Automotive Testing – Team Lead | Cira £50,000 excellent benefits | Permanent | On-site | Retford (Gamston) Airport | Internal job title: Active Safety Team Leader About The Role Would you like to work for a company that makes a real difference in the automotive industry? As industry leaders in the field of automotive research and testing, our Active Safety team play a high profile and crucial role in driving safety improvements across the global automotive industry. Based at our active safety track site in Gamston, they deliver high quality testing for vehicle manufactures and the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), helping to improve vehicle safety and reduce accidents. Once settled in your new role, you will lead and oversee the Active Safety (Track) team, planning and executing test activities to ensure the continuous development and growth of our testing capabilities. You will stay abreast of changes in the automotive environment and innovate new testing methods to enhance vehicle safety. If you have a passion for the automotive industry and are excited by the prospect of working with cutting edge, new vehicle technology then this could be the role for you As the Active Safety Team Leader, you will: Lead & Inspire: Guide a team of Test Engineers & Technicians in cutting-edge research and commercial testing. Project Management: Break down complex projects into actionable tasks and ensure timely delivery. Stay Ahead: Monitor industry trends and regulations to keep our operations future-ready. Automotive Testing: Oversee all testing phases, from vehicle prep to data analysis. Team Development: Set objectives, monitor performance, and conduct reviews. Mentorship: Coach and train team members to enhance their skills and knowledge. Customer Focus: Manage relationships and ensure top-notch service and satisfaction. Equipment Mastery: Keep all testing equipment in top shape and ready for action. Quality Assurance: Approve technical outputs and maintain high data quality standards. Innovate: Develop new testing protocols to stay ahead in automotive technology. Build Relationships: Foster strong connections with commercial customers and OEMs. Strategic Planning: Develop business cases for future growth and investment. Budget Management: Control operational costs and report financials monthly. Safety First: Foster a Just Safety culture and ensure a safe testing environment. Skills & experience that will set you up for success: Demonstrable experience leading a technical delivery team, possibly underpinned by a relevant degree (Mechanical / Automotive / Electrical Engineering) but not essential. Ability to operate autonomously and manage competing demands. External and internal stakeholder management, with understanding of business development activities. Excellent communication and presentation skills. Professional and diplomatic customer-facing approach. Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and task management skills. Desirable knowledge & experience we’d welcome to the team: Knowledge of technical testing processes and automotive testing. Experience developing test and validation solutions. Budget management experience. Understanding of mechanical and electrical systems. Did you know Research tells us that men are more likely to apply to jobs if they meet only 60% of the criteria, whereas women often hesitate or don't apply unless they meet all of the criteria. This difference in application behaviour can contribute to the gender gap in career advancement and opportunities. We know the perfect candidate doesn't exist If you think you have what it takes but don't tick every box, we'd still encourage you to apply - it could be a perfect fit Perks & Benefits Salary - Circa £50,000 negotiable dependent on skills & experience. 10% non-contributory pension 29 days holiday (inclusive of Christmas closedown) public holidays / Salary Sacrifice schemes (cycle to work & tech scheme) Money Health Financial Wellbeing Platform Group Life Assurance Health Cash Plan (cash back on eligible medical treatments) Discounted gym membership Sports & Social club Payroll charitable giving When we work The team work a 9-day fortnight with standard working hours of 8:30 - 17:30 Monday – Thursday and 8:30 - 14:30 alternate Fridays. (Please talk to us if this doesn’t quite suit you – we’re happy to discuss) How we work / This role is based on-site at Retford (Gamston) Airport, DN22 0QL – our dual-operational site hosting Automotive and Aviation activities. What we do At the cutting edge of automotive research in the UK, Thatcham Research has a unique role in shaping the design of new vehicles and influencing ever higher standards of safety, security and repair. With an on-site Crash Laboratory, Repair Technology Centre and Training Academy, our research expertise is driving some of the very latest automotive developments in technology, materials and standards in this fast moving and highly technical industry. Our active safety track site is one of the leading accredited Euro NCAP testing facilities, trialling and assessing the very latest developments in vehicle safety and assistance technologies. Our Values As an organisation that believes a strong set of Values are key to our organisational success and a sense of belonging for all colleagues, we ask that you understand, represent and apply our Values of Fearless, Inquisitive, Resourceful, Supportive and Trusted and demonstrate these Values throughout the recruitment process. Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace which values diversity and embraces each individual's authentic self. We are proud to champion a culture where colleagues freely share their diverse perspectives, recognising that these contribute to our innovative spirit. Our journey of growth and understanding is continuous as we actively invest in diversity training, workshops, and partnerships to ensure positive change. Beyond our membership in the Automotive 30% Club, we collaborate with various organisations to advance equity not only in gender but also across ethnicity, age, disability, social mobility, LGBTQ identities, experiences, and thinking. Our aspiration is to create an environment where everyone thrives, achieves, and experiences a genuine sense of belonging. Recruitment process We’re proud to manage our recruitment in-house and believe this direct approach enables us to give you the best possible Employee Experience we can – which starts right here, your application We’re continuously striving to improve the candidate journey, and transparency (or communication) is a key area of focus – yes, even with salary & benefits. What can you expect from our recruitment process? Regular updates on the progress / outcome of your application An initial telephone screening call with our Recruitment Business Partner First interview with the hiring manager, usually via Teams Second/Final interview, in-person at our office (we may give you a role specific task to present on) Personalised feedback following your interview – because everyone deserves that An opportunity to give us your honest feedback in a short survey on all of the above We’re committed to removing invisible barriers. If there are any adjustments we can make to better support you, please let us know when you apply. All applicants must have Right to Work in the UK.