Compliance Officer – External Monitoring & Assurance

Can you lead audits and drive high standards?

Do you build strong relationships and give clear advice?

Have you worked in auditing, investigation, or analysis?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a dedicated professional to join its Maritime Governance, Improvement and Assurance directorate, working within the External Monitoring & Assurance (EMA) team. The team is responsible for monitoring and assuring the standards of external organisations such as Recognised Organisations, Certifying Authorities and the Red Ensign Group (REG) registries to ensure they meet UK and international maritime requirements.

Working at the heart of UK maritime assurance, the EMA team builds strong relationships, coordinates audits and monitoring visits, and provides expert advice to support safe, consistent and compliant operations across the sector. The team’s work delivers confidence to senior leaders, government partners and international stakeholders, helping protect the integrity of the UK flag State and wider maritime standards.

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 an External Compliance Officer, you will play a key role in monitoring and assuring the performance of external organisations and REG registries. You’ll lead and support audits, build strong relationships across the maritime sector, and provide clear, trusted advice that helps maintain UK and international standards. This is a dynamic role where you’ll spot risks, drive improvements, and represent the MCA in high profile forums.

• Leading or supporting audits of external organisations, ensuring they meet UK maritime standards, and produce clear reports and actions.
• Supporting the management of formal UK agreements with external organisations.
• Acting as a key point of contact for the REG and external bodies, handling enquiries and providing day‑to‑day advice.
• Coordinating requests for interpretations of UK and international maritime requirements with policy managers.
• Planning, organising and delivering meetings for REG British Shipping Registers and other partners.
• Participating in monitoring visits across REG registries as part of assurance activities.
• Identifying risks and opportunities, contributing to team‑wide mitigation strategies.

For further information on the role, please read the attached 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.