating to Recognised Organisations (RO), including authorisation agreements, policy development, and representation at internal/external meetings.
2. Able to lead monitoring programmes: Deliver UK/Red Ensign Group (REG) monitoring arrangements for six Classification Societies and ten Certifying Authorities, ensuring compliance with IMO RO Code and related regulations.
3. Provide leadership and mentoring: Manage and develop team members and Lead Auditors within External Monitoring and Assurance (EMA) to achieve objectives and maintain MCA standards
4. Conduct audits and assessments: Manage audits of ships under the MCA Alternative Compliance Scheme and assess shipyards for UK flag compliance.
5. Represent MCA internationally: Attend and contribute to high-level industry and regulatory forums, including International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) and International Quality Assessment Review Body (IQARB), providing technical expertise and UK policy positions.
6. Drive digital and policy improvements: Review and update flag State guidance, develop digital systems for RO and CA performance analysis

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.

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. 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. The role will be contractually based at any of the listed Maritime Coastguard Agency Marine Offices above, with an expectation of regular travel to the Southampton headquarters.

Work/Travel on official duty within the UK and short-term visits overseas, which may involve overnight stays away from home. A passport valid for international travel is required.

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.

Security Checks

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 CTC (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

Licences

oA valid passport for international travel
oA full UK driving license

Qualifications

Essential qualifications/licenses:
Qualifications: The minimum academic qualification required is one of:
oEngineer: MCA recognised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) III/2 Chief Engineer Unlimited Certificate of Competency.
oNautical: MCA recognised STCW II/2 Master Unlimited Certificate of Competency.
oMCA recognised means certificates issued by a country whose seafarer training is recognized by the UK. A list of those countries can be found on our website at www.gov.uk and search MCA CEC (those without UK issued STCW Certificates of Competency will need to complete UKLAP training at an early stage after entry).
oNaval Architect: A degree accredited by RINA/SNAME as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer.
or
oApplicants without the qualification stated above may also be eligible if they are a Chartered Engineer (CEng) through the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA) or 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.
And
o‘Relevant marine industry experience’ is that which provides understanding and experience of the underpinning competencies expected of a Naval Architect Surveyor (see MSF4989) which includes marine structural design, construction or repair, and stability measurement or analysis.
oShip: A degree accredited by Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) / Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMechE) as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer
oApplicants without the qualification stated above may also be eligible if they are Chartered Engineer (CEng) through the 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.
o‘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.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Underpinning competencies - Level 3 (as detailed in MCA Document MSF4989 attached)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £63,645, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £18,437 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: A presentation and an Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

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 (1,000-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• Technical Authority & International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Knowledge: Demonstrate deep technical and professional competency in survey, audit, and inspection activities, with a strong understanding of IMO processes (especially International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and their application to international shipping registers.
• High-Level Representation & Diplomacy: Provide examples of representing national or organisational positions at senior international meetings, negotiating outcomes, and maintaining focus under urgent operational or policy pressures.
• Qualifications & Breadth of Experience: Confirm qualifications equivalent to a Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) Principal Marine Surveyor and experience as a Marine Surveyor, demonstrating the technical competency levels required for complex decision-making.
• Technical Advice: Provide examples of acting as a source of detailed technical advice about difficult and/or complex situations demonstrating your technical competency levels. Areas of technical competency are detailed in MCA document MSF 4989 which forms part of the Marine Surveyor Development Scheme (MSDS)

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element, Technical Authority & International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Knowledge. 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 from 12/03/2026

Stage 2: Interview

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

• Behaviours:
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace
    
    
• Experience

• Technical: Level 3 - Underpinning competencies (as detailed in the attached MCA Document MSF4989)

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess experience: Demonstrable technical and professional competency in the primary area of effective oversight of Recognised Organisations (RO), Certifying Authorities (CA), and providing technical policy and decisions on RO and CA policies.

Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place on 19/03/2026 and 20/03/2026

This interview will be conducted in person at our Southampton office (Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1EG). 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

Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).

If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.

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.

Vetting

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

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 : Luke South
• Email : Luke.South@mcga.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoff