Summary

We welcome applications from all communities and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.

Do you have the expertise and experience needed to develop policy and technical standards for maritime communications, radio and navigational equipment?

Can you communicate effectively to a range of stakeholders both verbally and in writing?

If so, we are seeking a Technical Standards Policy Officer to join our team at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and we’d love to hear from you.

Job description

This is a development role for the holder to gain experience to be able to progress to the Senior Policy Lead (Technical Standards) role.

Within this role you will apply your technical knowledge to radiocommunications and navigation technology, its application and norms in activities such as:

• UK policy development on applicable performance and test standards and its promotion at international forums

• Ensuring UK meets its flag-state obligations through the maintenance of UK Regulations for radio installations

• Guidance and technical support for survey and inspection

As the Technical Standards Policy Officer you will participate in appropriate forums that provide representation/engagement, manage relationships, and provide an efficient service to internal and external stakeholders.

This is a development role with a defined development path, providing you with opportunities not to be missed. The work is varied, offering you lots of exposure to gain experience, knowledge and skills that can develop you further, including development of government policy.

The role will be based in the Southampton HQ. 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. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager.

There will be an expectation for the successful candidate to travel within the UK and abroad to attend meetings.

Responsibilities

• Growing knowledge of: technical norms for maritime radio and navigation equipment, related international processes for change, national processes for policy development and implementation.

• Applying technical knowledge to support the following matters affecting radio and navigation equipment, vessel installations and operations such as:

- Application and implementation of policy, taking account of international obligations from SOLAS (International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea) and other conventions affecting radio communications installations and technical standards for navigational equipment for ships/vessels including regulation, advice and guidance (which includes the draft / review of Statutory Instruments, Merchant Shipping Notices, Marine Guidance Notes, Instructions to surveyors, Safety Bulletins, Publications, and so on related to radio communications and navigational equipment).

- Responding to applications for non-operational radio licenses, coast radio station licences, AIS (Automatic Identification System) AtoN's ( AIS Aids to Navigation ) and radio jamming notifications.

- Promotion of UK maritime policy to relevant international and national forums as appropriate.

For further information, please see the attached role profile.

 

About You

You will come to us with your qualification, you will hold A STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths) degree or the equivalent.

You will have a keen interest in the maritime sector with an understanding of what it is like to ‘be at sea’. You will have experience and understand how technology can be applied at sea and the ability to work under pressure.

Well-developed communication skills in English, both written and oral will be a strength of yours. You will be able to convey technical issues to non-technical people with the ability to break down technical policy messages into understandable terms for a broad range of stakeholders.

Qualifications

• A STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths) degree or equivalent

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.