GL and Head of Site Shoeburyness

QinetiQ
QinetiQ

Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea SS3, UK

Posted on Jun 26, 2026

Package: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role ID: SF20253

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Group Lead & Head of Site at our Shoeburyness site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

The Role
As a Group Lead & Head of Site, you’ll be the responsible individual for ensuring that the leadership of, and the availability of our Shoeburyness facilities meet the demands of primarily the Weapons Services Integrated Delivery Team and the Wider UK Defence business needs.

Day-to-day, you’ll be an important and senior leader providing a positive, engaging, and collaborative environment acting on behalf of the Operations Director for health & safety, environment, security and as a local representation for QinetiQ with responsibility ensuring a Safe System of Work is in place for all trails and activities.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Acting as the Head of Site on behalf of the Operations Director and undertaking the role as Head of Site being a focal point for the enablement of delivery at Shoeburyness
  • Being the Providing Manager signatory and ensuring that all activities delivered by the Shoeburyness team are safe, secure, and compliant with QinetiQ and relevant external policies and regulations
  • Ensuring that all Shoeburyness facilities have relevant policies, procedures, codes of practice and local work instructions on the QinetiQ Operating Frameworks are undertake in an efficient, effective, consistent, and compliant manner
  • Working closely with the relevant IDT and the wider business, develop and implement a strategy to sustain and grow in line with business demands. This will include but not be limited to people, equipment, technology and processes
  • Interpretation of Land and Weapons strategy, aims and intent as well as business goals and drivers, translation of strategy and objectives into practice
  • Leading a culture of continuous improvement to improve the agility, capacity, efficiency, and quality of the Shoeburyness facilities and providing financial management as per delegated authority ensuring budgets are in place

Essential experience of the Group Lead & Head of Site:

  • Extensive experience working in an environmental test domain supported by a tangible record of achievement
  • Extensive operational experience, ideally managing teams in a high hazard facility or environment
  • Previous experience developing and line managing others and building effective teams in a matrix management, technical environment to meet specific and challenging objectives
  • Proven capability of demonstrating Process Improvement and Change Management
  • Deep understanding of health, safety and environmental legislation, standards and practices and a drive to promote to others
  • Experience in TERP (Test, Evaluation, Research and Proof) Range Operations is desirable

Essential qualifications for the Group Lead & Head of Site:

  • A first degree in Science, Operations or Engineering, or an equivalent nationally recognised qualification

We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

This role is 37 hours per week based at our Shoeburyness site and is fully on-site.

Shoeburyness

QinetiQ Shoeburyness is a significant test and evaluation facility specialising in defence and security technologies. The site is focused on Environmental Testing including the evaluation of various ordnance, explosives, and related systems. Implementing measures to ensure that testing activities comply with environmental regulations and minimise ecological impact.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Our Recruitment Process:

At QinetiQ we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a diverse mix of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences drives innovation and leads to better outcomes for our people, customers and communities. We encourage applications from all candidates and are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing internal_recruitment@qinetiq.com. One of our recruitment team will contact you.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

Our Benefits

  • Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
  • Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
  • Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
  • Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
  • We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
  • Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community

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