Ship Safety Lead (Fire Safety & Engineering)

Government Recruitment Service; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution 28.97%

25 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service in Cardiff is seeking a Ship Safety Lead to help shape UK ship safety policy and regulations. The role requires engineering or technical maritime experience and strong collaboration with government, industry and international bodies.

You will develop and implement UK objectives, draft instructions for government lawyers, and respond to official inquiries. This permanent, full-time post includes Civil Service benefits and flexible working where possible.

Qualifications

• Experience in maritime engineering or technical fields.
• Ability to draft high-quality documents.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to negotiation, development, implementation and management of subject-specific objectives.
• Provide a focal point role for industry and colleagues on UK objectives and regulations.
• Draft instructions for Government lawyers for timely regulation and guidance.
• Respond to stakeholders including FOI, Parliamentary Questions, and other official correspondence.

Job description

Ship Safety Lead (Fire Safety & Engineering)

Can you work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders to develop domestic and international regulations?

Do you have engineering or technical maritime experience?

Can you draft high quality documents?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)implementsthe 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.

Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.

Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, ourcustomersand our planet at the heart of everything we do.

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 MCA.

Within UK Technical Maritime Services, Technical Standards develops, negotiates and maintains UK technical decisions and regulations covering ship safety and environmental issues across all vessel types. The Ship Safety team researches, develops and implements UK technical objectives for fire safety, life-saving appliances, domestic passenger safety and other specialist ship designs and operations.

Leading the management and development of UK objectives, regulations and guidance for the assigned subject area, supporting a safe, commercially successful UK fleet through technical expertise and collaboration. The role acts as the focal point for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring MCA decisions are informed, balanced and aligned with Government obligations, industry needs and public expectations.

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

• To contribute to the negotiation, development, implementation and management of subject specific objectives
• To provide a focal point role for industry and colleagues on matters regarding UK objectives and regulations
• Draft instructions for Government lawyers for preparation and timely implementation of regulations and codes and guidance
• Provide responses to stakeholders, including responding to Freedom of Information Act enquiries, Parliamentary Questions, and other official correspondence

For further information on the role, please read the role profile which 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.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Summary

Can you work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders to develop domestic and international regulations?

Do you have engineering or technical maritime experience?

Can you draft high quality documents?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)implementsthe 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.

Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.

Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, ourcustomersand our planet at the heart of everything we do.

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 MCA.

Within UK Technical Maritime Services, Technical Standards develops, negotiates and maintains UK technical decisions and regulations covering ship safety and environmental issues across all vessel types. The Ship Safety team researches, develops and implements UK technical objectives for fire safety, life-saving appliances, domestic passenger safety and other specialist ship designs and operations.

Leading the management and development of UK objectives, regulations and guidance for the assigned subject area, supporting a safe, commercially successful UK fleet through technical expertise and collaboration. The role acts as the focal point for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring MCA decisions are informed, balanced and aligned with Government obligations, industry needs and public expectations.

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

• To contribute to the negotiation, development, implementation and management of subject specific objectives
• To provide a focal point role for industry and colleagues on matters regarding UK objectives and regulations
• Draft instructions for Government lawyers for preparation and timely implementation of regulations and codes and guidance
• Provide responses to stakeholders, including responding to Freedom of Information Act enquiries, Parliamentary Questions, and other official correspondence

For further information on the role, please read the role profile which 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.

Company: Government Recruitment Service

Salary: £45,900 to £45,900 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Cardiff

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 29 Oct 2026

Closing date: 15 Nov 2026

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.