Operational Capability Senior Specialist

Great British Energy - Nuclear; Warrington; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Great British Energy - Nuclear seeks a capable professional to define and review organisational capability for UK SMR deployment. You will assess end‑to‑end readiness, workforce planning, asset management, digital infrastructure, and documentation control to align with site licence conditions and regulatory expectations.

Engage with engineering, operations, regulatory affairs and supply chain to ensure integrated delivery and safe transition to operations.

Qualifications

• Experience with UK nuclear regulatory frameworks and ONR engagement.
• Strong stakeholder engagement across technical and operations teams.
• Experience developing operational capability requirements in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate operational capability across lifecycle phases: commissioning to decommissioning.
• Review vendor designs for operability and reliability per UK standards.
• Define staffing models and competency frameworks per ONR guidance.
• Identify digital system requirements for plant configuration and work management.
• Support site documentation including procedures and safety inputs.
• Advise on commissioning plans and readiness assessments.

Skills

Regulatory frameworks

Stakeholder engagement

Operational readiness

Project tools

Team collaboration

Education

Engineering degree

Professional registration

NEBOSH certificate

Tools

Primavera

Microsoft Project

Job description

Great British Energy - Nuclear is an arm’s length body of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, dedicated to supporting the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies in Great Britain. We play a crucial role in advancing nuclear new build, ensuring the UK’s energy security and achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Great British Energy - Nuclear focuses on fostering innovation, facilitating investment, and coordinating efforts across the nuclear industry to build a resilient and sustainable energy future.

Great British Energy - Nuclear’s first step was to start the technology selection process for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in 2023. SMRs can potentially be quicker to deploy and less expensive to build than traditional nuclear power plants because they are smaller, have factory based modular manufacturing and more flexible deployment options. In June 2025, Great British Energy - Nuclear announced that Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as the preferred bidder to build the UK’s first SMRs, following a technology selection process that began in 2023.

Great British Energy - Nuclear is aiming to deliver fast, based on a supportive and collaborative culture which values equality and diversity and creates an inclusive workplace. We draw on deep nuclear expertise – our Executive Committee has over 100 years of nuclear experience at home and abroad. GBE-N will unlock billions of pounds of private and public investment from design to operation, helping to get sites ready for development, and working to grow manufacturing capacity and skills capability.

Our activities will be driven by our values, which are:

Trust - We prioritise safety, we act responsibly and with integrity.

Collaboration - We work as a team; we value diversity and expertise.

Challenge - We are curious and courageous in the way we think and act.

Care - We are thoughtful, inclusive and respectful of others.

Drive - We get things done and we make a difference.

If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can assist.

Job profile:

Responsible for defining and reviewing organisational capability requirements to support the deployment of a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) fleet across the UK. This role involves assessing end‑to‑end operational readiness, including workforce planning, training frameworks, asset management strategies, digital infrastructure, and documentation control to ensure alignment with nuclear site licence conditions and regulatory expectations.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Evaluating operational capability across all lifecycle phases: commissioning, operations, maintenance, and decommissioning.
• Reviewing vendor design submissions to ensure operational feasibility, maintainability, and compliance with UK nuclear safety standards.
• Defining staffing models and competency frameworks in accordance with ONR guidance and nuclear baseline requirements.
• Identifying digital system requirements for plant configuration control, work management, and operational decision support.
• Supporting the development of site documentation, including operating instructions, maintenance procedures, and safety case inputs.
• Advising on commissioning plans and readiness assessments to ensure safe transition to operational status.
• Engaging with cross‑functional stakeholders including engineering, operations, regulatory affairs, and supply chain to ensure integrated delivery.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required:

• Experience in the operation of UK nuclear power plants (AGR, PWR or equivalent), gained within operations, maintenance, engineering, commissioning, decommissioning, operational readiness, technical support, or nuclear safety‑focused roles.
• Demonstrable knowledge of UK nuclear regulatory frameworks, including Site Licence Conditions, nuclear baseline requirements, and direct engagement with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and other regulatory stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of international nuclear industry standards, operating experience programmes and good practices, including those published by WANO, IAEA, INPO and EPRI.
• Experience developing and validating operational capability requirements, technical specifications or business requirements, within a regulated environment.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence across technical, operational, engineering and project delivery disciplines.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams involving operations, engineering, commissioning, licensing, safety case, commercial and supply chain functions to support integrated project delivery.
• Experience using enterprise systems and project delivery tools, such as Primavera , Microsoft Project, SharePoint, requirements management tools, document management systems or data analytics platforms.
• Experience assessing plant, system or vendor designs including operability, maintainability, reliability, human factors and lifecycle considerations, aligned with recognised industry guidance such as EPRI and IAEA good practice.
• Working knowledge of project planning and scheduling principles, including development, review and assurance techniques

Qualifications:

• HNC/HND, Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Nuclear Science, Operations, Physical Sciences or a related technical discipline.
• Incorporated Engineer (IEng), Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Scientist (CSci), Chartered Nuclear Professional (CNP) or working towards professional registration with a recognised professional institution.
• Commercial nuclear power station authorisation, appointment or licence (e.g. DAP or equivalent).
• NEBOSH National General Certificate or equivalent health and safety qualification/demonstratable experience.