Talent Acquisition Business Partner

STEP Fusion; Retford; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension

Bonus scheme up to 7%

Relocation allowance

Flexible working

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous annual leave 25 days + 2.5 3/

Career development opportunities

Inclusive culture

Job summary

UK Fusion Energy Ltd. is seeking a Talent Acquisition Business Partner to recruit and retain UKFE’s exceptional talent, powering the STEP programme’s fusion energy mission.

You will lead full lifecycle recruitment and implement sourcing strategies, building pipelines for critical roles and collaborating with leaders to align talent with growth plans. In this role, you will drive onboarding and retention efforts, embed the EVP in recruitment materials, and champion DEI throughout the process.

Qualifications

• CIPD or equivalent experience.
• Extensive expertise in talent acquisition, workforce planning and onboarding.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation and equity, diversity and inclusion best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle recruitment from job design to onboarding.
• Define and implement sourcing strategies for hard-to-fill roles.
• Develop and manage a talent pipeline for future workforce needs.
• Partner with hiring managers to identify and deliver on recruitment requirements.
• Use data-driven insights to inform recruitment decisions and workforce planning.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and promote equity and inclusion.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic agility

Data analysis & reporting

Attention to detail

Education

CIPD or equivalent experience

Job description

The UK Government has established UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd., a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) protype fusion plant. UKFE is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of the STEP prototype.

Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKFE, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Fusion Energy Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKFE and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground-breaking journey.

Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working.

A full list of our benefits can be found here Employee Benefits

For more information on UKFE, visit: UKFE Candidate Recruitment Pack

As an employee of UKFE, you will benefit from:

• Outstandingdefined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporatebonus schemeup to 7% and aRelocationallowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working optionsincluding family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programmeand trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range ofcareer development opportunities
• A vibrantculturecommitted to being fullyinclusive

The salary for this role is £51,317,115 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension.

The closing date to apply for this position is the 29th Sept 2026.

This UKFE vacancy will be based at West Burton, Nottinghamshire.

Job Description

As a Talent Acquisition Business Partner, you’ll play a vital role in realising this vision by recruiting and retaining the exceptional talent required to power this ambitious mission. You’ll be instrumental in building the workforce that will help make fusion energy a commercial reality.

Key Responsibilities

1. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Lead the full lifecycle of recruitment, from job design to onboarding.
• Define and implement creative sourcing strategies for hard-to-fill, specialist roles.
• Develop and manage a talent pipeline, ensuring readiness for future workforce needs.
• Partner with hiring managers and leadership teams to identify and deliver on recruitment requirements.
• Use data-driven insights to inform recruitment decisions and workforce planning.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, with a strong emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

2. Onboarding & Retention

• Assist to create a seamless onboarding process aligned with UKFE’s values and Employer Value Proposition (EVP).
• Ensure candidates meet all compliance requirements, including Right to Work and security checks.
• Collaborate with managers and People Business Partners to develop and execute effective retention strategies.

3. Employer Value Proposition (EVP) & Branding

• Develop and embed UKFE’s EVP into all recruitment strategies and materials.
• Enhance the visibility and appeal of UKFE through careers pages, job boards, and recruitment campaigns.
• Act as an ambassador for the organisation, ensuring candidates understand the value and opportunities offered by UKFE.

4. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including hiring managers, Whole Plant Partners, and other collaborators.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative team culture across the organisation and partner networks.

Qualifications

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:

• Qualifications: CIPD or equivalent experience.
• Experience:
  • Extensive expertise in talent acquisition, workforce planning, and onboarding, ideally in a growing organisation.
  • A proven track record of sourcing specialist, hard-to-fill roles through creative methods.
  • Strong knowledge of employment legislation and equity, diversity, and inclusion best practices.
• Skills:
  • Exceptional stakeholder management and relationship-building abilities.
  • Strategic and operational agility, with the ability to balance competing priorities.
  • Proficiency in data analysis and reporting to drive decision-making.
  • High attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines.

Additional Information

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKFE.

As we work towards our mission and goals, guided by our principles, STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work:

• We champion safety
• We all matter
• We act as one
• We embrace change
• We are pioneering
• We deliver

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.