Head of Engineering and Operations Resourcing and Skills Development

FCDO Services

£ £52,000 - £63,495 plus £1,750 locational allowance and excellent benefits, including a Civil Service pension

Flexibility of hybrid working available subject to business need

Office location at Hanslope Park near Milton Keynes, MK19 7BH

Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

Are you an experienced line manager with a keen eye for budgets, excellent planning skills, and the ability to analyse and interrogate data? Are you looking for a new challenge at a one-of-a-kind organisation with a global purpose? If so, this could be your job, bigger.

At FCDO Services, we protect the UK’s interests around the world. We design and construct secure government buildings. We help earthquake-proof embassies. We courier diplomatic packages across continents. We keep complex projects on track, and on budget. We store visa applications safely in the Cloud. And a whole lot more besides. Our work is vital, which means our ability to keep delivering for our government-level customers needs to be protected. That’s why we’re building a brand-new team, focused on meeting the ever-changing needs of our business as we begin an ambitious period of growth. And you could be a key part of it.

Lead on workforce planning for one-of-a-kind department

As our Head of Engineering and Operations (E&O) Resourcing and Skills Development, you’ll have ownership of keeping our teams effectively trained and resourced, identifying skill gaps as you go and putting strategies in place to address them. This is a chance to make an incredible impact not only on our work today, but to build a legacy that provides our people with the foundation they need to do their very best work in the future.

Day-to-day, you’ll oversee the workforce planning strategy for our Engineering and Operations teams. From Structural Engineers to IT Specialists, it takes a diverse mix of colleagues to keep things running. Which means you’ll face unique challenges as you ensure our teams are resourced, supported and developed to deliver complex projects across the globe. From leading senior meetings and managing your team, to reviewing business plans and making process improvements, everything you do will help shape and deliver our business management strategy. This brand-new role is a unique opportunity to truly make your mark, which means it’s perfect for a proactive self-starter who’s looking for a great place to take their career to a global level.

Plan for our future and help protect the UK’s interests around the world

You’re an experienced line-manager, who’s a natural communicator and easy to work with. Your experience in recruitment, workforce planning, and budget management means you’ve got all the tools you need to effectively forecast the resourcing and training needs of your department. And your ability to analyse and evaluate data means you’re great at making evidence-based decisions, and explaining those decisions to stakeholders to get their buy-in.

Your organisation skills are second-to-none, and you’re a calm and creative problem solver. As you work closely with the Head of Business Management to head off any issues that might impact our ability to deliver for customers, you’ll also be resilient, reliable and responsive to your colleagues. Finally, you’ll feel comfortable working in a senior position, deputising for your manager when necessary, and leading by example on Health and Safety procedures.

Make your mark on our processes and take us into the future

And as for what we do for you, we offer a competitive salary, 25-30 days’ annual leave per year (depending on length of service) and a Civil Service pension. We also invest in our people – so you’ll have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, canteen and restaurants, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. Dependant on business need, you’ll also have the option to work from home in a hybrid way. Then there’s the fact we can offer your job, bigger. This is a place where everything you do will contribute to protecting the UK’s interests at home and overseas. And on top of that, in your role as Head of E&O Resourcing and Skills Development, you’ve got a rare opportunity to put your stamp on our processes for the future, and begin a successful career with us as we provide you with clear progression opportunities.

Want to see your future team’s work in action? Step into our Virtual Embassy, to see how we deliver for government customers and how you could help. Explore the embassy now at virtual-embassy.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk.

All our employees have to be security cleared to the highest level, so you’ll need to undergo a comprehensive vetting process before joining. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our process to achieve Security Clearance (SC). You can find out more about vetting on our website: fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/.

The closing date for applications is: 30 March 2023 at midnight

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And Employers for Carers. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.