Head of Waste

Nuclear Inst; Brighton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Nuclear Inst at Chapelcross is seeking a capable leader to head the Low Activity and Conventional Waste Team, guiding delivery amid decommissioning priorities and safety focus.

You will lead a team, set standards, own waste targets, and collaborate with project teams to enable wider delivery, while ensuring compliance and stakeholder alignment.

This site-based role offers real purpose and impact, with clear accountability and opportunities to shape the site’s decommissioning mission.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading teams to deliver shared goals in an operational or programme environment.
• Strong nuclear sector experience, particularly within waste management.
• Knowledge of applicable national and international standards, environmental practices and stakeholder expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the Waste Team to deliver operations safely and compliantly in support of Chapelcross’ decommissioning objectives.
• Set clear standards and expectations, driving consistently high performance and professional discipline.
• Take ownership of waste targets, promoting continuous improvement and proactive performance management.
• Build effective, collaborative relationships across the site and with project teams to ensure waste operations enable wider delivery.
• Demonstrate a strong customer‑focused mindset, applying your skills and experience to support delivery wherever required.

Skills

Leadership

Waste management

Operational delivery

Project coordination

Education

Degree in engineering/science

Job description

Do you want to play a pivotal role in one of the UK’s most important decommissioning missions? Are you motivated by leading teams, solving complex waste challenges and making a real, lasting impact?

Chapelcross Site is seeking a capable and driven leader to head up its Low Activity and Conventional Waste Team at a critical point in our journey.

This is a high‑profile role at the heart of site delivery, supporting the decommissioning mission and driving forward the Problematic Legacy Waste project, alongside major Programmes and Asset Care work. If you thrive in a collaborative, safety‑focused environment and are ready to step into a role with real purpose and influence, we’d love to hear from you.

What You Will Bring

You will bring visible, confident leadership to the Low Activity and Conventional Waste function, providing direction, assurance and momentum across operations. You’ll combine strong operational delivery with strategic thinking to ensure waste activities are safe, compliant, efficient and fully aligned with site priorities and the wider decommissioning mission.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and motivate the Waste Team to deliver operations safely and compliantly in support of Chapelcross’ decommissioning objectives
• Set clear standards and expectations, driving consistently high performance and professional discipline
• Take ownership of waste targets, promoting continuous improvement and proactive performance management
• Build effective, collaborative relationships across the site and with project teams to ensure waste operations enable wider delivery
• Demonstrate a strong customer‑focused mindset, applying your skills, knowledge and experience to support delivery wherever required

This role offers the chance to further strengthen your leadership capability while making a tangible contribution to Chapelcross’ long‑term success and purpose.

What We’re Looking For

You’ll bring a broad and credible technical background, with experience across multiple technical disciplines and a strong understanding of how waste operations integrate within a complex nuclear environment. You will be comfortable setting direction, making informed decisions, and balancing safety, compliance and delivery. You will also have:

• National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 6 / SCQF level 9/10 e.g. Degree in engineering/science or related discipline or equivalent NQF level 6 technical qualification.
• Proven experience leading teams to deliver shared goals in an operational or programme environment
• Strong nuclear sector experience, particularly within waste management

Equally important, you’ll have a deep working knowledge of applicable national and international standards, alongside a clear understanding of environmental practices, policies, legislation and stakeholder expectations associated with radioactive and non‑radioactive waste management. This expertise will enable you to provide assurance, influence outcomes, and support the site’s decommissioning mission with confidence and authority

Please note this is a site based role at Chapelcross site 07:30-17:15 Mon-Thurs – perfect for someone looking for a 4 day working week.

If you’re looking for a role where your leadership and expertise will make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.