Looking for a Technical Assurance Manager to work on High Speed Two, this is a unique opportunity to not only manage Technical Assurance on the largest infrastructure project of the generation but also be part of a step change in the industry for technical assurance. 

Must be well versed in Technical Assurance, rather than Quality Assurance, open to candidates from a range of backgrounds – Technical Assurance, System Engineers, Handover, Compliance, Audit or indeed Engineers, as long as they understand Technical Assurance (Evidencing work) have worked on Rail Infrastructure, Civil Engineering, aerospace/defence, nuclear, Rail System background etc and have good communication skills.

You could be working on a collection of construction contracts which could be any of the 4 Main Works Civils, 4 Stations or 14 Rail Systems Contracts, your own background and skills will likely dictate this working in an experience Technical Assurance team of 8. The role is to ensure the main contractors are self-certificating (Evidencing Work) correctly to the approved processes, checking the contractors have the right processes in place and they are following them.  The role will promote the principle of technical assurance, educating & guiding suppliers & internal HS2 staff as required, hold suppliers to account who are not evidencing work correctly or following the right processes. 

The Technical Assurance Manager role is to ensure that there is correct and consistent application of the technical assurance processes across one or more Construction contracts.  Supporting the application and review of the technical assurance regime, setting of processes and reporting on compliance from delivery perspective.  The HS2 contracts are self-assuring and so the Technical Assurance Manager’s role is to ensure the processes and governance set up by the main contractors are robust and fit for purpose – this could be for their Design Management process or verification process, risk management processes etc. And ensure the contractors self-certification is complete and followed the right processes.

Work Situation

The office location is either Birmingham Snowhill or London Euston, they operate a flexible hybrid working model working 2 days a week from the office. They will also be some travel to the site offices of the construction site. Overall this is a very flexible modern employer who cares about delivery not where you deliver from, however, if you wish to be based front the office more you can.

Birmingham      £55 – 61,140 + Pen (6:12) + 25 hols (potentially £64,197)

London             £60 – 65,580 + Pen (6:12) + 25 hols (potentially £68,859)

Duties & Responsibilities

• Ensure consistent application of technical assurance processes by the supply chain (IPT) and within the High-Speed Rail organisation across one or more sets of delivery contracts.
• Ensure the supply chain adequately and progressively self-assures its own works within the IPT.
• Review and accept technical assurance completion evidence submissions from the supply chain
• Review ongoing levels of capability and competency within the supply chain and project team and identify areas requiring support to de-risk the delivery of technically assured products.
• To own and present data-based reporting on Integrate Project Teams (ITP) adherence to technical assurance; through the provision of analysis and control metrics such that the  progress of the contracts and IPTs can be monitored, corrected and understood.
• Facilitate user feedback on procedures to the relevant technical group/author thus supporting continuous improvement of technical assurance ways of working.
• Produce assurance processes as required by the Lead Technical Assurance Manager.
• Oversee the application of additional verification activities ensuring that it is commensurate with a justifiable risk-based approach to ensure a fully assured product is received by HS2.
• Support the Head of Engineering and Environment & the IPT to manage additional verification activity processes and gathering of technical evidence.
• Support assurance activities and audits including identifying areas of concern, the preparation of content, collation of evidence and completion of reports.
• Liaise with other functions such as risk, requirements, configuration & change, information management (BIM) to ensure sharing of information and consideration of risks and issues.
• You will be expected to actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

CANDIDATE CRITERIA

Candidate Background

Open to candidates from a range of backgrounds could be a System Engineer (qualified engineer with a System engineering way of think) with Technical Assurance experience with Rail or infrastructure experience on a major programme of work. 

Could be from an Assurance background – Quality Assurance, Technical Assurance, Handover, Compliance.

Also could be an Engineering background -  design engineer, project engineer with Rail or major infrastructure programme experience - have an understanding of Technical assurance (Evidencing work) and experience working to defined protocols (requirements), with multiple interfaces.  Very interested in a technical engineer with Rail Systems experience – Signalling, E&P, Track, Control Systems etc.

Key competence of the successful candidates will be strong communication skills ability to influence and engage with people across HS2 and their supply chains.

SKILLS

• Authoring and review of technical documentation
• Delivery of educational briefings/presentations
• Competent in digital data and information analysis and trend reporting
• Quantitatively and qualitatively assess the performance of delivery
• organisations against of chain against objective requirements

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of problem solving and integration using systems engineering thinking within the infrastructural sector – understanding of requirements & configuration management.
• Knowledge with the principles of change and configuration management.
• Understanding of the roles and responsibilities under CDM Regulations 2015, and have knowledge of the European Common Safety Methods guidance.
• Knowledge of working within an NEC3 contract environment (useful not essential)
• Knowledge of the principles of quality management e.g. ISO 9001

TYPE OF EXPERIENCE

• Experience of managing and implementing quality and assurance principles, systems and frameworks on large scale infrastructure projects – rail, highways, nuclear, multi-disciplinary civil engineering projects
• Experience within a technical background with the experience of liaising with contractors and designers.
• Experience of multi-discipline programmes incl. civils, M&E, architecture, rail systems, rolling stock.