Title: Head of Engineering and Technical Management – UWS UK
Base location: Templecombe preferred, but Cheadle, Crawley or Bristol considered.
We offer a hybrid approach to office and remote working. We expect all our employees to be physically with colleagues, clients or suppliers 3+ days per week on average.
At most, 40% travel required to other Thales sites with occasional travel for external meetings.
Primary Purpose of the Role:
This role is to lead our community of Engineering Delivery Managers, Engineering Work Package Managers and IVVQ Managers to ensure we are equipped to deliver now and for the future by; ensuring we develop and grow our people, ensuring we have the skills and craftsmanship to succeed, and by conducting governance to ensure we deliver.
The successful applicant should have the behaviours and skills to deliver change. UWS-UK is undergoing a number of transformations, and our community of engineering project leaders in this job family are critical to this transformation. As the Head of Engineering & Technical Management the successful applicant will need to drive the transformation of the job family and this community to ensure we are equipped to execute our growing role as a systems Integrator, to drive value from our partners (the UK supply chain and Thales colleagues in other countries) and to maximise opportunities from our building blocks.
The role is expected to be 50% functional and 50% direct support to project work, however the successful applicant should be aware that this split will vary. The direct part of the role will be to provide leadership and support on key bids and projects, ensuring all the key enablers are in place to assure successful programme delivery.
Key Responsibilities and Tasks:
The list below is intended to provide an insight in to some of the key activities this role will undertake. They are given as a guide as to the expected duties of the grade, not as checklist of mandatory prior experience;
People
Ensure our people are skilled, motivated and rewarded through engagement with our annual review processes (Talent, Development and Performance Reviews).
Deliver training, mentoring and coaching to develop the skills and capabilities of the team.
Ensure the team is inclusive and maximises the benefits diversity brings.
Ensure bids and programmes are adequately resourced with engineering capability, in terms of numbers, skills and experience to ensure delivery of programmes at competitive costs.
Ensure overhead budgets are met in terms of utilisation and labour rates.
Engage the team through operational and communication meetings to ensure adequate levels of awareness, coordination and feedback.
Craftsmanship
Ensure all Engineering and Technical managers are applying their craft to a high standard by supporting Co-assessments and TIMS reviews.
Drive improvements in how projects are managed and delivered, by ensuring the Engineering Performance Plan addresses any weaknesses, and by delivering the improvement actions relevant to Engineering and Technical Management.
Ensure co-ordination with the other disciplines to promote successful cross functional delivery.
Governance
Attend the Engineering Tactical Review, identifying engineering delivery challenges on projects and providing support to ensure prompt resolution.
Attend and chair key DDQS reviews to ensure projects meet the required maturity.
Reviewing and approving bid estimates, including ensuring that appropriate governance is planned into projects at the bid phase.
Key Skills:
The key skills below are those we believe will make a successful candidate effective in this role. This section does not prescribe how these skills have been obtained.
Leadership – with natural ability to build and sustain strong working relationships at all levels.
Delivery - The ability to lead a team to deliver results in complex engineering environments.
Effective personal organisation and an ability to remain composed and focused under pressure.
The ability to critically analyse information, understand data, and evaluate project outcomes.
Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate to diverse audiences. This includes the ability to create clear and concise reports and presentations.
The skills and a passion to develop others and themselves.
Desirable Experience:
Experience in successfully applying the key aspects of engineering delivery management; for example leading cross functional engineering teams, tailoring and applying engineering strategies & processes, undertaking effective risk management, executing work package management, conducting engineering reporting (incl. Dashboards and engineering KPIs related to earn management, on time delivery and technical maturity), undertaking resource management.
Experience of delivering results in complex engineering environments.
Experience of managing people including performance management and personal development.
Experience in bringing about change in a complex environment.
Applicants must be eligible to obtain UK SC Level Security Clearance without restrictions and therefore able to work with UK Eyes only information.
Values & Behaviours:
Think Big; imagine the future, Inspire to Engage.
Make it Happen; Deliver user-centric solutions, act with agility.
Together; Grow others & self, include others
Safety – Totally embrace the Thales safety culture to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all.
Ethics - Thales employees must be exemplary in their ethical conduct and social responsibility.
Job holders will be expected to perform in line with the Thales Code of Practice, Policies and Procedures.
Desirable Qualifications and Certification:
Chartered Engineer
Degree qualified in a related subject or equivalent
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In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
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