Commissioning & Operations Manager - UKIFS

STEP Fusion; South Wheatley; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy innovation company is looking for a Commissioning & Operations Manager to develop operations for the STEP Programme. You will lead a team, manage projects in high-hazard environments, and ensure integration with engineering teams. The ideal candidate holds a relevant engineering degree and has experience in commissioning complex plants. A competitive salary and excellent benefits, including a pension, are offered.

Benefits

Strong pension

Flexible working requests

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an engineering manager, leading a team to deliver.
• Experience delivering complex technical projects in a high-hazard, regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of Commissioning and Operations capability.
• Identify critical skills and long-term training requirements.
• Manage integration with Engineering Delivery teams.

Skills

Communication with multi-functional teams

Leadership in engineering projects

Safety and risk management

Education

Relevant engineering degree or equivalent

Job description

Commissioning & Operations Manager - UKIFS

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Overview

Fusion energy offers the potential for significant quantities of low-carbon, inherently safe, abundantly fuelled, baseload energy. STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS) leads delivery within the UKAEA group, collaborating with industrial partners to develop a UK fusion industry.

Onsite working is expected for 3 days per week; flexible working requests are supported. Salary for this role is £70,505 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including a strong pension. The closing date to apply is 21 October. This vacancy can be based at West Burton, Nottinghamshire or Culham, Oxfordshire.

For more information on UKIFS and employee benefits, see the provided links in the original advert.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of Commissioning and Operations capability for the STEP Programme.
• Develop and lead a team enabling delivery of this capability and establish partnerships to support the strategy.
• Identify critical skills and long-term training requirements; promote safety, agility, and continuous improvement.
• Lead the development of the Commissioning plan and the Concept of Operations for the STEP Programme, ensuring readiness for operations.
• Develop systems and processes to integrate Commissioning and Operations across the programme; manage integration with Engineering Delivery teams.
• Establish mechanisms for lessons-learned capture and rapid dissemination of benefits.
• Develop and manage requirements for Commissioning and Operations across all plant systems, including transverse requirements (e.g., Plant availability, Asset protection).
• Act as the point of contact for Commissioning & Operations workstreams; ensure delivery of Plant Operations workstreams on time and within budget.
• Champion Commissioning & Operations, support integration activities, and lead readiness reviews.
• Promote public understanding of operational objectives and risk management strategies.
• Demonstrate leadership, integrity, professionalism, and ethical behavior in line with GOV.UK Seven Principles of Public Life.

Qualifications

Essential:

• A relevant engineering degree or equivalent.
• Experience as an engineering manager, leading a team to deliver.
• Ability to communicate with multi-functional teams and manage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience delivering complex technical projects in a high-hazard, regulated environment.

Beneficial:

• Experience of plant commissioning and operations for complex plants (e.g., process/chemical plants, power plants).
• Knowledge of hazard assessment and mitigation processes and technologies.
• Experience in delivery of major infrastructure programmes.

Additional Information

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We encourage applications from under-represented groups and promote inclusion. The role requires completing an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and possibly a DBS check; overseas criminal-records checks information is provided.

This role may require other reasonable tasks as requested.