Head of Operations – Fusion Technology

  • Full-time
  • Salary: £70,696 to £75,414 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
  • Site Location: UKAEA Rotherham, Yorkshire
  • Confirmed Grade: Level 7
  • Department: Technology Department

Company Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in strategically contributing to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow's fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid.

As we work towards our mission and goals, UKAEA has devised values (Innovative, Committed, Trusted and Collaborative) that capture the spirit of how we work.

    Job Description

    Who are we looking for?

    The UKAEA is looking for an experienced and talented operational leader to manage the performance and growth of our Fusion Technology Business Unit. This is an exciting role which will allow the right candidate to play a significant part in international and UK fusion programme delivery. 

    As Head Of Operations, you have extensive experience of leading and managing scientific / engineering teams coupled with solid experience of management of engineering projects and procurements. Your ability to build collaborations and communicate with people at all levels is essential to succeed in this role. 

    Fusion Technology within the UKAEA consists of a number of specialist fusion related engineering and scientific disciplines, including Thermal Hydraulics, Powerplant Technology, Applied Radiation Technology, Applied Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Equipment Qualification. The business unit also operates a number of test facilities which aim to reproduce the extreme thermal conditions and unique combinational loadings experienced by components within a fusion device. These capabilities are deployed to make world class impacts across domestic, European and international fusion programmes in additional to supporting privately owned fusion start-ups. 

    What will you be responsible for?

    Reporting to the Director of Fusion Technology (FT), the Head of Operations main responsibilities include:

    - Provide effective leadership of the Business Unit (BU) to deliver the business objectives contributing to FTBU and UKAEA’s strategies.

    - Maximising the efficiency of the BU,  building a dynamic team and continually improving processes.

    - Ensuring systems are in place to assure the quality, delivery and cost of programme deliverables

    -  Be accountable for ensuring the FT operation allocates resources effectively and tracks project progress to commitments, by being responsible for capacity planning, agreeing and monitoring of resourcing levels and skills across the BU to meet the business needs.

    -  Be accountable for agreeing annual budgets and tracking progress against budget, working with Finance to provide accurate management reporting against FT budgets and goals

    -  Work with the Chief Technologist to develop a technology strategy incorporating UKAEA goals and aligning with EUROfusion, EPSRC and other major programmes.

    -  Ensure all areas within the BU develop a skills pipeline.

    -  Develop and apply QSHE policies.

    Note: The role is based at Fusion Technology Facility (FTF),South Yorkshire with a requirement for fortnightly travel to Culham (Oxfordshire).

    Qualifications

      Essential skills, experience and competence required

      - Engineering degree or equivalent

      - Proven operational leadership capabilities,in a technical research environment, with excellent communication skills

      - Demonstrated ability to build cross business-unit and cross location teams to ensure delivery of business objectives

      - Experience in optimising team structures and team outputs through organisation design and change management

      - Experience in winning research grants

      - Project management experience and experience in using formal project management processes.

      -Experience of holding responsibility for operational safety relating to hazardous facilities, ideally holding a formal qualification in safety.

      Desirable skills, experience and competence

      - Project management qualifications

      - Safety management qualifications

      Additional Information

      What we offer

      Our comprehensive benefits package includes a vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive, an Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, Flexible working options including family friendly policies, Emergency paid leave, Generous annual leave allowance (30.5 days) increased with length of service, wide range of career development opportunities, outstanding defined benefit pension scheme; Corporate bonus scheme and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).

      We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly from individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities and women. The Executive team with support from our EDI ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting EDI and taking steps to increase the diversity of our people through reinforcing best practice in recruitment and selection.

      Please be advised that this vacancy is due to close on 11/05/2022 . We may close earlier than this date if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.

      All employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Disclosure Certificate application as part of their clearance – The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks will show the details of all current criminal convictions or will confirm that there are no such convictions.

      Note for applicants who are applying for employment with UKAEA either from outside the United Kingdom or who have spent time outside the United Kingdom in the last five years. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants. If the country you are resident in or have resided in is not listed on this website or that the UK Government is not aware of how to obtain a criminal records check from that state then we are unable to process your application.

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