Project Director - Nuclear

westlakesrecruit; Manchester; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlakes Recruit is partnering with a leading global infrastructure, engineering and construction organisation to appoint a senior Project Director - Nuclear UK. You will lead and deliver major nuclear programmes, overseeing safety, quality and commercial performance across multi-disciplinary teams, with travel across the UK.

The role requires 15+ years in regulated sectors, strong leadership and the ability to obtain SC/DV clearance where required.

Qualifications

• 15+ years’ experience in nuclear, defence, infrastructure or other regulated sectors.
• Proven track record delivering high-value projects (£100m+).
• Experience with EPC/EPCM, alliance or framework delivery models.
• Ability to obtain UK security clearance (SC/DV) where required.

Responsibilities

• Lead nuclear projects and programmes with overall accountability.
• Mobilise projects with governance and integrated teams.
• Develop and implement delivery strategies aligned with contracts.
• Ensure readiness across engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning.
• Establish risk, opportunity and performance management processes.
• Drive safety, quality, schedule and commercial performance.
• Build relationships with senior client and regulators; manage interfaces across delivery partners.

Skills

Nuclear leadership

Programme governance

Stakeholder management

Safety leadership

Commercial delivery

Executive communication

Risk management

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered status

Job description

Project Director - Nuclear UK

Location: Greater Manchester, Warrington or London

Travel: UK & Europe - up to approximately 40%

Security Clearance: Ability to obtain SC/DV clearance where required

Sector: Nuclear / Major Projects / Infrastructure

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

About the Opportunity

Westlakes Recruit is supporting a leading global infrastructure, engineering and construction organisation with the appointment of a senior Project Director - Nuclear UK.

Our client is an established international organisation with significant experience delivering complex infrastructure and mission-critical projects across the energy, defence, transportation, water and industrial sectors.

The organisation is now investing significantly in the development of its UK nuclear capability, creating an ambitious platform to support some of the country's most strategically important nuclear programmes.

The growing nuclear business will operate across a broad range of opportunities, including:

• Nuclear new build


• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)


• Defence nuclear infrastructure


• Decommissioning and waste management


• Life extension and asset management


• Advanced nuclear technologies


• Major nuclear infrastructure programmes


• EPC and EPCM delivery

This is an opportunity to join the organisation at a significant stage of its nuclear growth strategy and play a key role in establishing and delivering its UK project portfolio.

The Role

As Project Director - Nuclear UK, you will hold senior accountability for the safe, high-quality and commercially successful delivery of major nuclear projects, programmes and/or framework contracts.

You will provide leadership across the full project lifecycle, encompassing engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, commercial management, project controls, stakeholder engagement and supply chain integration.

You will lead large, multidisciplinary project teams and establish the governance, assurance and delivery structures required to successfully execute complex projects within highly regulated and safety-critical environments.

The portfolio may include major nuclear infrastructure, decommissioning, defence nuclear programmes, new nuclear projects, EPC/EPCM services and long-term framework or collaborative delivery arrangements.

This is a highly visible leadership position, requiring an individual who can operate credibly at executive level with clients, partners and internal stakeholders while maintaining a strong focus on nuclear safety, delivery excellence and commercial performance.

Key Responsibilities

Project & Programme Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for assigned nuclear projects and programmes.


• Successfully mobilise projects, establishing appropriate delivery structures, governance and integrated project teams.


• Develop and implement project delivery strategies aligned with client and contractual requirements.


• Ensure delivery readiness across engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and project controls.


• Establish robust risk, opportunity and performance management processes.


• Drive delivery against agreed safety, quality, schedule and commercial objectives.

Nuclear Safety & Quality

• Champion a strong nuclear safety culture across all project activities.


• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, contractual and company requirements.


• Promote a culture where safety is the overriding priority.


• Maintain high standards of quality throughout the project lifecycle.


• Lead by example in demonstrating a commitment to Safety First, Quality Always.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Maintain accountability for project financial and margin performance.


• Drive effective cost, schedule and risk management.


• Provide strong commercial leadership across project delivery.


• Identify opportunities to maximise value and improve project performance.


• Support future business development and contract growth where appropriate.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build trusted relationships with senior client and stakeholder representatives.


• Act as a senior point of contact throughout project delivery.


• Manage complex interfaces across alliance, JV and delivery partner environments.


• Develop effective relationships with regulators, supply chain partners and industry stakeholders.


• Promote a collaborative and solutions-focused approach to project delivery.

People Leadership

• Build, lead and develop high-performing multidisciplinary teams.


• Establish a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.


• Develop future project leaders and technical specialists.


• Support succession planning and long-term capability development.

About You

We are looking for a highly credible senior project delivery professional with substantial experience leading major projects, programmes or portfolios within the nuclear, defence, infrastructure, energy or another highly regulated sector.

You will have a proven track record of delivering complex capital projects safely and successfully, ideally with project values exceeding £100m.

You will combine strong leadership and commercial capability with an in-depth understanding of project delivery, governance, controls and stakeholder management.

Essential Experience

• 15+ years' experience within nuclear, defence, infrastructure, energy or another highly regulated sector.


• Proven experience leading major capital projects or programmes, typically exceeding £100m in value.


• Experience working across EPC, EPCM, alliance, framework or programme delivery models.


• Demonstrable accountability for safety, quality, schedule, commercial performance and overall project outcomes.


• Experience overseeing engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning activities.


• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary project teams.


• Strong commercial and contract management experience.


• Experience implementing project governance, assurance, risk and project controls frameworks.


• Experience operating within safety-critical and highly regulated environments.


• Experience engaging directly with executive-level clients and stakeholders.

Desirable Experience

Experience across one or more of the following would be advantageous:

• UK nuclear projects and programmes.


• Nuclear new build.


• Nuclear decommissioning and waste management.


• Defence nuclear infrastructure.


• Small Modular Reactor programmes.


• Major infrastructure delivery.


• NEC, FIDIC or alliance contracting models.


• Integrated Delivery Partner or long-term framework environments.


• Experience working with UK nuclear regulators and nuclear licence conditions.


• Experience operating within complex joint venture, alliance or collaborative delivery environments.

Qualifications

You will ideally hold:

• A degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Nuclear Engineering, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Science or a related technical discipline.


• Chartered status such as CEng, ChPP or MRICS, or demonstrable equivalent professional standing.


• Relevant project, programme, commercial, construction or engineering qualifications appropriate to the seniority of the role.

Additional qualifications in project/programme management, engineering management, commercial management or nuclear engineering would be advantageous.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Authentic and visible nuclear safety leadership.


• Strong commercial and delivery focus.


• High levels of accountability and resilience.


• The ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure.


• Strong strategic and operational decision-making.


• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.


• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style.


• High levels of integrity and professionalism.


• The ability to operate effectively within complex matrix organisations.


• A genuine commitment to developing people and organisational capability.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a growing nuclear business at a pivotal stage of its development.

You will have the opportunity to influence how major nuclear projects are mobilised and delivered, develop new delivery capabilities and contribute to building a high-performing nuclear organisation.

The role offers significant autonomy, responsibility and visibility, with the opportunity to work across some of the UK's most strategically important nuclear programmes.

For an experienced Project Director, this represents an opportunity to take a leading role in shaping a growing nuclear business while delivering complex, high‑value projects at scale.

Deliver complex projects. Build delivery excellence. Make a lasting impact.

Location & Travel

The preferred locations for this role are:

• Greater Manchester


• Warrington


• London

Regular travel across the UK and Europe will be required, with the role expected to involve up to approximately 40% travel on average, potentially increasing during key project or business-critical periods.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of UK security clearance, including SC or DV, depending on project and programme requirements.