Head of Technical

Head Of Technical

Location: Home based with regular travel to port contract locations including Clyde, Portsmouth, Devonport and Kyle

Salary: Competitive salary plus company car or car allowance, Private medical insurance and company bonus

Schedule: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, with regular travel to contract locations

Ready to impact a better future?

As a Head of Technical in our Defence Marine Services – Next Generation (DMS NG) team, you'll provide technical leadership across a complex maritime operation supporting the UK Defence customer. You'll shape engineering standards, asset strategy and technical governance, helping to ensure vessels remain safe, compliant, reliable and ready to deliver critical services.

This is a role where your work has purpose. By driving technical excellence, innovation and continuous improvement across the fleet, you'll help create impactful solutions that support national defence capability, strengthen operational resilience and deliver a positive impact on communities and the future of maritime services. You'll also help create headroom for people to grow by developing technical capability and fostering a culture built on trust, care and pride.

What you'll do as a Head of Technical

• Act as the principal technical authority for DMS NG, providing expert advice and challenge to senior leaders.
• Develop and deliver the technical strategy, aligning engineering priorities with customer requirements, contract obligations and wider business objectives.
• Establish and maintain technical governance, engineering standards and assurance frameworks across vessels and shore-based support functions.
• Drive improvements in reliability, asset management, maintenance planning, lifecycle strategy and operational availability.
• Lead the development of a dry-docking and refit excellence framework, promoting consistent, safe and cost-effective delivery across the fleet.
• Build strong relationships with customers, regulators, suppliers and internal stakeholders while supporting future growth, mobilisation and business development opportunities.

Does this sound like you?

• Flexible to travel across UK &Scotland contracts when required
• Hold a full UK driving licence
• Able to achieve SC Clearance and have resided in the UK continuously for last 5 years.
• Hold a Chief Engineer Certificate of Competency (STCW III/2) or Royal Navy equivalent.
• Bring significant senior leadership experience in marine engineering, fleet technical management or a related technical environment.
• Have expert knowledge of marine engineering, technical governance, asset management and reliability within a regulated maritime setting.
• Be confident influencing senior stakeholders and translating complex technical information into clear, risk-based decisions.
• Demonstrate experience leading technical standards, engineering assurance and continuous improvement across geographically dispersed operations.

What we offer

• 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays (and the option to buy up to five additional leave days each year)
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• A performance-based bonus scheme
• A company car or cash alternative
• Private medical insurance
• Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (we currently offer over 60 different apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression.
• Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Paid volunteering day, tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Our employee networks support connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including veterans, LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Vetting and checks:

This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you will need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments.

Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively. 

A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).

For support with your application, please contact recruitmentuk@serco.com.

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

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