Radio Communications Lead

Can you apply technical knowledge and expertise to develop, interpret and maintain maritime radio communications policy and regulation?

Do you have experience working with evidence, guidance or standards in a technical or regulatory environment?

Have you successfully engaged with a range of stakeholders to influence outcomes and deliver high quality written advice?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Radio Communications Lead, based within the UK Technical Maritime Services (UKTMS) Directorate which has responsibility for developing, negotiating, and maintaining UK objectives and regulations relating to a wide range of safety and environment issues associated with ships and vessels of all sizes - from small pleasure vessels to the largest internationally trading ships, including maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS). There is regular engagement with operational colleagues across the MCA, Government Departments and other national Maritime Administrations, as well as industry stakeholders.

This role is in the Radio Team, which deals with the development, maintenance and implementation of radio communications regulations; the use and protection of radio spectrum; development and availability of technical standards for bridge navigation and radio communications equipment; and their appropriate application to installations on UK vessels. The work of the unit is primarily driven by ship requirements of the Convention on Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS), Ch IV Radiocommunications and the ITU Convention (International Telecommunications Convention) and regional and national implementations.

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

As the Radio Communications Lead, you will provide technical and regulatory expertise to develop, implement and manage maritime radio communications policy, regulation and guidance. You will act as a focal point for stakeholders, representing the MCA and UK interests at meetings and working groups, while helping to maintain a safety-focused and proportionate regulatory framework.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Contributing to, and where appropriate lead, the development, negotiation, implementation and management of objectives and regulation for the UK merchant ship regulatory framework.
• Representing the MCA, and/or the UK, at internal, external and international meetings and working groups, including drafting and presentation of substantive papers.
• Coordinating the dissemination and input from UK stakeholders and government organisations in support of the development, implementation and management of maritime radio communications regulations and guidance.
• Providing a focal point role for industry and colleagues, maintaining a positive and proactive role with internal and external stakeholders.
• Drafting instructions for Government lawyers on UK objectives and coordinate impact assessments, including development of M-Notices, Safety Bulletins, Instructions to Surveyors and Advice Notes.
• Maintaining awareness of national and international political and policy context for maritime radio communications.
• Handle technical and regulatory questions, providing advice to senior managers, government departments and Ministers.
• Support the assessment of applications for exemptions and equivalences relating to radio communication equipment.

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.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1000-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• Ability to apply scientific and technical knowledge, drawing on relevant experience.
• Ability to locate, understand and use data, evidence and advice from analytical, scientific and technical sources.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and proven ability to research and draft high quality documents using a range of different media.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element, Ability to apply scientific and technical knowledge, drawing on relevant experience.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The sift will take place week commencing 14/09/2026.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical - Government Science and Engineering Career Framework

• Broad thinking – Technical adaptability (Level – Emerging)

You will also be required to complete a written assessment to assess the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place 23/09/2026 and 24/09/2026.

This interview will be conducted in person at our Southampton office (Spring Place, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1EG). Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

We will also hold a 12 month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for.

Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).

If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage depending on the nature of the dismissal.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

All External applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:

Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour

Threats or acts of violence

Illegal activity or substance misuse

Sexually explicit material

Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public. Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle—it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture. If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.