Stuart Coutts
Telford,Shropshire
Summary
Degree educated with a background in military engineering, alongside experience as both instructor and supervisor, with a track record of leading the assessment, design, and delivery of effective technical interventions under tight deadlines whilst managing the requirements of varied stakeholders.
Experienced in the identification, diagnosis, and rectification of equipment faults to component level across a wide range of systems including information technology hardware and software, and military radar and communications equipment. Demonstrating this ability across multiple deployments around the world, and being awarded commendations for my engineering ability and team leadership. Ability to assimilate technical information quickly and apply that information within work products. Skilled in effectively communicating technical and non-technical information across a wide landscape of stakeholder understanding, prioritising effectively to ensure internal and external customer satisfaction.
An effective manager of projects with training and experience as an Agile practitioner. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and deliver across multiple simultaneous projects having delivered product improvements to equipment within the RAF, and led the delivery of multiple effective training course products.
Passionate about leading effective organisational change through identification of opportunities, innovative solutions and effective communication having used these skills to reduce the cost to deliver training courses by 40%, allowing these hours to be deployed more effectively.
Passionate about continuous professional development and skills improvement demonstrated by the recent award of a Bachelor of Engineering qualification, along with being a long standing member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Proven abilities in leading and working collaboratively with others to deliver results, having worked in austere, complicated and performance critical environments across the world with diverse colleagues from military and non-military backgrounds. A reputation as a dependable manager and engineer when critical problems require robust solutions.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work history
Training Courseware Designer
Raytheon UK
Remote, Shropshire
06.2024 - Current
- As project team leader manage teams of 10 experts to produce effective and engaging training solutions, leveraging innovative technologies combined with modern evidence based teaching approaches, to satisfy diverse customer requirements. Meet challenges of tight deadlines and broad requirements whilst seeking out opportunities to present the customer with original, exciting and robust training solutions in the areas of Computer Aided Instruction, eLearning and Virtual Reality training.
- Effectively work with teams of Subject Matter Experts from multiple backgrounds and specialisms to interpret and deliver customer requirements across up to 5 simultaneous projects. Using project management practices including Agile, combine knowledge and experience from multiple fields to inform project decisions, ensuring evidential, analysis based approaches to decision making that balance technical and business constraints.
- Ability to see the bigger picture, to identify and highlight growth opportunities and areas where the team can form effective business relationships, adding value across other business areas. Implementing working groups with engineering delivery partners to add human factors steps into engineering design processes, reducing the requirement for engineering redesign at later stages. Proven ability to champion performance or efficiency improvements, designed and communicated effectively at all levels having significantly reduced the cost to produce individual training courses, allowing resources to be deployed elsewhere.
- Present documented technical solutions to internal and external customers using engaging techniques, and language appropriate to effectively communicating with diverse audiences, including international partners.
- Manage, advise, and provide feedback across all levels of leadership, using appropriate tools to provide effective communication of project status. Constructively work alongside others to improve whole team performance by recognising and implementing refinements to processes or outputs, backed by evidence.
Senior Learning & Development Project Manager
Royal Air Force
RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton
10.2022 - 06.2024
- As a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer manage critical projects by leading diverse teams of subject matter experts in providing engineering content and delivery improvements to foundational RAF Cyberspace Technicians courses attended by over 400 students per year. Critical in delivering modernised learning methods, and aligning learning with industry apprenticeship qualifications, to tight deadlines.
- Provide subject matter expert guidance on Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT) for internal and external colleagues at all organisational levels. Communicating effectively and persuasively with all stakeholders, influencing the direction of course design to optimise their effectiveness at the point of delivery whilst saving time and money. Provide management and leadership of Subject Matter Expert (SME) teams involved in complex course design activities.
- Directly accountable to Training Requirements Authorities (TRA) for over 45 technical and non-technical engineering courses with a proven track record in delivering effective training from Training Needs Analysis through to implementation using project management techniques. Produce and implement robust, clear and effective documentation such as Formal Training Statements, Assessment Strategies and Specifications, Learning Specifications and other DSAT supporting documents.
- Technologically aware leading the design of innovative application based process for capturing and implementing course updates and reviews in line with DSAT assurance activities. Delivered reduction in workload and improved information capture.
- Lead project with MOD learning technologies team to implement E-Learning and virtual conversion of equipment based instructional sessions. Saving time and equipment costs whilst freeing up capacity to be deployed in key areas.
Radar Engineering Instructor
Royal Air Force
RAF Spadeadam, Cumbria
06.2019 - 10.2022
- As a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer provide first- and second-line engineering support to the Royal Air Force Electronic Warfare Training Range (EWTR). Responsible for identification, diagnosis, investigation, and rectification of a wide range of faults, to component level.
- Working effectively across a wide range of systems from information technology hardware and software, to radar and communication equipment from the UK, USA and former Soviet Union.
- Rapidly assimilate technical information from a variety of sources, designing and implementing effective tests based upon this information, and safely executing fault finding activities often within austere environments and under time pressure.
- Supervise the training of junior engineering team members in technical and non-technical course elements.
- Seconded to the engineering leadership team, led 10 technicians within complex and challenging engineering environments. Providing critical engineering solutions and communicating effectively with both internal and external stakeholders. Develop teams by providing guidance on performance, along with professional development opportunities, whilst working to safeguard welfare during both domestic and deployed operations.
- Project manage implementation of engineered steel lifting cradles to allow for legacy US radar emitter systems to be mounted onto modern truck load beds. Manage stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, project timelines and effective delivery whilst implementing change management techniques to support successful deployment.
Radar Technician - T101 Radar
Royal Air Force
RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire
06.2015 - 06.2019
- Working alongside technician teammates on operations within UK and overseas operational environments to provide first-line support to complex radar, communication and data-link platforms in line with procedures and instructions, often in austere environments.
- Demonstrate sound ability to analyse problems, provide effective solutions and implement fixes within tight timescales, whilst leading diverse teams which led to positions as acting Junior Non-Commissioned Officer across multiple deployments.
- Plan and implement works to maintain and upgrade systems whilst in operation. Responsible for planning, scheduling and implementing multiple week programmes of annual maintenance on radar & associated systems. Communicating this plan with multiple teams of technicians and stakeholders, whilst ensuring effective implementation on site.
- Seconded to RAF Scampton's IT department, prepare unit IT infrastructure for migration onto MODNET systems (new underpinning military network). Involving effective planning and communication across all levels of 250 unit personnel, provide training on new systems, prepare physical and data structures for implementation and support project delivery. This resulted in Air Officer Commanding Team Commendations.
- Design and implement user-friendly tracking system for engineering hours and equipment states to automate monthly reporting and provide instant feedback to senior commanders.
Awaiting Trade Training
Royal Air Force
RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire
08.2011 - 09.2014
- Conduct exercise support for Officer & Aircrew Cadet Training Unit including assisting in preparation of exercise orders and logistical support.
- Assist in leadership training program by championing and introducing computer simulated exercises to classroom based activities, increasing engagement and information retention.
Police Officer
Leicestershire Constabulary
Loughborough, Leicestershire
01.2006 - 08.2011
Service Support Manager
Antone Displays Ltd
Leicester, Leicestershire
02.2005 - 08.2006
Duty Manager
Leisure Connection
Wigston, Leicestershire
01.2004 - 02.2005
Contract Coordinator
EAS Windows Ltd
Oadby, Leicestershire
06.2003 - 01.2004
Recreational Assistant
Leisure Connection
Wigston, Leicestershire
01.2002 - 06.2003
Education
Bachelor of Engineering - Engineering
The Open University
Milton Keynes 10/2016 - 10/2024
Foundation Degree in Arts - Criminology
De Montfort University
Leicester 01/2006 - 01/2008
A-Levels - History, Geography, Psychology
Guthlaxton College
Wigston Magna, Leicestershire 09/2000 - 07/2002
Skills
- DSAT Training Needs Analysis
- DSAT Training Design
- DSAT Training Audit
- APMQ Project Management Foundation
- Agile Practitioner
- ILM Level 5 Leadership & Management
- TMIET (Institution of Engineering & Technology)
- Eng Tech (Engineering Council)
- CMI Level 4 Leadership & Management
Timeline
Training Courseware Designer
Raytheon UK
06.2024 - Current
Senior Learning & Development Project Manager
Royal Air Force
10.2022 - 06.2024
Radar Engineering Instructor
Royal Air Force
06.2019 - 10.2022
Radar Technician - T101 Radar
Royal Air Force
06.2015 - 06.2019
Awaiting Trade Training
Royal Air Force
08.2011 - 09.2014
Police Officer
Leicestershire Constabulary
01.2006 - 08.2011
Service Support Manager
Antone Displays Ltd
02.2005 - 08.2006
Duty Manager
Leisure Connection
01.2004 - 02.2005
Contract Coordinator
EAS Windows Ltd
06.2003 - 01.2004
Recreational Assistant
Leisure Connection
01.2002 - 06.2003
Bachelor of Engineering - Engineering
The Open University
10/2016 - 10/2024
Foundation Degree in Arts - Criminology
De Montfort University
01/2006 - 01/2008
A-Levels - History, Geography, Psychology
Guthlaxton College
09/2000 - 07/2002
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