£42,914 - £46,182
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
External
Burton-upon-Trent
Region
West Midlands
Closing Date
22-Sep-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
21890
Job description
Senior Vehicle Engineering Manager
SEO
Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 3EG
Permanent
Ministry of Justice Commercial
Full-time
Please note this role requires full time attendance on site is therefore not suitable for hybrid or remote working.
The address is: National Distribution Centre, Branston, Burton on Trent. DE14 3EG
The National Distribution Centre (NDC
The Ministry of Justice Supply and Logistics area is made up of three core business areas and sits within Commercial.
The provision of first line servicing for the National Distribution Centre (NDC) fleet of heavy and light commercial vehicles, the workshop also provides support to the wider MoJ fleet.
The team designs, develops and carries out vehicle conversions for HMPPS tactical units based on their requirements. They are also responsible for managing all vehicles as they enter and leave the fleet.
Before a vehicle is disposed of, the team carries out inspections and removes any sensitive equipment. They also inspect vehicles returned to Branston to decide if they can be reused instead of issuing a new one. If a vehicle can be reused, the team assesses its condition, identifies and costs any parts needed, and once agreed with the unit carries out repairs to ensure the vehicle is safe, roadworthy and meets legal standards.
Manages the collection, storage and delivery of goods. These include manufactured items, raw materials, prisoner property, mattresses, footwear, and a small amount of document storage. The site also supports other MoJ activities when needed. The warehouse is a modern 135,000 sq. ft. facility with high storage capacity. It can hold up to 16,500 pallets in both wide and narrow aisles, along with around 6,000 sq. ft. of office space.
The NDC operates its own fleet of 22 vehicles, providing around 500 scheduled deliveries each month. Deliveries are made across the prison estate nationwide, operating five days a week on a single shift, with overnight stays when required.
Provides transport management services for the Ministry of Justice. It also manages a specialist vehicle workshop in Branston, supported by engineering and administrative staff. The unit’s main responsibilities include developing transport policies, providing technical advice, and managing both Crown Indemnity Insurance and commercial insurance requirements.
The Senior Vehicle Engineering Manager provides technical and operational leadership across all elements of vehicle engineering, fleet management, and vehicle compliance within the Ministry of Justice. The postholder ensures that vehicle operations are safe, efficient, cost effective and fully aligned with relevant legislation, MoJ policy, and Fleet Management Team standards.
The role is responsible for delivering technical guidance, managing the Fleet Engineering Services Department and the Fleet Management Team, supporting a sustainable fleet and working collaboratively with stakeholders across the MoJ, contractors, and local transport team.
Monday to Thursday: 08:00 – 16:00
Friday: 08:00 – 15:30
The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alternations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
An initial sift will be performed against the following elements and will be assessed against the Civil Service success profiles framework:
We will assess your application on the following behaviours (250 words). Please use the STAR method in your examples.
Please note in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift against CV, Statement of Suitability and lead behaviour of “Managing a Quality Service”.
If shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview and will be assessed on the selected success profile elements at the interview stage.
The interviews will be held at National Distribution Centre, Burton Road, Branston. DE14 3EG. The site is shared with B&Q distribution, please follow the road signs for MoJ once entering the site and report to the security gate where you will be directed to the reception to sign in. The interviews will be held on an Industrial Site and all staff and visitors are required to wear Hi-Vis Vests whilst moving around site; these will be provided by security on arrival, please ask for a vest if not offered one.
We will assess your application on the following behaviours. Please use the STAR method in your examples.
At interview there will be 2 questions around your similar experience of managing a service and leading a team.
Strengths maybe assessed at the interview, and these are not shared in advance.
To learn more about the Civil Service success profiles framework and how they are assessed please click here.
Please use STAR approach to structure your examples for both the application and interview for behaviours. Using the STAR method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did, and how you did it, and explain the overall outcome.
Situation: Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand.
Task: The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.
Actions: What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I” rather than “we” to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.
Results: Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures. Explain how the outcome benefitted the organisation or your area. Make the outcomes easily understandable.
Keep the situation and task parts brief. Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths.
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
Contact Information
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Please quote the job reference 21890
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Please quote the job reference
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability
Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Specific licence requirements
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
this should be based around your experience the key responsibilities and essential criteria
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability
Interview Dates
To be confirmed - Expected Mid October
Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here.
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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