Test and Evaluation Technical Lead (Chemist)

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.

The Test and Evaluation Technical Lead will apply scientific and technical expertise to police equipment assurance processes. You will be responsible for Home Office-owned technical standards and for working with partners to assure equipment against these standards, providing high quality, robust evidenced advice to policy decision-makers on authorisation for police use.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team and apply your scientific and technical knowledge and experience to a high profile and essential service to policing contributing to the safe and effective deployment of technologies ensuing police officer and public safety. You will be part of the multi-disciplinary Test and Evaluation Team responsible for supporting police equipment assurance of personal protective equipment (PPE), road traffic law enforcement equipment, drink and drug drive test instruments, and assessments of less lethal weapons (LLW) and armed policing equipment.

Job description

The Home Office has responsibility for the testing and evaluation of several types of police equipment to ensure it meets police operational requirements. Responsibility covers certification of personal protective equipment (PPE) against Home Office standards, Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) of road traffic law enforcement equipment, drink and drug drive test instruments, and assessments of less lethal weapons (LLW) and armed policing equipment.

The Test and Evaluation Team in Home Office Science provides the robust, independent scientific and technical evaluation and evidence to inform decisions on this equipment’s authorisation for police use. This service is delivered through close collaboration with policy teams, operational policing partners, external suppliers and industry providers.

We are specifically seeking an individual with a chemistry background to apply their expertise to support advice focussed on irritants, drink and drug drive testing and controlled substances. The role requires strong analytical capability, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret complex data and translate findings into clear advice. This is a delivery-focused role suited to someone who enjoys applying science in practical, real-world contexts and contributing to high-impact, safety-critical outcomes.

As a Technical Lead, you will work closely with other technical experts in the team, policy leads and external science and technology delivery partners including test facilities to manage assurance activities, processes and information to support delivery of robust and timely test and evaluation assurance services. You will ensure that approaches are scientifically robust, proportionate, and aligned to relevant guidance and safety requirements, ensuring it is cost-effective, responsive, resilient, and trusted by all. You will also be responsible for contributing to standards management to ensure operational safety, consistency, legal defensibility and interoperability across policing and related functions. Consideration of current and emerging innovations in the market-place are essential to ensure standards reflect the latest technological developments.

Key responsibilities include:

• Applying chemistry scientific and analytical skills to manage assurance work strands including submissions, tracking cases, incorporation and scrutiny of technical outputs, ensuring alignment with standards, guidance, and safety requirements.
• Analyse and interpret scientific and technical data to deliver expert advice in relation to assurance activities and equipment, producing clear outputs to inform decisions and assurance processes.
• Work with external suppliers and laboratories to support delivery of testing, ensuring outputs meet agreed time, quality, and cost requirements.
• Support end-to-end standards development and management ensuring they are scientifically robust and meet operational requirements judging when incremental updates are appropriate versus fundamental redesign.
• Understanding market maturity including assessing the impact of the standard on innovation.
• Building and maintaining engagement with stakeholders internally (e.g. policy, commercial, operational policing) and external suppliers to support delivery of assurance services.
• Identify and escalate risks or issues arising from testing and evaluation activities (e.g. non-compliance).
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Test and Evaluation approaches, processes, and documentation.
• Support to investigations if there are any issues or failures of equipment.

The above responsibilities are not exhaustive, and the post holders may be required to undertake any of the above tasks or additional tasks not listed above, within the remit of their grade, to support the team.

This role sits within the Government Science & Engineering (GSE) profession and draws on key capability areas including: Applying scientific knowledge to real-world problems; Communicating science for government purposes; Supporting technical delivery and oversight; Developing practical and proportionate scientific approaches.

Working pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working.

Travel

Regular UK travel is required (including some with overnight stays) along with occasional overseas travel. Due to the nature of the work and/or the geographical area, driving is an essential requirement for this role.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• A chemistry degree or higher, or relevant chemistry-focussed experience in an associated scientific or technical field.
• Experience in the delivery, oversight and management of technical services, scientific or research and development projects which apply scientific knowledge to real world problems.
• Ability to manage, plan, schedule workload and maintain technical delivery in fast-paced complex environments communicating clear outcomes of evidence-based decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate technical information clearly to a range of audiences, including non-specialists.
• Strong engagement skills to quickly build good working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders and draw on others’ skills, knowledge and expertise.
• Ability to design and support experimental or test activities and interpret results.

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of operational policing, experience in working with police stakeholders or in a public safety focussed environment.
• Experience of working with external suppliers of scientific capabilities (including ISO 17025).

Licences