Assistant Director – Innovation Hub

Government Recruitment Service; Southampton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector department in Southampton is seeking an Assistant Director for the UK's Maritime Innovation Hub. In this role, you will lead efforts in adopting advanced maritime technologies while ensuring compliance with regulations and promoting innovation. You will collaborate with government and industry partners to drive strategic initiatives that align with the UK's decarbonisation goals. This position comes with generous benefits including a substantial pension contribution and ample annual leave.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97%

25 days annual leave, increasing with service

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience leading diverse teams across complex tasks.
• Strong background in maritime technology innovation.
• Ability to drive and implement strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead a centre of excellence for maritime innovation.
• Manage stakeholder engagements and communications.
• Oversee innovation operations, budget, and performance evaluations.
• Facilitate regulatory innovation with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Visionary leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory navigation

Data analysis

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Overview

Are you a dynamic technological leader keen to make a real difference to innovation in the UK’s maritime sector? Have you got experience leading diverse teams across complex tasks? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

As Assistant Director of the UK Maritime Innovation Hub, you will shape a strategic initiative that positions the UK as a global leader in the adoption of novel maritime solutions. This role combines visionary leadership with hands-on delivery, driving the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in areas such as autonomy, alternative fuels, and digital systems. You will build and lead a high-performing team with outstanding technical expertise and excellent customer service, forge partnerships across government and industry, and ensure innovation aligns with safety, regulatory compliance, and the UK’s decarbonisation and growth ambitions.

You will join the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) which 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.

The Directorate of UK Customer Maritime Services (UKCMS) oversees several key functions, including the UK Ship Register, Seafarer Services (covering standards, qualifications, certification, medicals, and welfare), the UK Shipping Concierge, Key Account Management, and the Maritime Innovation Hub.

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

This role leads the Maritime Innovation Hub which supports UK Flag customers in adopting new maritime technologies such as autonomy, alternative fuels, and digital systems safely and efficiently.

You will champion and drive innovation aligning MCA strategic objectives and UK Government decarbonisation and economic growth objectives. You’ll partner with UK Technical Maritime Services (UKTMS) and other directorates ensuring compliance with technical, regulatory and governance standards.

Collaborating with MCA teams, Department for Transport (DfT), industry and international partners, you’ll position the flag as progressive and responsible. You will be responsible for the Maritime Innovation Hub’s operating model, performance and stakeholder engagement to deliver measurable impact complementing UKTMS’s technical and regulatory leadership.

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

• Establishing and leading the UK Maritime Innovation Hub as a recognised centre of excellence for customer-focused maritime innovation, aligned with decarbonisation and MCA strategic goals.
• Leading stakeholder engagement and strategic communications to elevate the Hub’s profile, including the design and execution of high-impact promotional strategies that clearly demonstrate its contribution to economic growth and reinforce the UK’s position as a global frontrunner in maritime innovation.
• Providing a dedicated front-door service for innovators seeking regulatory engagement on novel technologies by overseeing the customer journey from early engagement to regulatory navigation and certification support.
• Acting as Service Owner and Innovation Lead being responsible for the design, delivery and continuous improvement of the Hub’s operating model, including the “Innovation Concierge” service.
• Facilitating regulatory innovation collaborating with internal teams, classification societies, and international partners.
• Leading cross-functional collaboration to ensure the Hub’s activities are integrated with wider policy, operational delivery, and international engagement strategies.
• Managing the Innovation Hub’s resources and budget ensuring effective use of funding, alignment with MCA priorities, and compliance with Sponsorship Board expectations.
• Monitoring and evaluating performance using data and stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Representing the MCA at national and international events advocating for regulatory agility and innovation leadership, in partnership with UKTMS and relevant directorates.

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 attached. 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.