Head of Engineering

Job summary

About OPSS

Do you care about the safety of products and want to protect people and places? Can we use your skills, knowledge and experience to enable UK business to thrive? If the answer is yes, then we would like to hear from you

We are the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), part of the Department for Business & Trade.� We are here for the purpose of making regulation work to deliver real world impact. Regulation is a powerful Government tool to address market failures, influence behaviour and promote positive action. Crafted and delivered well, regulation can be an enabler of growth, innovation and efficiency.

Since early 2018 we have been building a positive and creative team that enjoys a position of influence and respect within an organisation that continues to grow, most recently with the addition of construction products regulation planned.

Our primary purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm, ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence.

Further information can be found on our website�.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. We embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (DCS) for people with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We are Inclusive

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible and recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation if required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Job description

The Role and Our Team

Science and engineering are central to OPSS's mission to protect people and places. Our teams delve into the complexities of product design, materials, and performance to identify potential hazards and develop robust safety standards. By understanding the underlying science, we can anticipate risks, test products rigorously, and enforce regulations effectively. This approach empowers us to safeguard consumers from harm, ensuring products are safe throughout their lifecycle.

We are seeking a visionary Engineering Leader to propel our team to new heights. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of product safety by building and inspiring a high-performing engineering team.

Our Engineering Team is composed of engineers, scientists, and technical policy experts. We tackle a diverse range of challenges, from mechanical and electrical engineering to the intricacies of legal metrology and construction products. Our work is at the heart of OPSS's mission, providing the critical technical foundation for informed policymaking and effective enforcement.

From the mundane to the monumental, our Engineering Team is on the front line of providing technical advice to support effective, smart regulation. We delve into the unseen world of everyday products, from� e-scooters, gas hobs, button batteries - to the concrete that builds the colossal structures that shape our cities. When these seemingly ordinary items fail, the consequences can be severe with a human cost and lasting economic impact.

Our team is at the heart of preventing such costs. We conduct in-depth research, develop rigorous testing protocols, and craft influential advisory documents. We are the architects of safety standards systems. We work in collaboration with other departments and organisations, both across government and externally, overseeing� the technical aspects of processes such as designating standards and and approving Conformity Assessment Bodies (CAB) entry into the UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies (UKMCAB) Service . Our work is not just about compliance; it's about protecting lives and building trust in the marketplace.

Leading our high performing team, you will have the opportunity to:

Strategic Leadership: Oversee the development and implementation of engineering strategies to support OPSS objectives.Technical Expertise: Provide expert engineering advice to inform policy, regulation, and incident response.Team Management: Build, lead, and develop a high-performing engineering team.Testing and Advisory Services: Establish and manage a streamlined testing advisory function.Operational Excellence: Ensure efficient operations for functions such as standards designation and body approval.Collaboration: Foster strong partnerships across OPSS, government, and external stakeholders.Professional Development: Drive continuous learning and development within the engineering team.Professional Leadership and Representation: Serve as a technical leader within OPSS and the wider public sector.

Person specification

Essential criteria

We would love to hear from you if:

Possess a relevant degree or equivalent: Hold a degree in engineering, science, or a related field or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience.Excel in problem-solving: Can apply theoretical and practical expertise to address complex engineering challenges and inform decision-making.Demonstrate leadership and influence: Have a proven track record of leading technical teams and delivering impactful results.Are collaborative and results-oriented: Thrive in a dynamic environment and can build strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.

This post attracts an additional Specialist GSE allowance of �4,250. To be successfully selected for appointment candidates will be required to demonstrate technical skills, assessed against the UK Standards for Professional Engineering Competence. Further details of what this entails are listed below in the selection process details.

Qualifications

You hold degree or higher qualification in an engineering, scientific or technical discipline or can evidence relevant equivalent knowledge and experience.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Communicating and InfluencingSeeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Provide technical and commercial leadershipApply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of engineering problems

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �64,432, Department for Business and Trade contributes �17,396 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Thrive in and out of the office: We prioritise your well-being and offer a robust benefits package to support your work-life balance. Here's what you can expect:

Flexible Working: Craft your workday with flexible working arrangements and flexi-time options (subject to role requirements).Generous Leave: Enjoy a healthy vacation balance with 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 after 5 years. Plus, 8 public holidays and a privilege day for additional time off.Family-Friendly Policies: Access competitive maternity, paternity, and parental leave.Reward and Recognition: See your hard work acknowledged with our in-year reward and recognition scheme, celebrating achievements and contributions.Learn & Grow: Invest in yourself with 5 paid days dedicated to your learning and development to support your continued professional development.�Inclusive Community: Connect with colleagues from diverse backgrounds through our thriving staff networks, fostering a sense of belonging and support.Healthy You: Stay active with our Cycle to Work scheme.Wellbeing Support: Maintain your mental and emotional well-being through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme and Workplace Wellness services.Exclusive Discounts: Enjoy savings on your everyday spending with our employee discount scheme, offering perks at high street shops, restaurants, and online retailers.Secure Your Future: Build a secure future with a Civil Service Pension scheme boasting an average employer contribution of 27%.

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.

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