Graduate Trainee Surveyor

Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension

25 days annual leave

Bank Holidays

Staff discount portal

Career development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working

Job summary

Maritime and Coastguard Agency in the United Kingdom offers a four-year Graduate Surveyor Scheme to become a fully qualified MCA Marine Surveyor. You will train in a marine office, supported by mentors, while learning the legal and practical aspects of maritime safety and pollution prevention.

The programme emphasizes developing competence through hands-on tasks, law, and standards awareness, with progression aligned to the Government’s maritime strategy and professional qualifications.

Qualifications

• Relevant accredited engineering degree and eligibility for Chartered status.
• IT proficiency and ability to use Microsoft Office suite.
• Willingness to learn within a structured development programme.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Gaining understanding of MCA survey, inspection, audit and enforcement activities.
• Assist MCA Surveyors to maintain high marine safety standards and environmental protection.
• Attend Marine Office/HQ Operations Management meetings as required.
• Maintain personal competence and complete the graduate trainee training programme.

Skills

IT competence

Teamwork

Communication skills

Willingness to learn

Education

Accredited engineering degree (Naval Architecture / Marine / Mechanical)

Full UK Driving Licence

Degree completed within last 24 months

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Salary: £30,485 (There is an additional £3,500 in allowance which increases to £7,500 after 12 months)

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

As a Graduate Surveyor, you will complete a structured development training programme to become an MCA Marine Surveyor and gain an understanding of the Government’s Maritime Strategy for ‘Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas’. You will assist MCA Surveyors in maintaining high standards of marine safety, to minimise loss of life amongst seafarers and coastal users and minimise pollution from ships of both the sea and the coastline.

You will embark on a four-year development Graduate Surveyor Scheme. Your first two years will be spent gaining practical experience of a variety of different MCA tasks in a marine office, alongside theoretical learning about the role of a surveyor and the legal framework in which surveyors work.

Top Responsibilities

• Gaining an understanding of MCA survey, inspection, audit and enforcement activities, including but not limited to Flag State Work, Legal Frameworks, Auditing Techniques and Human Element, and Convention Vessels.
• Assisting Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) and Marine Surveyors in maintaining high standards of marine safety; minimising loss of life amongst seafarers and coastal users, and minimising pollution from ships of both the sea and the coastline.
• Attending Marine Office/HQ Operations Management meetings as required.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date personal competence and training records; completing all the required elements of the MCA Graduate Trainee Surveyor training programme to a satisfactory standard; undertaking training and development opportunities so that the skill and capability profiles of the post-holder are maintained as directed by the line management chain.

For more information on the role and responsibilities please see the full job advert on CS Jobs using the link provided.

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.

About You

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

• Relevant work experience or placements with transferable skills to the graduate surveyor role.
• Competence in IT and the ability to use Microsoft Office suite of applications.
• A willingness to learn, develop and follow a structured development programme supported by mentors and technical professionals.
• Excellent communication and team working skills.
• Relevant accredited Degree as stated above.
• You must hold a Full UK Driving License at the point of application to be eligible for this role.
• Applicants should have completed an engineering discipline degree accredited to achieve Chartered Engineering status with the Engineering Council within the last 24 months. Examples include Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.

Applications from those in the final months of their degree may be considered, subject to provision of acceptable evidence of predicted grades provided by the relevant University. Degree results must be held before employment commences.

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 27th September 2026