Notes Operations, Banking Directorate

The Notes Operations Division - part of Banking Directorate - fulfils the Bank's obligations as the sole issuer of banknotes in England and Wales. Operational staff are based in Essex at our cash centre with other roles based in London at its Threadneedle Street offices. We rely on expertise in fields as diverse as economic and quantitative modelling, risk analysis, operations, sustainability and science. In fulfilling our role to maintain confidence in our currency, it is important that we ensure:

The right note - the public has access to genuine, high-quality banknotes of a range of denominations.

The right place - a well-run cash industry exists to supply banknotes efficiently across the country.

The right time - the Note Circulation Scheme ensures peaks in public banknote demand e.g. Christmas are met consistently.

We also fulfil a statutory responsibility to ensure public confidence in banknotes issued by Scottish and Northern Ireland banks.

The Banknote Supply Management (BSM) team is the commercial and compliance hub of the Notes Directorate. Through robust and effective contract management, compliance, oversight, and robust governance, it is responsible for overseeing Notes’ external suppliers and managing their impact on the Directorate’s objectives. The BSM team take responsibility for ensuring the production of both existing and new design banknotes meet the Bank’s quality and technical standards, and work closely with both the banknote suppliers and the Bank’s internal technical and operational teams.

Job Description

This is an exciting technical role for a manufacturing production specialist to make a real impact within the BSM team, wider Bank and supply chain.  This role provides external facing quality support for the banknote suppliers, ensuring the Bank receives banknotes to the required quality and technical standards. As part of the BSM team, you will be a key contributor on technical projects as part of the development and production of innovative next generation security features and banknote designs, utilising the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes.  As a manufacturing specialist you will also provide technical support for the operational teams that carry out quality inspection of new banknotes.

This role will enhance your creative and strategic thinking, develop stakeholder management skills, and contribute to key business projects:

• Provide a compliance and oversight role to banknote suppliers’ Quality Management System (QMS) and support supplier quality assurance activities, including audits and quality reviews.
• Contribute to technical projects supporting the design, development and production of our current and future generations of banknotes.
• Support the ongoing supply of good quality banknotes that meet a robust technical specification. 
• Assist in problem solving and continuous improvement activities.

Role Requirements:

Minimum Criteria

• Quality professional (BSc or equivalent) with proven experience in working with an Advance Product Quality Planning (APQP) framework (or equivalent), and Quality Management Systems.
• Experience of applying FMEA, SPC, Control Plans, Process Flows and other associated quality tools to new product implementation and ongoing production.
• Proven stakeholder management skills, that demonstrate an ability to work as part of a cross functional team consisting of both internal and external stakeholders. 

Essential Criteria

• Experience of managing technical projects working within a project management or new product development framework.
• Providing governance to quality assurance or quality control procedures and methodologies (Quality Management System), to ensure the delivery of high-quality products and projects.
• Problem solving – Evidence of applying judgement and critical thinking to solving technical challenges in a production environment.
• Ability to gather, assess and communicate data critically. 
• Interpersonal skills - Strong communication and diplomacy skills to persuade and influence up to and including senior levels and external audiences.
• Is detail-oriented, capable of working individually in an organised manner. Methodical and precise, able to utilise problem solving techniques to resolve challenges. 
• Able to present technical information clearly and with authority to a non-technical audience.

Desirable Criteria

• Functional knowledge – experience of commercial printing processes.   
• Functional knowledge – experience in the field of banknotes and/or security documents.
• Green or Black Belt Accreditation (Six Sigma methodology)
• Experience of using advanced data analytics tools (e.g. Minitab, Excel, R, Python, Tableau, or Power BI).
• Experience in implementing the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) methodology.

This role will include occasional national and international travel opportunities that the applicant should be comfortable with; to attend conferences, working groups and visiting suppliers

Our Approach to Inclusion

The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.

At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it’s by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we’ll continue to make the best decisions for the public.

We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed.

For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month.  Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders. Given the operational nature of this role, for significant periods at key parts of development programmes this role may require attendance onsite for >50% of the time, up to 5 days a week during trials, production or key testing periods.

Aligned with the nature of this role it will be based primarily at our printworks in Loughton (Debden), Essex.

Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the ‘Candidate Personal Information’ under the ‘Disability Confident Scheme’ section of the application.

Salary and Benefits Information

We encourage flexible working, part time working and job share arrangements.  Part time salary and benefits will be on a pro-rated basis as appropriate.

This role offers a salary of circa £54,080- £60,000.  In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package as detailed below:

• Currently a non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/95th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/50th) or decrease (to 1/120th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year.  The Bank has the discretion to vary standard accrual rates and dial up and dial down rates at any time and to withdraw dial up and dial down options at any time.
• A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
• A 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.   
• 26 days’ annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits. 
• Private medical insurance and income protection.

National Security Vetting Process

Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy.  Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.

The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance.  As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited.  The Bank cannot guarantee that you and / or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful.  Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case by case basis.

The Application Process

Important: Please ensure that you complete the ‘work history’ section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It’s therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process.

The assessment process will comprise of two interview stages, including a short presentation.

This role closes on Friday 18 April.

How to apply

Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.