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Head of Field Services for Under Water Systems
Location: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
At Thales, we're at the forefront of underwater defence technology, delivering advanced sonar and sensing capabilities that help navies around the world maintain operational advantage and protect what matters most. We are looking for a Head of Field Services for our Under Water Systems business (UWS). You will be responsible for a multi-disciplined team of around 35 engineers deployed across the UK and overseas, the Head of Field Services ensures that UWS UK Field Services is prepared and resourced to meet the business need and the demand of our customer ensuring the availability of systems and assets, in both the sub-surface and surface domains.
This is a strategic role that ensures UWS UK Field Services is the right size and shape and has the correct skills, tools, and training in place to ensure it can meet the needs of UWS both now and in the future.
About Under Water Systems
Our purpose is to be the leading provider of underwater sensors and decision superiority, helping navies across the world remain operationally ready and mission effective. Our business spans:
- Mine Counter Measures
- Anti-Submarine Warfare
- Future Capabilities including autonomy
- Services
Location – Plymouth/Portsmouth/Templecombe/Cheadle/Bristol/Faslane
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead strategic workforce planning for UWS UK, ensuring resource utilisation, recruitment, succession planning, skills development, and talent pipelines align with current and future business requirements.
- Provide leadership to UK Field Service Managers, driving performance, technical competence, professional development, and behaviours aligned with Thales values.
- Ensure Field Service Engineers have the training, skills, and development pathways required to meet contractual obligations, future capability needs, and operational demands.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Training, Supply Chain, and Product Line teams to ensure products, services, SME support, and operational capabilities are effectively delivered to the field.
- Lead continuous improvement of field service and waterfront operations, including logistics, DRACAS reporting, quality compliance, and the controlled implementation of repairs, upgrades, and modifications.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, industry partners, and internal stakeholders to identify opportunities, share lessons learned, drive continuous improvement, and represent the Field Service Engineering function in senior engagements.
- Maintain overall accountability for UK Field Service compliance with HSE, product safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, promoting a strong safety culture across the organisation.
- Anticipate future operational challenges and support business transformation initiatives, including digital tool implementation, MSET transformation, MMCM delivery, and the development of enhanced Field Service infrastructure and Centres of Excellence.
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What We're Looking For
- Proven experience leading Field Service, Engineering, or Operational teams within a complex, customer-focused environment.
- Strong capability in workforce planning, resource management, recruitment, talent development, and succession planning.
- A track record of driving performance, developing technical capability, and building high-performing teams.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence customers, industry partners, and senior leaders.
- Experience delivering operational improvement, business transformation, and the implementation of new tools, systems, or processes.
- Sound understanding of safety, quality, regulatory, and compliance requirements within an engineering or service environment.
- Strategic thinker with excellent communication skills and the ability to anticipate challenges and deliver effective solutions.
Why Join Thales?
You'll play a key role in supporting some of the UK's most advanced underwater defence systems while developing your career within a global technology and defence organisation.
Benefits include:
- Performance-related bonus
- Half day every Friday (typically finishing around 13:00)
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Option to buy additional leave
- 24 hours paid volunteering leave
- Matched pension scheme
- Life assurance
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental wellbeing support
- Retail discount schemes
- Gym membership discounts
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Security Clearance Requirement
UK Eyes Only: 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 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. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a non-ITAR country may be considered. 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. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels
#LI-DOM
At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay, and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus, and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.
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