Code Vessel Team Lead

Job summary

Can you apply your technical expertise to develop, interpret or implement equipment standards, safety systems, or engineering requirements within the small vessel sector or a related environment?

Have you worked with or have experience of the small commercial vessel sectors and developed an understanding of the diverse operations carried out?

Are you passionate about improving safety standards and driving positive change across the maritime industry?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Lead a specialist team at the forefront of maritime safety, helping to shape standards and policy that support the safe operation of small commercial vessels. Working collaboratively with industry, government and technical experts, you'll contribute to the development of practical, risk-based solutions that make a real impact. This is an opportunity to influence the future of the sector, tackle complex challenges and play a key role in maintaining confidence in the UK's maritime regulatory framework.

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.

Job description

Shape the future of small commercial vessel safety and regulation. As the Code Vessel Team Leader, you'll play a key role in developing and implementing initiatives that improve safety, security and environmental standards across the UK’s small commercial vessel sector. Working closely with industry and government stakeholders, you'll provide technical leadership, influence policy and regulatory frameworks, and help deliver evidence-based solutions that support safe, sustainable and commercially successful maritime operations. This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of UK maritime safety.

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

• Lead and support the team in developing and maintaining technical standards, policies, and procedures for the small commercial vessel sector.
• Deliver team objectives, manage risks, and ensure compliance with Civil Service and MCA expectations.
• Provide strategic direction on the development, implementation and review of regulations and standards, particularly for Code Vessels.
• Represent the MCA and UK at national and international forums, preparing and presenting technical papers where required.
• Act as the key contact for industry and stakeholders, fostering effective collaboration across the MCA, DfT and external partners.
• Work with analysts, lawyers and stakeholders to implement regulations, guidance and codes, ensuring governance and consultation requirements are met.
• Oversee responses to consultations, enquiries, briefings and ministerial submissions, ensuring high-quality outputs are delivered on time.
• Maintain technical expertise, monitor emerging technologies and provide informed advice to senior leaders, Ministers and stakeholders.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills set out in the Civil Service Line Management Standards.

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

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

• Technical expertise in small vessel operations, engineering standards, safety-critical systems, naval architecture, marine surveying, or the development and application of maritime regulations and codes of practice.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing others, contributing to governance activities, and delivering effective outcomes within a regulatory or technical environment.
• Excellent communication and drafting abilities, producing high-quality technical and regulatory documentation, confidently using Microsoft Office tools, and able to undertake occasional international travel.

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 35 hours over 5 days 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 require some planned and unplanned travel, with some work and travel taking place outside normal working hours and potentially at weekends.

Travel to other parts of the UK, and overseas, including overnight stays, is also likely.

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.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Evidence - Analysis and use of evidence. o1.5 Science and Technology. (Level 3) o1.6 Futures, Foresight and Horizon Scanning (Level 3)Politics – Politics and democ