Head of Engineering Function - UKIFS

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd, a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), is at the forefront of developing fusion sustainable energy.  Through the design and delivery of STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme we aim to build a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040.  

UKIFS will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. 

Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working.

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

For more information on UKIFS, visit: https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf 

As an employee of UKIFS 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.

The salary for this role is £91,173 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension.

The closing date to apply for this position is the 25th of September. 

This UKIFS vacancy can be based at either of our sites; West Burton, Nottinghamshire or Culham, Oxfordshire. 

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

For more information on UKIFS, visit: https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf 

The Role:

The Head of Engineering Function is a core role in the senior leadership of UKIFS.  You will be leading a team of 10-12, with a budget of circa £1M and indirectly leading a larger team of strategic and whole plant partners to oversee all Engineering Functional support to the UKIFS organisation and STEP programme.  

You will own and set the functional direction of the programme within the framework of a systems engineering approach by maintaining and evolving the engineering strategy and taking responsibility for driving a culture of continuous improvement.

The Head of Engineering Function is accountable to the Director of Engineering Programme for all elements of Engineering Capability (People, Tools, Data, and Functional Services). You will work a across all the four engineering dominated IPTs (Tokamak Machine, Power & Cooling, Fuel Cycle, Tokamak Complex) and the Design Authority to enable Engineers to deliver. As UKIFS is Design Authority for STEP, you will manage a significant portfolio of technical risk, ensuring the Engineering organisation has the right capabilities, and is properly equipped and resourced at the right time to deliver a first of a kind fusion power plant. As many systems currently have low technical readiness you must evolve the function, in-line with the plant design, to ensure Engineering needs are met – and risks are mitigated – proportionate to the phase of the engineering lifecycle.

Finally, you will work with the PM team to oversee and validate progress to plan.

Establishing a fusion company in the UK is pioneering work. You'll thrive in this role if you can embrace uncertainty and ambiguity whilst simultaneously creating strong relationships as we build UKIFS and its team. You'll shape functional ways of working as we grow, whilst also seeking new technologies, efficiencies, and leadership opportunities in nuclear fusion.

This role requires employees to be eligible for SC Clearance (must have resided in the UK for the last 5 years) , including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions.

Key focus:

Engineering Strategy & Approach:

• Own the overall Engineering strategy and take responsibility for direction and delivery of the Engineering Function, ensuring alignment with the programme’s goals and objectives.
• Create a continuous improvement regime to identify new advancements, new efficiencies, and new ways for UKIFS to be leaders within Fusion Energy.
• Work with the Head of Engineering Governance to put in place the Engineering Management Framework and operationalise its governance across the STEP programme.
• Support audits, both internal and external.
• Ensure consistency of approach across UKIFS and the STEP Whole Plant Partners (WPPs)

People & Resource:

• Deliver strategic workforce planning for an extended team comprised of internal staff as well as external strategic partners and suppliers to ensure the right skills and capabilities are available both near and long term.
• Create the Engineering career framework, competency assessments and training needs analyses for UKIFS and STEP more broadly where appropriate (i.e. across WPPs)
• Be responsible for placement of UKIFS personnel on programme as well as signing off demand with the Fusion, Engineering and Construction Partners.
• Actively resolve engineering resourcing issues.
• Oversee all Early Careers (graduate and apprentice) schemes and placements within STEP to ensure skills are developed and scheme requirements fulfilled.
• Work with all Professional Engineering Institutes (PEI’s) to maximise both UKIFS/UKAEA corporate memberships, but also to influence PEI training, seminar, and conferencing activities to benefit STEP and fusion more widely.

Tools & Data:

• Be responsible for the identification and reporting of Engineering Management Information (MI), including performance and functional health metrics for both the internal team and external partners.
• Own the strategy and be responsible for defining the requirements for the Engineering toolset estate, including the PLM system.
• Exploit digital opportunities to increase technical delivery performance.

Technical & Functional Services:

• Own the strategy and be responsible for providing and evolving the technical services required to support the Engineering teams to be as efficient and effective as possible.
• Oversee the Technical Coordinator Team whose current remit includes supporting engineering teams in setting-up and running meetings, data and document control, SharePoint support, and acting as PIMS superusers/user support interfaces. 
• Working with the Technical Coordinator Team Lead, evolve the Technical Coordinator services in line with the engineering lifecycle, ensuring that services are match-fit for the phase of the programme.

Leadership & Delivery: 

• Ensure that the programme has the right people, tools, infrastructure and data to run efficiently and effectively during all phases of the STEP programme.
• Provide oversight of engineering functional delivery.
• Represent and be a champion for Engineering within the wider organisation, particularly with respect to topics such as Export Control, IP, and business change/transition.
• Set a culture of excellence, promoting organised work practices without stifling innovation.
• Work with the Programme Manager for Engineering Capability to create and maintain the Integrated Master Schedule for the function.
• Deputise for the Director of Engineering Programme as required
• Embody a leadership mindset and a set of ‘best for enterprise’ behaviours
• Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace, valuing diversity, and promoting teamwork
• Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organisation's values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders
• Lead by example, demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and ethical behaviour
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organisational goals.

Embody a Leadership Mindset:

• Regardless of your formal position, you embody a leadership mindset and a set of leadership behaviours.  You embrace and embody our organisation's culture, values, and mission in all aspects of your work.
• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values.
• Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace, valuing diversity, and promoting teamwork.
• Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organisation's values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Lead by example, demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and ethical behaviour.
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organisational goals.

The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities and you may be required to undertake other reasonable tasks or duties requested.

Essential:

• Chartered Engineer
• Degree in a STEM related field
• Experience leading large Engineering teams
• Significant Programme/Engineering Management experience
• Strategic and innovative thinker with experience setting/delivering organisational strategy and implementing business plans in a collaborative way
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to build relationships with very diverse stakeholders, often with competing agendas.
• Effective communication skills: Ability to articulate ideas clearly, listen actively, adapt communication style to diverse audiences, and resolve conflicts effectively
• Understanding of the engineering lifecycle and capabilities required for successful delivery
• Proven ability to deliver continuous improvement
• Experience coordinating teams across multiple partners or businesses
• Ability to adapt to change and uncertainty, and embrace the evolving nature of the job
• Ability to upskill quickly and have an entrepreneurial mindset
• Proven ability to inspire and motivate technical teams

Beneficial:

• Experience working in an emergent tech environment
• Experience delivering major programmes
• Experience with Dassault Systemes 3D Experience platform
• Experience of working in a business that holds design authority

For more information on UKIFS visit : https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf

We welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly from women in STEM, ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and neurotypical individuals. Our Executive team, and our EDI Networks actively promote Inclusion and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open-source data.

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.

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

We have a number of exceptional opportunities available at the moment, to view them all please visit Careers - STEP.