Project Manager - Long Lead Items

Great British Energy - Nuclear; Warrington; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Great British Energy - Nuclear in the UK seeks an experienced PM for Intelligent Customer oversight of Long Lead Items in the SMR programme. Lead procurement through to site delivery, ensuring safety, schedule, and value-for-money across multiple suppliers and regulators.

Role focuses on building an integrated delivery plan, coordinating with Rolls-Royce SMR, supplier networks, and regulators to deliver the first UK SMRs on time and to high quality.

Qualifications

• Understanding of long lead item procurement and manufacturing in regulated environments.
• Familiarity with NEC3/4 contract forms and alliancing delivery models.
• Experience managing complex, multi-sector infrastructure or energy projects.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills with attention to detail.
• Proven ability to engage and align stakeholders across levels and organisations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the integrated LLI delivery plan tied to the SMR schedule.
• Lead day-to-day LLI project management with Rolls-Royce SMR and key suppliers.
• Monitor schedule, cost, quality and technical requirements; run progress reviews.
• Identify risks and opportunities; maintain risk register and governance escalations.
• Coordinate design, procurement, manufacturing, tests and regulatory hold/witness points.
• Support governance, audits, and stakeholder reporting across the programme.

Skills

Long lead item procurement

NEC3/4 familiarity

Multi-sector program experience

Organisational coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Delivery-focused mindset

Education

Engineering / Nuclear Science / Physics / PM related degree

Job description

Originally named, Great British Nuclear, 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 had been 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. GBN-E 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.

The PM LLI role sits at the heart of GBE-N’s oversight function, ensuring that LLI procurement, manufacture and delivery are executed safely, on schedule and to the required quality, protecting the critical path of the UK’s first SMR deployment.

The role purpose is to project manage GBE-N’s Intelligent Customer / Intelligent Client oversight of the SMR Long Lead Items workstream — from procurement and contract placement through manufacture, factory acceptance testing, transport and site delivery — ensuring alignment with the overall programme schedule, regulatory obligations and value-for-money objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Develop, maintain and own the integrated LLI delivery plan, schedule, milestones and interfaces, aligned to the SMR Master Delivery Schedule and the path to FID.

• Act as GBE-N’s day-to-day project management lead for LLI scope, coordinating with Rolls-Royce SMR and its strategic suppliers (including nuclear island component manufacturers in the UK, EU and South Korea).
• Monitor and challenge supplier performance against schedule, cost, quality and technical requirements; lead regular progress reviews, earned value reporting and look-ahead planning.
• Identify, assess and manage LLI risks, opportunities and dependencies, maintaining the risk register and escalating through governance where the critical path is threatened.
• Exercise Intelligent Customer oversight of LLI design, procurement and manufacturing activities, working with the Owner’s Engineer providing independent Line of Defence 2 assurance (specification, oversight, audit, review and advice on design, scope, budget, risk, delivery and contract compliance).
• Coordinate technical, quality and regulatory review hold/witness points, including factory acceptance tests, in liaison with Design Authority, Quality, and regulatory interface teams.
• Support oversight of nuclear quality requirements (e.g. ISO 19443 and relevant nuclear codes and standards) and manufacturing surveillance across the supply chain.

Commercial, Governance and Stakeholder Management

• Support commercial management of LLI contracts: change control, milestone payments, claims and contract compliance, working with Commercial and Legal teams.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based reporting and decision papers for GBE-N governance boards, sponsors and government stakeholders.
• Build and sustain effective working relationships with Rolls-Royce SMR, suppliers, the Owner’s Engineer, regulators (ONR, EA), DESNZ and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to supply chain development, UK content and socio-economic benefit objectives within LLI procurement.
• Ensure project activities comply with GBN’s governance frameworks, nuclear safety standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Support audits, reviews, and assurance activities as required.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including supply chain partners, consultants, and regulatory bodies.
• Prepare and present LLI project updates, reports, and briefings to senior stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and contribute to lessons learned and knowledge sharing across the programme.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and delivery excellence.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

Proven experience supporting infrastructure projects in regulated environments, ideally within nuclear or energy sectors.

• Strong understanding of long lead item procurement and manufacturing (forgings, pressure vessels, large mechanical or electrical plant), including supplier schedule and quality surveillance.
• Familiarity with NEC3/4 contract forms and alliancing delivery models.
• Multi-sector project experience, with the ability to adapt to different delivery contexts.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, with attention to detail.
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Proactive, collaborative, and delivery-focused mindset.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Nuclear Science, Physics, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• Project Management accreditation (e.g. APM PMQ, PRINCE2, PMP) is desirable
• Experience working within a regulated industry, process, oil and gas or government infrastructure programme is desirable.
• Additional training or certification in nuclear safety or reactor systems is advantageous.
• Ability to obtain and maintain UK security clearance (BPSS level minimum or SC level )