Obligations for licensed persons

The two IRSE Licence categories of Engineering Manager cover the range of activities which engineers working at a ‘middle management’ level in the S & T sector of the rail industry are expected to carry out. The two levels are defined as Engineering Manager (Lead Engineer) and Engineering Manager (Engineer), each licence consists of two mandatory units (Units 1 & 2 for the Lead Engineer, and Units 3 & 4 for the Engineer) plus a minimum of one optional unit. The minor differences between them reflect the decision making role, although the processes regarding managing information are the same. Unit 1 is about taking critical decisions whereas Unit 3 is about contribution to decisions. Units 2 and 4 are identical and the optional units are the same for both licences.

Having mandatory core units mean that all Engineering Managers meet a common standard. Having a choice of optional unit’s means that the licence categories have sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of as many S or T Managers as possible. The layout of the mandatory and optional units follows that of other licence categories, i.e. the general NVQ format consisting of ‘units’, ‘elements’, ‘performance criteria’ and ‘range’. Each element also has a list of knowledge requirements which the candidate must demonstrate to show competence.

Mandatory Units

Engineering managers should demonstrate competence in the two generic key roles of “managing information” and “managing activities” and these are covered in the two Mandatory Units in each licence.

Unit 1 (Lead Engineer) “Manage information to take critical decisions” covers obtaining accurate and reliable information, analysing the information to take critical decisions and advising and informing others (National Occupational Standard for Management Unit D6).

Elements of Competence: 1.1 Obtain the information needed to take critical decisions

1.2 Analyse information for decision making

1.3 Take critical decisions

1.4 Advise and inform others.

Unit 2 (Lead Engineer) “Manage activities to meet requirements” covers the development and implementation of plans to ensure customer requirements are met. It involves responsibility for the work environment from both health and safety and productivity perspectives (National Occupational Standard for Management Unit A2)

Elements of Competence: 2.1 Implement plans to meet customer requirements

2.2 Maintain a healthy, safe and productive work environment

2.3 Ensure products and services meet quality requirements

Unit 3 (Engineer) “Provide information for decision making” covers obtaining accurate and reliable information, recording and storing the information, analysing the information so that decisions can be made and advising and informing others (National Occupational Standard for Management Unit D4)

Elements of Competence: 3.1 Obtain the information for decision making

3.2 Record and store information

3.3 Analyse information to support decision making

3.4 Advise and inform others

Unit 4 (Engineer) “Manage activities to meet requirements” is identical to unit 2

Elements of Competence: 4.1 Implement plans to meet customer requirements

4.2 Maintain a healthy, safe and productive work environment

4.3 Ensure products and services meet quality requirements

Scope Statement for Engineering Manager (Lead Engineer)

“As an Engineering Manager (Lead Engineer) you will have responsibility for converting your organisation’s strategy and policy for Signalling & Telecommunications engineering into practical objectives for implementation within your areas of responsibility. You will be capable of initiating change to existing policies or suggesting new ones. You will be capable of managing the day to day work of your department, interpreting or implementing either or both S&T policy and managing the activities of your department, ensuring that the safety of the operational railway is taken into account in all aspects of your area of responsibility. You will be capable of seeking correct information, analysing the information and taking critical decisions. You also provide advice and information on aspects of S&T engineering within your job role.”

Scope Statement for Engineering Manager (Engineer)

“As an Engineering Manager (Engineer) you will have responsibility for managing information to recommend decisions to Lead or Senior Engineers. You will be capable of seeking correct information, analysing the information and recommending decisions. You also provide advice and information on aspects of S&T engineering within your job role. You will be capable of managing the activities of your department ensuring that the safety of the operational railway is taken into account in all aspects of your area of responsibility”

Notes The evidence submitted for the above units must be in a Signals or Telecommunications context.

Optional Units

Within S&T Engineering a number of specialist options have been identified as follows:

A Maintenance Covers managing the maintenance requirements, monitoring controlling, reviewing the maintenance activity, monitoring trends and ensuring that all faulty equipment is returned to safe operation in a timely manner.

B Installation Covers managing the installation process including ensuring sufficient resources are allocated to the installation work, that these resources are effectively managed and that the installation is made available for testing in accordance with requirements.

C Testing & Commissioning Covers managing all aspects of the test & commission process including the identification and utilisation of the necessary resources, and the implementation of testing plans.

D Auditing Covers the planning and carrying out of audits, reporting on compliance and the follow up of any non-conformities raised.

E Design Covers the management of a design group including ensuring that sufficient resources are allocated to design projects, investigating and reviewing any alleged problems.

F Project Engineering Covers the control and implementation of the S or T part of the project, responsible for the effective use of engineering resources, and taking the project through to commissioning and handover.

H Technical Investigations Covers technical investigations which establish the condition and performance of signalling or telecomms systems and equipment, making recommendations on their suitability and also identifying appropriate remedial actions

L Production of specifications Covers the development and production of specifications to meet the clients’ S&T engineering requirements. This involves firstly understanding the clients’ needs, and then translating them into a formal specification using a structured process

M Engineering studies and Evaluation Covers all work activities where investigative work is performed in order to solve problems, identify opportunities, or analyse options. You are, in undertaking or managing engineering studies.

Choosing the Option

Since the Engineering Manager Licence shows that the holder can perform their work competently, it is important that you choose the option which matches your job role as closely as possible. The licence is evidence of continuous competence requiring a surveillance after 5 years which indicates you are still actively carrying out the type of work for which the licence was awarded. Should your job role change such that you no longer have the responsibility for the originally chosen option(s) you will need to demonstrate competence in your new role. Provided you are still carrying out the “Core Managerial Responsibilities” you will only require a full assessment in the new option(s) to maintain the licence. Note Although you are only required to demonstrate competence in one option to gain your licence, if your job role requires competence in more than one then you should also seek to gain the additional unit(s). Your licence will indicate which optional unit(s) you have met.

The Senior Engineering Manager Licence

Holders of the Engineering Manager (Lead Engineer) licence can progress to the Senior Engineering Manager Licence by completing one extra strategic management module; for details of the Senior Engineering Manager click here.