Working for MCA

Information about applying for jobs with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).


We work together with our partners and stakeholders to prevent the loss of life at sea and on the coast in the UK. We produce legislation on maritime matters and guidance to help follow the rules.

Whatever skills you may have, we can support you in developing a rewarding career whilst making a difference and contributing to saving lives.

The importance of maritime safety

Maritime safety is a worldwide priority. What we do matters; our work affects people every single day. Whether at the beach, coast or sea, people rely on our 24-hour emergency service 365-days a year, whilst our surveyors operate to ensure high standards of safety for all boat users around the globe. Our staff understand the significance of their work and its contribution towards our vision to be the best maritime safety organisation in the world.

Benefits package

We are proud of where we work: we offer a competitive benefits package with an attractive pension scheme, generous holiday allowance plus much more.

People at MCA

Our people matter: flexible working hours, wellbeing support and diversity training are just a few examples of our dedication to building an inclusive culture. You’ll also have the power to influence change through our staff networks. Whether you’re starting out on your career journey, changing paths or joining us as an experienced professional, you’ll be involved in saving and improving lives.

A diverse workforce

From marine surveyors, IT technicians to operational coastguards, our people are highly skilled. We can always rely on the diverse capabilities of our teams to achieve our aims and keep the public safe. We want you to be the best you can be: we provide regular support, training and development opportunities for all our staff.

Flexible working

We have a variety of options for flexible working to fit in with people’s busy lives. This includes opportunities to work part time, job shares, working from home, flexible hours and shift working arrangements. Our aim is to maximise the benefits of new technology, modernise our existing workspace and embrace flexible working practices in order to transform the way we work – while at the same time, enabling a better work-life balance.

Apprenticeships and development

At the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, we are passionate about developing our staff and enabling them to reach their full potential. This could either be through a recognised apprenticeship programme, to achieve a formal qualification, or one of the many of internal development programmes which our staff benefit from.

Safety is paramount

Safety matters. Join us and make a difference to people’s lives. From policy to enforcement, prevention to emergency response, communications to corporate services, we work together to create safer lives, safer ships, cleaner seas: our motto underpins everything we do.

Vacancies within the MCA

You can find us under civil service jobs