Ports and Vessel Traffic Services Manager
| Posting date: | 02 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £54,857 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 September 2025 |
| Location: | Southampton |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 423975/1 |
Summary
Do you have the confidence and care to influence port safety standards and guide national VTS operations?
If so, we'd love to hear from you!
The role will be working within Ports and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Policy in the Navigation Team, which sits within the UK Maritime Services directorate of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) 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 Technical Maritime Services (UKTMS) inspects and surveys ships to ensure that they are meeting both UK and international safety, security and anti-pollution rules. UKTMS also provide certification to ships and seafarers, registers vessels and responds to pollution from shipping and offshore installations.
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 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.
The key responsibilities of this role will include but are not limited to:
- To be the lead in the development and evolution of MCA's part in UK policies on port/marine facility safety and VTS through liaison with and consideration of all stakeholders.
- To provide expert advice on a variety of matters relating to ports, such as: Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) recommendations, the implementation of SOLAS Chapter V reg 12 and Merchant Shipping (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Reporting Requirement) Regulations 2004 as amended.
- To chair the PMSC and VTS policy steering groups, providing expert advice, liaising with customers to ensure positive outcomes, facilitating the groups input to DfT for updating of the PMSC and ensure the Guide to Good Practice is updated in line with the code.
- Manage and conduct PMSC Health Checks/verification visits and Audits of VTS centres/training establishments. Managing records, recording trends and prioritising activities on the basis of risk and/or intelligence.
- To prepare briefings for and attend IMO and International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) committees and prepare submission papers and other supporting documents as they relate to VTS, PMSC and the GTGP.
- Subject matter expert within the MCA for port related matters, including safety of port operations.
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.
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