Test and Evaluation Technical Programme Manager

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 Innovation directorates sit at the heart of the Home Office, ensuring 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.

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.

We form part of the Home Office science and evidence ecosystem and as such are pivotal in maintaining collaboration and cross-working with our Home Office stakeholders, innovation organisations such as the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) and UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) and our operational partners (e.g. Policing and Border Force). We also work closely with wider government, suppliers in industry and academia and internationally to burden-share on areas of mutual interest.

We are specifically seeking an individual with either an engineering or physics background and strong programme management experience who will be helping to set up and manage the delivery of this high-profile and essential Home Office science service. You will apply your expertise to lead advice focussed on armed policing and less lethal weapons capabilities. The role requires strong analytical capability, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret complex data and translate findings into clear advice. This is a technical and delivery-focused role suited to someone who enjoys applying science in practical, real-world contexts and contributing to high-impact, safety-critical outcomes.

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.

Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Applying engineering or physics scientific and analytical skills to lead road traffic law enforcement, drink drive and drug drive assurance work strands incorporating technical advice and scrutinising of technical outputs, ensuring alignment with codes of practice, guidance, and safety requirements.
• Analysing and interpreting scientific and technical data to deliver expert advice in relation to assurance activities and equipment, producing clear outputs to inform decisions and assurance processes.
• Delivery of technical assurance which informs approval of equipment for police use that has been demonstrated to meet police operational requirements.
• Maintaining overall integrity of the service and ensuring appropriate governance mechanisms are in place with Home Office Policy customers and the wider stakeholder community.
• Overseeing risk and issue management. Ensuring mitigations are in place and resolved through negotiated agreement.
• Building relationships to access expert technical advice to maximise awareness and understanding of Home Office policy customers in the authorisation and decisions-support for procurement, including support to investigations if there are any issues or failures of equipment.
• Ensuring dependencies are actively managed, acting as an arbiter and enforcer and resolving issues between the various elements of the programme.
• Ensuring realisation of benefits for customers through planning and designing; Planning programme assurance activities, including development and adherence to key-performance indicators.

Working patterns

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However compressed hours are available.

Travel

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

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.

Person specification

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.

Desirable criteria

• Familiarity with relevant OIML, ISO, IEC and BS standards.
• Understanding of operational policing, experience in working with police stakeholders or in a public safety focussed environment.
• Programme Management qualifications.

Qualifications

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

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

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

• Leadership

Technical skills

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

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

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

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 14th December 2026.

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

• a CV.
• Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour Leadership (maximum of 250 words).

Your CV should consist of your career 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.

Please be aware that explicitly naming a Higher Education Institution as part of your application will automatically disqualify you on the basis of anonymity. Where applicable, please simply state e.g. “Technical Lead - Higher Academic Institution UK (January 2025-present)”.

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 – from 16th December 2026.

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, CV, and the lead Behaviour Leadership, as listed in the advert.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (CV and lead Behaviour). Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview – from 11th January 2027.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviour based questions.

In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a 10 minute presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation question/scenario will be provided to you with your interview invitation (should you be successful at sift).

The presentation will be assessed against both Technical Skills listed on the advert.

For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the following link:

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

The interview will take place online via MS Teams.

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

Location Preferences

You can select up to three locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) 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.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviours have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.

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. 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.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on 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.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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

2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)candidate_information_v18_July_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 8MB)