Technical Lead

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Science, Technology, Research and Analysis (STAR) Group sits at the heart of the Home Office. The group ensures the best evidence and analysis are used to address the strategic issues facing the department. We also provide the science, technology, data, and international insights and collaboration capabilities to drive delivery.

This role sits within the Home Office Science Directorate, where we champion the use of Science, Innovation and Technology (SIT) to inform policy and enhance operational effectiveness. From supporting frontline services to shaping national security strategies, our work has real-world impact.

Job description

This exciting opportunity is within the growing test and evaluation function in the SIT delivery team managing the technical delivery and support to the critical certification and type approval assurance services. Certification and type approval is an important service that ensures that frontline users can access equipment (for example body armour or speed cameras) that has been demonstrated to meet operational requirements and technical standards.

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. To deliver this science service, Home Office works with partners from within government, including Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and industry.

This is an exciting new role. You will be leading the delivery of a specific strand of a high-profile Home Office science service, ensuring it is cost-effective, responsive, resilient, and trusted by all.

Reporting to the Head of Test and Evaluation (G6) you will be an expert, delivery-focussed specialist.

You will work closely with senior leaders in science and technology, policy leads and external science and technology delivery partners including test facilities to manage assurance activities, processes and information to support delivery of test and evaluation assurance services. You will oversee a range of assurance activities which will include managing and delivery of assurance services associated with a specific area, track delivery of commercial activities to agreed time, cost and quality to ensure efficient delivery and act as a technical subject matter expert.

Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Using scientific analytical skills to manage an assurance work strand (PPE and Irritants, Armed Policing and Less Lethal Weapons, HO Type Approval) including submissions, tracking cases and incorporation and scrutiny of technical outputs.
• Building and maintaining engagement with stakeholders internally (e.g. policy, operational teams and science team) and external suppliers to support delivery of assurance services.
• Managing assurance contracts including tracking delivery ensuring it meets agreed time, quality and cost.
• Supporting commercial activities through development and coordinating statement of requirement for new commercial for delivery assurance services.
• Delivering expert technical advice in relation to assurance activities and equipment.
• Driving efforts to continuously improve assurance activities in terms of quality, timeliness and value for money.

Working pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working.

We also encourage applications from candidates who wish to work part-time; however, part-time opportunities cannot be guaranteed and are subject to the requirements of the role and business. Candidates wishing to work part-time should notify the vacancy holder as soon as a provisional offer of employment is made, to explore whether this can be accommodated at your selected location.

Travel

Occasional travel within the UK may be required. Travel costs incurred for business need, will be reimbursed in line with Home Office travel policy.

Person specification

Essential criteria

You must be able to demonstrate:

• A STEM degree or relevant experience to at least degree level.
• Substantial, demonstratable technical expertise in one of the following areas:
  1) Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) of road traffic law enforcement equipment
  2) Police Personal Protective Equipment (Body Armour, Irritant Sprays, etc.)
  3) Armed Policing equipment and Less Lethal Weapons
• Strong engagement skills to quickly build good working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders and draw on others’ skills, knowledge and expertise.
• Experience in the delivery, oversight and management of technical services, scientific or research and development projects.
• The ability to manage, plan, schedule workload and maintain technical delivery in fast-paced complex environments communicating clear outcomes of evidence based decisions.
• The ability to use scientific analytical skills to identify, coordinate, and implement technical service delivery including provision of advice and escalating issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience translating technical outcomes into clear communicable products.

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of operational policing or experience in working with police stakeholders.
• Understanding of government procurement and commercial processes.

Qualifications

A STEM degree or relevant experience to at least degree level

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• GSE: Overseeing Technical Work (Leader)
• GSE: Developing/Maintaining Expertise (Experienced)

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• Successful candidates will be eligible for an annual Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) of £2,000. This allowance is subject to review and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application – by 21st January 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• a CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour Managing a Quality Service (maximum of 250 words).

Your CV should consist of yourcareer history, qualifications and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – week commencing 26th January 2026.

The sift will be held on the CV, Personal Statement and lead Behaviour Managing a Quality Service.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement and CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of the lead Behaviour Managing a Quality Service.

3. Interview – week commencing 16th February 2026.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours and Technical Skills based questions.

The interview will take place via MS Teams.

For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) career framework:

Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Career Framework, November 2021 (Version 2)

In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.

The presentation will be assessed against the GSE career framework and will be assessed against the Technical Skills as listed in the job advertisement.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Further information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Serviceon your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Location preference

You will only be able to select a single location preference so please ensure this is a location that you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at your preferred location and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is Basic. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Home Office Candidate_Information_v15_DECEMBER_2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)