Mechanical Engineering Manager

The Mechanical Engineering Manager post offers a rare opportunity to be part of the exciting changes within Defra Group Property’s (DgP) Science estate.

DgP manages the provision of facilities management services to Defra’s executive agency; the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).  APHA uses a wide range of specialist facilities as part of its aims to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy.  These specialist facilities include bio-containment laboratories across the UK with the main laboratory campus being located at Weybridge. The Defra Weybridge site is the largest facility in terms of size and complexity across the Defra network and is currently going through a process of major investment (over £1b) and redevelopment in order to enhance its scientific capability. The site is at the forefront of research and diagnostic testing for animal and zoonotic diseases and leads on disease outbreak response for Defra. 

The DgP Technical Services team at Weybridge fulfils the role of Intelligent Client Function (ICF) for FM services across DgP’s Science Estate.  

The Mechanical Engineering Manager reports directly to the Head of Engineering for Technical Services and is responsible for the management of mechanical engineering systems within the DgP Technical Services team. 

Leading on policy, governance and assurance for mechanical engineering systems for non-bio-containment systems, the Mechanical Engineering Manager ensures that highest standards are implemented and maintained as part of continuous improvement and integrates with both the DgP-SF Ops team and contracted service partners.

The role is based at the Defra Weybridge laboratory site and will require some travel to the regional sites up to 5% of the time, including overnight travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Working as part of a team leading subject matter experts for the assurance and governance of engineering systems within the DgP Technical Services team, ensuring appropriate frameworks are in place for continuing professional development (CPD)
• Assume ownership of all mechanical systems across site, including but not limited to: Steam, Hydronics, Non-containment ventilation systems and pressure systems
• Interfacing with internal and external stakeholders, i.e. APHA, Service provider, etc.
• Working closely with the Asset Manager and staff within the team to ensure a seamless and co-ordinated approach to the overall management of property assets
• Supporting the wider work of the Department in the formulation of strategies and policies related to corporate property ownership, condition, use and cost and to coordinate the formulation of capital and revenue funding bids for corporate property as they relate to works and maintenance programmes
• Ensuring general engineering risks are being managed effectively
• Monitoring performance of mechanical engineering systems and driving efficiencies and sustainable development in these areas
• Leading on the creation, implementation and reporting of an appropriate governance model for engineering systems (non-bio-containment) across the DgP-SF estate
• Developing and implementing an appropriate strategy for the assurance of engineering systems and processes
• Establishing boundaries with other SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) within the team
• Authorising the use of systems following appropriate maintenance and validation activities that have been completed to appropriate standards and requirements
• Undertaking incident investigations and producing technical investigation reports
• Ensuring asset information is accurate and available to Defra, project teams and the FM service provider
• Owning the technical standards for the mechanical engineering systems (non-bio-containment)
• Authorising technical specifications for replacement of, and new equipment/ infrastructure
• Working collaboratively with project teams through all project stages, fulfilling the role of senior end user to ensure new assets meet DgP and APHA requirements and are successfully onboarded to the FM service contract
• Ensuring equipment Service Contracts are fit for purpose developing proposals for change as needed
• Driving up standards for the operation and maintenance of systems
• Controlling and prioritising minor new works (revenue) investment, agreeing procurement methods, ensuring effective and quality of delivery, including financial reporting against budget
• Ensuring the Hard FM contracted service is delivered in accordance with good engineering principles and agreed KPIs, including formal review of performance and agreeing remediation plans to drive improvement
• Assessing and reporting on engineering compliance and assessed risk, with responsibility to ensure the Engineering Risk Register is maintained and controls are implemented
• Developing & Implementing site engineering standards and processes, aligned with industry best practice, ensuring that all new assets are maintained in accordance with statutory compliance and deliver reliability of operation
• Investment Planning, assessing 5 year forward maintenance register to provide resilience of operation
• Intelligent Client Function to assess and review Capital Program, ensuring all proposals are fit for purpose, compliant with industry standards and deliver best practice for the business
• Representing and supporting the Senior Management team in setting team standards and making decisions about future strategy and team development.

For further information about the role please read the candidate information pack which can be found here.

Key Criteria

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following skills & experience;

• Engineering management experience in an operational context on a complex site with interdependencies across multiple utilities, facilities, etc.
• Experience in managing the full lifecycle of mechanical engineering systems, including maintenance and delivering or supporting projects for mechanical engineering systems including their specification, installation and commissioning
• An understanding of mechanical engineering systems, including steam, hydronics pressure systems and non-containment ventilation systems and their application in the built environment
• Lead investigator skills and methods for undertaking engineering analysis
• Proven leadership and FM service contract management skills, including developing and fostering an empowering environment;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in MS Office products
• Analytical skills
• Technical report writing skills; and
• Stakeholder management skills

Qualifications/memberships

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent relevant experience; and
• Professional membership of an engineering-related institution, for example; IMECHE or CIBSE

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others

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

• Incident investigation and technical report writing.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension

Blended Working

Defra continues to support a blended working model and for this role you would be expected to on site in Weybridge 4 days a week. Travel may be required.

Job contact :

• Name : hello@twentysevenconsulting.co.uk
• Email : hello@twentysevenconsulting.co.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk