Operations Preparation Manager

Sizewell C Company; Leiston; On-site; GBP 82,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 28–30 days

5% annual bonus

Pension up to 15% employer

Life Assurance 8x salary

Job summary

Sizewell C Company is seeking an Operations Preparation Manager to lead the development of operational readiness for a major UK energy project in Suffolk. The role spans governance, workforce development, commissioning support and cross-functional leadership.

You will shape processes, standards and documentation while managing budgets and ensuring safe, reliable transition into operations as the project nears completion.

Qualifications

• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent planning, organisational and problem-solving capability.
• Proven track record of developing and enhancing processes, procedures and ways of working.
• Strong analytical thinking and decision-making capability.
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and contribute to organisational capability growth.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence and safety culture.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with other senior members of the pre-operations team to deliver operational readiness objectives, supporting activities across multiple disciplines where required.
• Develop and implement operational readiness arrangements to support future station operations.
• Establish operational processes, procedures, standards and supporting documentation.
• Develop workforce plans, recruitment strategies, competence frameworks and training programmes.
• Define operational readiness criteria and support commissioning and handover activities.
• Provide operational input into design, construction and commissioning decisions.
• Support leadership development, succession planning and long-term organisational capability.
• Drive continuous improvement, operational excellence and organisational learning.
• Ensure operational requirements are embedded throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Planning and organisation

Process improvement

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Influence stakeholders

Continuous improvement

Education

Degree or equivalent in engineering/technical/scientific discipline

Job description

Sizewell C is entering an exciting phase of growth as we mature into an independent organisation and continue building one of the UK's largest and most important energy projects. We are now recruiting the below position:

Position: Operations Preparation Manager

Location: Suffolk. This role will be predominantly site-based as the Operations organisation matures and local training activities are established. During the early stages of the role, some flexibility is available to support current project and training arrangements.

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Salary: £82,186-£110,000 depending on experience,plus benefits

Benefits include:

• Annual Leave: 28 days per annum, increasing to 30 days after 5 years of service, plus bank holidays
• Bonus:5% annual bonus
• Pension Contributions: Defined Contribution Pension Scheme with up to 7.5% employee contribution 15% employer contribution
• Life Assurance: Up to 8 x salary

Closing Date: 6th October 2026

Role Overview:

This is a unique opportunity to help build the future Operations organisation for Sizewell C, shaping the people, processes and capabilities that will support station operation for decades to come. The role offers exposure across operational readiness, organisational capability, workforce development, commissioning support and operational governance, providing broad leadership experience within one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects.

Role Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with other senior members of the pre-operations team to deliver operational readiness objectives, supporting activities across multiple disciplines where required.

• Develop and implement operational readiness arrangements to support future station operations.
• Establish operational processes, procedures, standards and supporting documentation.
• Develop workforce plans, recruitment strategies, competence frameworks and training programmes.
• Define operational readiness criteria and support commissioning and handover activities.
• Provide operational input into design, construction and commissioning decisions.
• Support leadership development, succession planning and long-term organisational capability.
• Drive continuous improvement, operational excellence and organisational learning.
• Ensure operational requirements are embedded throughout the project lifecycle.
• Define operational readiness criteria and support commissioning, system handover and operational transition activities.

Leadership & Accountability:

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to secure support and alignment across multiple internal functions, directorates and external organisations to deliver operational readiness objectives.
• Act as the advocate for future Operations, ensuring operational requirements are represented throughout project delivery.
• Support the growth and maturation of the Operations function as Sizewell C progresses towards operation.
• Lead and develop Operations readiness resources, capability and organisational standards.

Financial Accountability:

• Manage resources and budgets associated with operational readiness activities.
• Support the development of business cases, resource plans and investment proposals.
• Ensure resources are effectively deployed to support operational readiness objectives.

Risk Management:

• Identify, assess and elevate risks that may impact operational readiness, plant handover or future operational performance.
• Support the development and implementation of mitigation plans.
• Ensure operational risks and long-term operating requirements are considered throughout project delivery.

About You:

Essential

• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent planning, organisational and problem-solving capability.
• Proven track record of developing and enhancing processes, procedures and ways of working.
• Strong analytical thinking and decision-making capability.
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and contribute to organisational capability growth.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence and safety culture.

Desirable

• Background within a nuclear operations environment, including exposure to operational culture, competence management, workforce development, operator training or operational governance.
• Exposure to reactor operator training or competence development would be advantageous.
• Understanding of operational readiness, commissioning or operations management.
• Knowledge of Management of Operations principles and governance frameworks.
• Familiarity with workforce planning, competence management and capability development.
• Background in nuclear, power generation or other highly regulated sectors.
• Understanding of human performance and organisational learning principles.
• Knowledge of Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) technology.

Qualifications & Experience:

Essential

• Degree, HNC, HND or equivalent in an engineering, technical or scientific discipline.
• Background within a regulated, safety-critical or technically complex environment.
• Demonstrable success implementing or enhancing processes, systems or governance arrangements.
• Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong leadership qualities with the ability to influence stakeholders.
• Proven ability to deliver outcomes across complex programmes involving multiple stakeholders.

Desirable

• Leadership or people management responsibility.
• Exposure to operational readiness, commissioning, operations, maintenance or engineering environments.
• Involvement in developing workforce plans, competence frameworks or training programmes.
• Contribution to major projects, organisational change programmes or business improvement initiatives.
• Background within nuclear or other highly regulated industries.
• Involvement in plant handover or operational transition activities.
• Professional membership or registration with a relevant institution.

Why Join us?

• Be part of one of the most important low-carbon energy projects in the UK.
• Work in a mission-driven environment that values innovation, integrity, and long-term sustainability.
• Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career development.

Key Competencies:

Humility

• Recognise the value brought fromdifferent culturesand experiences
• Be open to other's points of view and ideas, be willing to debate and to compromise

Positivity

• Positively challengepoor qualityand performance
• Identifysolutions at the lowest possible level
• Encourage tier 1s and others to bringnew ideasforward

Respect

• Value the rules and environment in which we operate
• Give and receive feedback with respect
• Embrace and engage with new people and ideas

Solidarity

• One team, working closely together and helping each other
• Empowered teams always looking forward.
• Shared responsibility for delivery the project outcomes

Clarity

• Communicate clearly and consistently
• Promote collaboration and team alignment
• Clearer and faster decision making
• Drive simplification at all levels