Head of Safety Engineering, Defence Consulting
Lincoln, GB, LN6 7FL Chippenham, GB, SN15 1BN Leatherhead, GB, KT22 7AJ
RINA’s UK Defence Consulting Practice needs a dynamic and experienced leader, with a strong background in functional safety engineering. This role is pivotal in managing our established, growing and flourishing Safety and Environmental Consulting team.
As the leader of a team of c35 exceptionally talented engineers and consultants, you will be accountable for all operational and commercial objectives, reporting directly to the Head of UK Defence. The business supports the military across air, land and sea, advising clients, including the MOD and prime contractors, to ensure platforms and equipment are functionally safe and environmentally responsible. RINA has a rich heritage of working on some of the most technically advanced build and upgrade programmes, including fast-jet, rotary, autonomous air, frigate, submarine and autonomous patrol vessels.
This role offers flexibility, with the option to be based out of our Chippenham, Lincoln or Leatherhead offices. RINA is smart/hybrid working organisation, so living within commuting distance of the office is not necessarily required. Moderate travel across the UK is expected.
Your responsibilities:
- Lead, develop and inspire a high-performance culture within an established and growing team of Safety, Environmental and EMC engineers.
- Be the technical authority for all projects, providing expert counsel and decision making to ensure project outputs meet or exceed client expectations and industry standards.
- Act as the point of escalation for any client facing concerns, such as resourcing or project challenges.
- Collaborate with Sales/Business Development to provide differentiated technical solutions and insights, fostering a commercial mindset within the consulting team. Be a decision maker on bids and ensure proposals are of the highest quality.
- Drive continuous technical improvement, nurture innovation, and stay ahead of industry developments.
- Analyse and report project and team performance, optimising revenue and margin contribution.
Your experience & qualifications:
- A background in Professional Services, preferably Management Consulting.
- Substantial Defence domain experience (airworthiness and/or maritime), with a solid understanding of Defence Contracting and MOD commercial processes and frameworks (i.e. Aurora).
- A Functional Safety (Not HSE) Engineering background, with a requisite qualification (i.e. BEng, MEng, or Chartership).
- Experience of managing, developing and inspiring engineering/consulting teams between 15-50 members.
- You are likely to be a ‘Head of’ or Principal Consultant, Capability Manager, Principal Consultant, Managing Consultant, or Chief Engineer or similar.
- Proficiency of strategically developing a functional safety capability, supporting Sales and Business Development.
- Strong attention to detail; evidence of reviewing complex proposals and providing counsel to ensure all documentation aligns with client needs.
- Exceptional communication skills, experience managing a capability within a large & complex (ideally international) matrixed organisation; demonstrable experience of internal stakeholder management, building and sustaining strong relationships at the SMT level.
- Preferably you will have UK Security Clearance, OR you must be a British citizen (having lived/worked in the UK for 5 years+) and be prepared to go through vetting.
About RINA UK Defence Consulting:
RINA Defence Consulting is a Gold status member with the Armed Forces Covenant Employers Recognition Scheme and proudly supports those who serve.
We are a 100 strong engineering consulting partner to the Defence sector, providing a portfolio of consultancy services, including Safety Engineering, Environmental Safety, Integrated Logistics Support, Legislation & Compliance, EMC, Training Analysis, Cyber Assurance and Human Factors.
About RINA:
RINA is a 6,000 strong global engineering services firm, providing innovative services to critical industry sectors, including Defence, Civil Marine, Industrial, Energy, Oil & Gas, Power, Renewables, Transport and Infrastructure sectors. Operating in 70 countries, we have the depth of experience across all engineering disciplines. Certification and Legislative Compliance are at the heart of everything we do, ensuring we deliver to the highest quality, attesting to the formidable reputation we uphold. #LI-JB1
The Benefits we offer:
On top of a competitive salary, we also provide the following benefits:
- Private medical insurance
- Bonus
- Life Assurance
- 6% Pension Contributions
- 25 days annual leave (option to buy extra days)
- Competitive maternity cover
- Cycle to work scheme
- Tax efficient E-Car scheme
- Discounted dental cover
- Military reservists additional annual leave
- STEM ambassadors additional annual leave
- Professional membership contribution
- Professional development (i.e. Chartership)
- Lucrative employee referral bonus
- Retail and gym membership discounts
At RINA, we endeavor to create a work environment where every single person is valued and encouraged to develop new ideas. We provide equal employment opportunities and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected and safe from discrimination or harassment of any kind.