Company Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping 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 leads the way in realising fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, supported by tomorrow's power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovative, Committed, Trusted, and Collaborative.

Job Description

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays.
• Wide range of career development opportunities.
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions.

Salary: £63,856 

The Role

The Fusion Technology (FT) Division is taking the UK’s fusion expertise into the age of power plant delivery with a vision to enable the development and qualification of Fusion device equipment for service in commercial fusion power plant. Across the Culham and South Yorkshire sites, we combine a suite of unique testing facilities and capabilities for advanced engineering and world-leading research for international and UK fusion programmes.  

As Operations Manager, you will play a pivotal role in leading the operational readiness programme of the Fusion Technology Facility (FTF), laboratories, and engineering operations ranging from large, complex & bespoke machinery to small scale lab equipment. This will include bringing facilities from conception to commissioning, ensuring operational readiness for internal and external customers.  

This role requires 100% on-site presence.

Additional Responsibilities

Environmental, Safety and Quality 

• Ensure that health and safety at FTF complies with all HSE, regulatory, quality, and Safety Case requirements. 
• Ensure adoption of industry best-practice for technical, safety, and operational procedure, while meeting UKAEA policy standards. 
• Role models the safety and quality behaviours expected by UKAEA and ensure challenge and resolution on any non-compliant behaviours. 
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, from operations strategy to daily-task level. 
• Ensure suitably qualified and experienced staff are in place to deliver work in accordance with UKAEA standards, management systems, and relevant regulations. 
• Maintain up to date and accurate training and development records in accordance with internal and external compliance requirements. 

Construction and Commissioning Management 

• Develop and implement an effective operational strategy and plan to meet current and future business needs of the facility. 
• Define the minimum technical operational parameters for the facility, including where there is no known technical precedence. 
• Responsible for effective interface with the Capital Works Programme including acceptance and handover of correct and compliant construction and commissioning of FTF facilities. 

Technical / Operational Management 

• Identify, set, and communicate operational priorities and KPIs. 
• Improve performance of operations to maximise efficiency in line with KPIs.  
• Responsible for timely facilities maintenance, ensuring sufficient inventory and spare parts supplies to allow uninterrupted operations. 
• Effective and accurate asset management.  

Leadership and Management 

• Effective and timely management of staff, including, but not limited to: welfare; setting measurable objectives and performance management, absence management, development, mentoring, and coaching. 
• Develop and implement a RACI for site operations. 
• Providing support to matrixed-in staff and contractors in line with the Host Manager guidance. 
• Actively promote UKAEA’s values, championing a culture of safety, wellbeing, continuous improvement, equality, diversity, and inclusion.  
• Work in accordance with UKAEA policy and undertake any other reasonable tasks or duties requested by your manager.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

• Degree or commensurate experience in a relevant engineering or scientific background. 
• Demonstratable knowledge and experience of managing operations in hazardous industries and/or laboratory environment. 
• Recognised safety qualification i.e. NEBOSH, PSSR, PUWER, LOLER and understanding of safety case management.
• Extensive knowledge of Permit and Authorisation to Work Systems and of throughput, reliability, availability and maintenance of operations. 
• Excellent interpersonal and team leadership skills, with experience of working in diverse, multidisciplinary teams. 
• Ability to communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical terms. 
• Ability to effectively plan and prioritise own workload as well as that of the team. 

Additional Information

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and women. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.