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.

As the Test and Evaluation Technical Programme Manager, you will lead the Less Lethal Weapons and Armed Policing portfolios, applying strong scientific expertise and proven programme and project management methodologies to deliver robust, proportionate and timely test and evaluation assurance services. The role operates within highly complex and technical environments, ensuring the delivery of scientifically sound evidence to support operational policing capabilities.

Job description

With a focus on delivering successful outcomes, you will apply your scientific expertise and programme and project management skills to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels across the service. You will provide support, challenge and direction to drive project delivery, ensuring outcomes are technically robust, cost-effective and trusted by stakeholders.

The role operates within an environment of considerable uncertainty and political sensitivity, often requiring the management of high-profile stakeholders with competing priorities. You will be expected to adapt established procedures and methodologies to meet the demands of complex and unique situations. Strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills are essential to succeed in this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the delivery of technical assurance activities across the Armed Policing and Less Lethal Weapons portfolios, applying engineering, physics and analytical expertise to ensure compliance with relevant standards, guidance and safety requirements.
• Analyse and interpret complex scientific and technical data, providing expert advice and evidence-based recommendations to support assurance decisions and approvals.
• Deliver assurance that informs the approval of equipment for police use, ensuring operational requirements are met and risks are appropriately managed.
• Maintain effective governance arrangements with Home Office policy customers and key stakeholders, safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the service.
• Manage programme delivery, including oversight of budgets, benefits realisation, performance measures, risks, issues, dependencies and assurance activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external experts, providing technical support to procurement decisions, policy development and investigations relating to equipment performance or failures.
• Provide matrix leadership to a small team of technical specialists, fostering collaboration and driving the successful delivery of programme objectives.

Working Pattern

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

Travel

Regular UK travel is required (including some with overnight stays) along with occasional overseas travel.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Demonstrable experience of working within Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) environments, with a strong understanding of the weapons, defence engineering, or related technical sectors.
• Proven experience of successfully delivering large-scale, complex projects and programmes using recognised programme and project management methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in complex, ambiguous environments and deliver successful outcomes.
• Significant experience of engaging and influencing a broad range of stakeholders, with the confidence to operate autonomously and proactively build effective relationships.
• Demonstrable experience in the delivery, oversight and management of technical, scientific, or research and development activities that apply scientific knowledge to real-world challenges.
• Ability to design, oversee and support experimental or test activities, interpret findings, and communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to a range of technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to lead teams, develop capability, nurture talent and drive the successful delivery of organisational objectives.
• An engineering or physics degree or higher, or relevant experience in an associated scientific or technical field.

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge of standards development and management.
• Understanding of operational policing, experience in working with police stakeholders or in a public safety focussed environment.

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:

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

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• 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.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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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 10th September 2026

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

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

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.

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 – Commencing 14th September 2026

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, CV and 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 – Commencing 02nd October 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will be based on Behaviours questions (as listed in the job advert) and a 10-minute presentation which will cover both technical skills. The presentation question/scenario will be provided to you with your interview invitation (should you be successful at sift). Slides will not be accepted.

The presentation will be assessed against the following technical skills: GSE: Overseeing Technical Work (Leader) and GSE: Developing/Maintaining Expertise (Experienced). All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

The interview will take place on MS Teams.

For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Career Framework, November 2021 (Version 2)

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.

Location

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 locations 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 and technical skills 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.

Further Information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Chec k 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 n