The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implement 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 work undertaken by the Digital and Technology Directorate supports our organisation's ability to deliver on its Vision: “To be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers, and our planet at the heart of everything we do.”
Working with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, the Directorate enables new, efficient and effective ways of working for the Agency, driven by a
digital programme designed to keep pace with the cutting edge of new technologies to enable the delivery of the organisation's strategy.
As the Director of Digital and Technology you will be responsible for driving the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and securing the Agency’s digital assets. This includes responsibility for our technology systems, architecture, digital products, service desk, artificial intelligence, technology innovation, change delivery and cyber security.
Role Purpose
The Director of Digital and Technology is tasked with overseeing the strategic direction and execution of digital transformation initiatives and cyber security protocols within the organisation, modernising legacy systems and advancing the digital agenda. This includes:
- Driving Strategic Alignment: Developing and implementing comprehensive digital transformation strategies that align with the organisation's strategic goals and ensuring cohesive, collaborative and impactful implementation.
- Championing Digital Innovation: Spearheading initiatives that leverage emerging technologies to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.
- Ensuring Robust Cyber Security: Developing and enforcing comprehensive cyber security protocols to safeguard the organisation's data and digital infrastructure.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuously assess the effectiveness of digital initiatives and security measures, making adjustments as necessary to achieve optimal results.
Your New Role
As a Director and member of the MCA Executive Team, you will provide visible, strategic leadership across the organisation and contribute to the overall direction and governance of the Agency. You will operate to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, representing the MCA internally and externally.
You will lead your Directorate with a focus on inclusion, performance and continuous improvement. Through clear communication, effective performance management and colleague engagement, you will develop high‑performing teams and create a culture of psychological safety, fairness and accountability, consistently promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the MCA’s core values.
Working closely with senior leaders, you will support effective decision‑making and ensure robust corporate governance, compliance with legal and government standards, and strong risk management across your business area. You will be accountable for Directorate budgets and resources, maintaining financial discipline while delivering value for money and aligning outputs with organisational priorities.
In your capacity as Director of Digital and Technology, you will lead the development and delivery of the MCA’s digital, data and technology strategy, including cyber security. You will ensure technology is embedded as a critical enabler of the Agency’s objectives and front‑line services.
You will identify and assess emerging technology and cyber trends, advising on risks, opportunities and implications. You will oversee the organisation’s technology landscape, including the evaluation, management and decommissioning of legacy systems, mitigating technical, operational and commercial risks.
You will drive digital innovation and transformation across the Agency, leading major programmes where appropriate and ensuring effective budget management, procurement and supplier relationships. You will set and maintain a resilient, secure technology architecture, ensuring systems are reliable, continuously operational and capable of protecting critical services, including the MCA’s national 999 emergency network.
You will be accountable for digital, IT and cyber security risk management, ensuring the organisation can prevent, detect, respond to and recover from cyber incidents. You will lead the development of cyber security strategy, standards and capability, strengthening maturity across the Agency.
Finally, you will build digital and cyber capability across the organisation and work collaboratively with digital leaders across the Department for Transport and wider Government. You will represent the MCA in cross‑government forums, promoting collaboration and ensuring the Agency’s interests are effectively positioned.
What you'll need to succeed
- Credible, authentic leader with a clear digital vision and the ability to engage teams to deliver results
- Proven experience leading large‑scale digital and technology programmes in complex, fast‑paced environments
- Strong understanding of emerging digital and technology trends, with the ability to demystify technology and demonstrate value
- Experienced in evaluating and selecting technologies, quickly assessing suitability, risk and organisational impact
- Deep expertise across IT infrastructure, software development and cyber security
- Successful track record of leading a business‑critical technology function within a comparable sized, complex organisation
- Highly effective communicator and influencer, able to build strong relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders
- Trusted senior adviser with a record of providing clear, balanced guidance at Executive and Board level to support confident decision‑making
What you'll get in return
Maritime and Coastguard Agency offer an excellent package of benefits including:
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Pension
- Generous Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Allowance
- Flexible working
- Generous paid maternity and paternity leave
- Childcare benefits
- Season Ticket and Bicycle Loan
- Sophia Redpath
