Test and Evaluation Technical Programme Manager in Sheffield

Test and Evaluation Technical Programme Manager

Locations: Salford, Sheffield, Westminster

Salary

£62,732 - £69,006

National pay locations: Salford, Sheffield £62,732 - £69,006

London pay locations: Westminster £66,732 - £73,406

This role currently attracts a Specialist Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) of £2,000pa in addition to the base salary

A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

The Home Office has responsibility for the testing and evaluation of several types of police equipment to ensure it meets police operational requirements. Responsibility covers certification of personal protective equipment (PPE) against Home Office standards, Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) of road traffic law enforcement equipment, drink and drug drive test instruments, and assessments of less lethal weapons (LLW) and armed policing equipment to inform decisions on their authorisation for police use.

The Test and Evaluation Team are part of the wider Science, Innovation and Technology (SIT) Delivery Team, situated within the Home Office Science Directorate. We are responsible for the robust, independent scientific and technical evaluation and evidence to inform decisions on this equipment’s authorisation for police use. This service is delivered through close collaboration with policy teams, operational policing partners, external suppliers and industry providers.

Job description

As the Test and Evaluation Technical Programme Manager you will be responsible for the Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) portfolio. You will be applying strong scientific expertise alongside robust programme and project delivery methodologies, to ensure scientifically robust, proportionate and timely delivery of test and evaluation assurance services in highly complex and technical areas.

With a focus on the successful delivery of the required outcomes, you will use your scientific and PPM skills to actively engage with stakeholders at all levels within the service to provide encouragement, challenge and the focus for project delivery, ensuring outcomes are technically sound, cost‑effective and trusted by all. In all cases you should expect to work in an environment of considerable uncertainty and political sensitivity. You may also have to manage a number of high‑profile stakeholders with conflicting priorities. Procedures and methodologies will often need to be tailored or adapted to suit unique situations. You will have effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.

Essential criteria

You must be able to demonstrate:

• Experience in type-approval, conformity assessment or regulatory approval.
• Knowledge of road traffic law enforcement technologies and awareness of electromagnetic compliance (EMC) principles, standards and evidence.
• Experience of working on large scale, complex projects and/or programmes in a range of structured programme and project management methodologies.
• The ability to work efficiently and effectively through complexity and problem‑solve to achieve successful outcomes.
• Having strong experience working with a broad and complex range of stakeholders, with the confidence to engage with senior officials and ministers. You will seek out opportunities to effectively engage and be used to operating with a high degree of autonomy.
• Experience in the delivery, oversight and management of technical services, scientific or research and development projects which apply scientific knowledge to real world problems.
• Effective communication skills (written and oral) and ability to convey technical concepts and processes simply and clearly to a wide range of audiences.
• The ability to design and support experimental or test activities and interpret results.
• A broad understanding of government commercial mechanisms.
• Experience of having led teams to deliver successful outcomes with the ability to identify and nurture talent.

Qualifications required

An engineering or physics degree or higher, or relevant experience in an associated scientific or technical field.

It is essential that you hold the required qualification(s) and experience for this role at the time of application. Evidence of your qualification(s) will be checked during the selection process. Candidates who do not hold the required qualification(s) or experience, or are unable to provide evidence, will be deemed ineligible and withdrawn from the recruitment process.

Travel

Please note regular UK travel is required (including some with overnight stays) along with occasional overseas travel. A driving license is therefore preferable.