Safety Assurance Manager

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions at the heart of the defence-security continuum. Interoperable and secure information and telecommunications systems for defence, security, and civil operators, are based upon innovative use of radiocommunications, networks, and cybersecurity. We are ground breaking new digital technologies such as 4G mobile communications, cryptography, cloud computing and big data for use in physical protection systems, and critical information systems.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Safety Assurance Manager

Crawley or Reading (Minimum 3 days onsite)

Thales in the UK has been awarded a major contract to maintain the Royal Navy’s internal and external fleet communications for the next 10 years. We will be supporting the fleets communications systems to support combat capability after one of the largest investments in naval communications across Europe.

Due to this recent award, we are looking to grow our Safety Engineering team through a number of critical hires. We are actively recruiting for a Safety Assurance Manager (SAM) to join the programme, based out of either Reading or Crawley on a hybrid basis.

Our Opportunity:

The Safety Assurance Manager (SAM) role is critical to provide independent Product Safety Assurance of safety engineering activities for bids, projects, Self-Funded Research & Development (SFRD) and products. The role sits within the Thales SIX (Secure Information and Communication Systems) Safety Engineering community, and is accountable to the SIX UK Technical Director (TD).

The role holder is responsible for the provision of the requisite expertise for the management and assurance of core business activities impacted by product safety related Legislation, Regulation, Governance and Standards. Including the continued development of Thales SIX Safety Governance solutions and ensuring the collection and dissemination of relevant data, the monitoring and measurement of performance and the communication of information and training to all management and staff.

The role holder will support the monitoring and measurement of performance against the SIX UK Safety Management System Integrated Plan, Eco-design Management System, ATM Approved Organisation Scheme (AAOS) Exposition, Thales Safety and Eco-design Governance, and relevant contractual requirements.

The role and overview of key responsibilities

• Support the approval of (potential) suppliers through audit and review activities
• Provide guidance on safety issues, methods, tools and techniques to their Business’s Project Safety Committee  (PSC) and individuals;
• Ensure  safety  requirements  are  integrated  into  the  products  functional  and  technical descriptions;
• Participate in key bid, project, SFRD technical reviews within their Business;
• Ensure that  safety  engineering  and  compliance/conformance  risks  have  been  properly identified, assessed and managed within bids, projects and SFRD tasks (from the HSE Memo through to Disposal Plans);
• Review and approve project safety management plans and estimates for safety activities;
• Review and approve of  key  safety  artefacts  and  deliverables  including  Declarations  of Design  Safety,  Safety  Cases,  Assessments  and  Reports  from  projects  and  advising  the Business on their completeness and correctness;

Skills, experience and knowledge required of the successful individual:

Bachelor’s Degree (BEng, BSc) in a Numerate, Scientific or Engineering subject or Higher Education/equivalent training and experience. HNC/HND also acceptable with relevant experience in the technical areas indicated above.

You will have significant experience in a technical role in complex systems development together with a good understanding of safety engineering, safety management systems and functional safety together with the following:

• Detailed knowledge of system safety lifecycle, system requirements definition, safety design concepts (system and software), safety and risk analysis.
• Experienced with safety standards (CENELEC, IEC, IEEE, MIL), best practices, safety methods and techniques (HAZID, HAZOP, PHA, SHA, OSHA, FTA, FMEA/FMECA, FSA) and hazard management.
• Experience with Product Safety Appraisal (Audit / Review).
• Good technical writing skills, excellent communication and analytical skills.
• An effective team player who can interface at all levels.

Desirable:

• Experience working in the Defence/Naval industry with knowledge of Defence Standards 00-055, 00-056 & 00-051.
• Preferably from Communications background
• Previous experience working with MAA(Military Aviation Authority)/AAOS (Air Traffic Management Equipment Approved Organization Scheme).

Security Clearance statement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a sole UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency - United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What we can offer:

We’re committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

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In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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