Head of Technical Unit

Are you looking for a role that will have a crucial part in delivering the response to the Grenfell enquiry? The built environment is central to our vision for communities. As part of that vision Building Standards Division (BSD) creates the building standards legislation, regulations and technical guidance, to ensure buildings are safe, efficient and sustainable.

You will have responsibility for the management of the two teams which maintain the seven sections of the Technical Handbooks, supporting the development of regulations and standards to maintain their relevance in responding to changes in how we collectively deliver and manage our built environment and in the needs of Scotland’s people. One team is also responsible for the management of the Building Safety Forum, a mechanism to engage a wide range of stakeholders on risk topics relevant to the performance or safety of our existing building stock.

You will form part of the senior management team of the Division, offering commentary and insight to Directors and Ministers on the ongoing role of building regulations as a function of government. You will contribute to the management of the people and resources in the effective delivery of Ministerial policy objectives.

You and your teams will work with colleagues across government, with local authority verifiers and with delivery partners across the construction sector.

• Support the Deputy Director to deliver key priorities and areas of work, making well-informed decisions ensuring stakeholder views are appropriately built in to decision making; ensuring that Ministerial commitments which can be supported through the building standards system are met.
• Provide effective leadership to the Unit and direct line management to the leaders of the two technical teams.
• Develop and oversee the workplan for the ongoing review, consolidation and enhancement of the technical aspects of building regulations and the standards applicable to all construction work which falls within the scope of the building standards system.
• Oversight of the preparation and amendment to building standards legislation and guidance documents, together with engagement activities which support development work, direct engagement and larger public consultations.
• Oversight of the schedule and budget of research projects to support a robust and costed evidence base for changes to building standards.
• Provide representation on building standards matters in engagement with Ministers, other government administrations and partner organisations involved in the delivery of the built environment
• Engage with policy colleagues across the Scottish Government on matters of shared interest to support the understanding of the role of building standards as a vehicle for positive change.
• Supporting unit members in stakeholder engagement dealing with formal requests for building standards ‘views, relaxations or dispensations’.
• Monitor and report of the effectiveness of implementation of the technical provisions of the building standards system to support ongoing review of provisions and processes.
• Coordinate and lead communications via established engagement channels such as the Review working Groups, the Building Safety Forum, Building Standards Leadership Forum and Stakeholder Group.

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Technical / Professional Skills:

• Background in construction with professional qualification, building engineer / scientist or equivalent.
• Excellent communication skills, negotiation skills and decision skills.
• Maintaining delivery momentum.

Experience:

• Extensive knowledge of the building standards system, in particular technical matters set out in the Technical Handbooks.

Behaviours:

• Seeing the bigger picture – level 4.
• Leadership – level 4.
• Working together – level 4.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job contact :

• Name : [email protected]
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]