Trials Conducting Officer

Cranfield University; Devizes; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Cranfield University seeks a Trials Conducting Officer to lead and coordinate trials testing explosives, ordnance, and munitions for defence and commercial clients. You will plan, assess risks, and ensure safe execution and reporting to agreed timescales.

Reporting to Cranfield Defence and Security, you will develop technical trial documentation, interpret test data, and provide expert guidance while supervising students and contractors in a safety‑critical environment.

Qualifications

• Hold a military or civilian-awarded qualification in the disposal of explosive items.
• Significant practical experience in firing and testing explosives, munitions, and ordnance.
• Strong technical knowledge of ammunition systems and range procedures.
• Proven management and supervisory experience in a safety‑critical environment.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct trials involving testing and evaluation of explosives, ordnance, and munitions.
• Develop trial plans, risk assessments, and safety documentation.
• Oversee planning, preparation, safe execution, and reporting of trials to deadlines.
• Liaise with customers and supervise students and contractors.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Technical reporting

Communication

Supervision of staff

Education

Class One Ammunition Technician

UNMAS EOD Class Three

Job description

This role is responsible for leading and conducting trials involving the testing and evaluation of explosives, ordnance, and munitions for defence and commercial customers.

Location: West Lavington, Devizes, Wiltshire

COTEC is an outstation of Cranfield Defence and Security within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences and is located on Salisbury Plain south of Devizes. The site is leased from the MOD and all range operations are carried out under the authority of Defence Training Estates Salisbury Plain DTE(SP).The site carries out a large range of tasks primarily based around the testing and evaluation of explosives, ordnance and munitions for defence and commercial customers. The site also carries out research and supports the research projects of Cranfield University students.

About the Role

This role is responsible for leading and conducting trials involving the testing and evaluation of explosives, ordnance, and munitions for defence and commercial customers. As the nominated Trials Conducting Officer, you will oversee the planning, preparation, safe execution, and reporting of trials, ensuring delivery to required quality and timescales. You will develop trial plans, risk assessments, and safety documentation, and provide technical expertise in the design, development, testing, and evaluation of equipment. The role also involves customer liaison, investigating equipment failures, interpreting test data, overseeing quality requirements, and supervising students and contractors.

About You

You will hold a military or civilian-awarded qualification in the disposal of explosive items, such as Class One Ammunition Technician or UNMAS EOD Class Three, and have significant practical experience in the firing and testing of explosives, munitions, and ordnance. You will have sound technical knowledge of ammunition systems and range procedures, together with proven management and supervisory experience in a safety‑critical environment. You will be confident analysing data, producing technical reports, solving complex problems, and making informed decisions in changing circumstances. Excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills are essential, alongside resilience, flexibility, and a proactive approach. You will also demonstrate our values of Ambition, Impact, Respect, and Community.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world‑class expertise, large‑scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

As part of our commitment to support and develop Technical staff across the University, we are a founding signatory of the Science Council's Technician Commitment. Find out more here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on‑site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.