Role Profile
Job title Head of Regulation & Governance
Department Regulation & Governance / Executive Team
Level 5
Reporting to Chief Executive Officer
Hours
35 hours per week, Monday to Friday (core hours 10am to 4pm)
Location Central London (EC2) / hybrid
Role purpose
To lead the Engineering Council’s Licensing, Governance and Strategy functions to ensure effective risk-based regulation
To support the CEO in the development, delivery and performance monitoring of the Engineering Council Strategy and Operational Plan.
Key tasks, duties and quality standards
Licensing and assurance oversight
Oversee the performance and continuous improvement of the licensing system, ensuring it supports strategic objectives and maintains public confidence
Ensure robust, intelligence-led assurance frameworks, including proportionate monitoring and intervention where required
Governance and Board support
Lead the organisation’s governance framework, ensuring effective support to the Trustee Board, committees, panels and working groups
Provide clear, authoritative reporting and advice to the Board on regulatory performance, risk and strategic delivery
Ensure governance arrangements are aligned to regulatory responsibilities and proportionate to risk
Strategy cycle and performance oversight
Lead the development, coordination and continuous improvement of the Engineering Council’s strategy cycle, including Strategy, Operational Plan and
associated frameworks
Oversee Board-level organisational performance reporting against the Strategy and Operational Plan, ensuring clear line-of-sight between strategic intent and system outcomes
Strategic risk and insight
Oversee the development and maintenance of the strategic risk register, ensuring alignment with regulatory priorities
Ensure that risk, insight and horizon scanning inform regulatory priorities, strategy development and Board decision-making
Stakeholder and system alignment
Provide authoritative advice to stakeholders (including PEIs, government and industry) on licensing, governance and regulatory matters
Ensure alignment between regulatory requirements and stakeholder practice, supporting consistency across the system
Represent the Engineering Council’s regulatory position in national and international contexts, maintaining credibility and influence in relation to professional standards and recognition
Executive leadership
Contribute as a member of the Executive Team, supporting organisational leadership, decision-making and delivery of strategic objectives
Provide leadership and direction to priority programmes and system changes as required by the CEO
Organisational responsibilities
Support organisational commitments to:
o quality management (including ISO)
o data protection compliance
o organisational values (Fairness, Integrity, Transparency)
Line management
Delegated authority
Internal contacts
External contacts
Two direct reports, three indirect reports
To operate within policy and strategy as approved by the Board and principal committees.
To determine actions prior to committee/ panel approval and to consult where appropriate.
Executive Team
Engineering Council staff
Board/Committee/Panel members
Other volunteers
Professional engineering institution staff
Engineering academics and employers
Relevant governance organisations including Privy Council Office (PCO), Companies House and Charity
Commission Legal Advisors
Financial responsibility Within allocated budget and delegated financial authorities.
Person specification
Role competencies
Core competencies
Knowledge and understanding of the UK engineering profession [D]
Understanding of nature of professional bodies [D]
Experience of quality assurance frameworks and activities [D]
Experience of governance frameworks [E]
Experience of managing strategic development [E]
Experience of working with committees [E]
Ability to research and absorb complex information and to identify what is relevant to the organisation [E]
Able to demonstrate Level 5 competencies, including the following:
WORKING WITH PEOPLE
Fosters a positive leadership climate which is inspiring and visionary, acting as a role model to more junior managers
Forges strong strategic relationships with other key contacts and stakeholders in areas of expertise with a view to potential collaboration
Provides leadership support to Board, Committee and Panels
Empowers individuals, encouraging them to use their initiative, acting as a sounding board and providing support if genuine mistakes result
MANAGEMENT OF WORK
Collaborates with other heads of function working across the organisation on crossdepartmental workstreams
Establishes key priorities and determines milestones, performance indicators, review arrangements and risks for self and team
Ensures that day-today operations accord with and deliver against agreed plans
Contributes, along with the CEO and Deputy CEO, to the creation of the strategy and operations plan.
Qualifications
PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Employs structured negotiation techniques and tactics when needed
Demonstrates a drive and energy to succeed, and instils this in others, even in difficult and pressured situations
Identifies and analyses complex problems and rationalises potentially conflicting information to help inform decisions and solve problems
Thinks strategically and with vision and considers long-term requirements within senior management and board discussions
Leads by example and fosters commitment to change from others through open communication and by displaying a positive and constructive approach and attitude to change
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE
Has a broad understanding of EngC, its strategic objectives, priorities and delivery plans at an organisational and departmental level
Manages multi-disciplinary cross functional activities and projects
Has a strong understanding of charity governance as it impacts the organisation
Keeps up to date with current issues and developments including public/media concerns in own professional area and considers their potential application to the organisation
Relevant professional qualification [D]