We’re recruiting Maritime Technical Superintendents to help keep Home Office vessels safe, compliant, and ready to support vital border security operations at sea.
In this role, you’ll use your maritime engineering expertise to oversee the maintenance and technical management of vessels across the Home Office fleet. This includes Cutters, Coastal Patrol Vessels, RHIBs, and Tactical Watercraft used by Border Security Command Maritime.
You must hold the relevant Maritime Engineering qualifications as listed below to apply for this role.
You’ll receive a salary of £41,750, with an additional Maritime Skills Allowance of £5,000 per year, subject to maintaining the mandatory qualifications. This role is at Higher Executive Officer grade.
The closing date for applications is 24 August 2026.
Border Security Command protects the safety and integrity of the UK’s maritime borders. We operate against a wide range of threats, including drug smuggling, firearms, organised immigration crime, and modern-day slavery.
About the role
As a Maritime Technical Superintendent, you’ll help make sure Home Office maritime vessels are maintained, operated, and managed safely, efficiently, and legally.
Your work will involve linking vessel teams with shore-based management and supporting safe engineering operations across the fleet.
You’ll coordinate planned and reactive maintenance, including repairs following defects or damage. You will oversee contractors and shipyard activity, making sure work is completed safely, to specification, on time, and within budget.
The role also includes maintaining operating manuals, instructions, and contingency plans, ensuring accuracy, as well as alignment with legislation and operational needs.
You’ll lead a technical team and work closely with maritime operations leadership, safety officers, finance, and commercial teams to support vessel performance, maintenance planning and value for money.
This is a role where your technical judgement, engineering experience, and ability to work with others help keep a national maritime capability ready to respond.
Qualifications
To apply, you must hold:
- Marine Engineering Certificate of Competency STCW III/2 or III/3, at Chief Engineer level or equivalent
- ENG1 unrestricted
- In-date STCW certification to maintain your Certificate of Competency
- HELM O or M
If you’re invited to interview, you’ll need to provide valid evidence of these qualifications. The vacancy holder will contact you after you book your interview to request copies. If you do not provide evidence in advance, your application will be withdrawn.
You’ll also need to pass and maintain an unrestricted ENG1 Seafarer medical fitness certificate, including look out duties, as well as all ancillary STCW courses that apply to your Certificate of Competency.
If you do not already hold an unrestricted ENG1, you’ll need to obtain it before taking up post.
Internal Maritime applicants with a restricted ENG1 may be considered on a case-by-case basis when applying for vacancies across the Command.
In addition, you must also either hold or be willing to work towards:
- Diploma in Ships Superintendency – Desirable
- Project management qualifications. Prince2 Agile
The following are highly desirable:
- International Safety Management Lead Auditor course
- Shipboard Safety Officer or ISOH Managing Safely course.
Working Arrangements
This role is based at Fareham, near Portsmouth.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement, and all employees are expected to spend at least 60% of their working time in an office.
This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working. This role may also be suitable for part-time working, with a minimum requirement of 3 days per week because of business needs.
You may need to visit shipyards during maintenance periods to oversee the quality of workmanship, which may also include time working away from home and overnight stays.
This is a uniformed post and requires the highest standards of appearance. Further information on uniformed roles and tattoo policies is available on the Home Office Careers website.
Benefits
- Civil Service pension (28.97% employer contribution)
- An additional Maritime Skills Allowance of £5,000 per year
- In-year reward scheme for exceptional performance
- Learning and development opportunities
- 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 days with service
- Public holidays plus one additional privilege day
- A culture that supports inclusion and diversity
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Fareham, near Portsmouth.
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- As the Technical Superintendent for Home Office maritime vessels, you’ll fulfil a statutory role across the fleet
- Support safe, efficient, and compliant engineering operations
- Link vessel teams with shore-based management
- Coordinate planned and reactive maintenance, including repairs from defects or damage
- Oversee contractors and shipyard activity, making sure work is completed safely, to specification, on time, and within budget
- Visit shipyards during maintenance periods to oversee quality of workmanship, which may involve working away from home and overnight stays
- Maintain and review operating manuals, instructions, and contingency plans
- Support the development of Chief Engineers by sharing best practice and promoting consistent engineering standards
- Monitor performance and highlight common fleet issues
- Oversee defect reporting, evaluate issues, identify trends, and prioritise repairs
- Help improve vessel reliability and reduce operational disruption
- Support with legislative requirements, including Workboat Code and MCA certification
- Work with Finance and Commercial teams to forecast maintenance costs, audit invoices, oversee refit periods, and manage procurement while maintaining value for money
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The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience in vessel and project management in a maritime and/or ship repair or shipbuilding environment
- Understanding and experience of procurement and contract management.
- Flexibility, adaptability, and creativity in solving problems
- A positive approach when taking care of change
- Confidence managing potentially difficult and challenging situations with colleagues and stakeholders
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This vacancy uses Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
As part of the selection process, you’ll be asked to provide:
- A CV detailing your career history, skills, and experience for the role
- A Personal Statement (maximum 1,000 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria for the role.
The sift will be based on your CV and Personal Statement.
If you’re successful at sift stage, you’ll be invited to an online interview via MS Teams. The interview will assess the following behaviours and include strength-based questions:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
If you’re invited to interview, you’ll need to provide valid evidence of the mandatory qualifications listed in this advert. Failure to provide these in advance will result in your application being withdrawn.
Visit our Interview guidance page for information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview.
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If you are interested in this role, please apply using the button below.
