Senior Project Manager

Company Description

About us

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them. 

Job Description

About us

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them. 

UKAEA is undertaking one of the most significant decommissioning programmes in the global fusion sector. As Senior Project Manager, you will lead the delivery of complex engineering and decommissioning projects within the JET Tokamak programme, ensuring safe, efficient and cost-effective outcomes. Working across multidisciplinary teams and a diverse stakeholder landscape, you will provide leadership, governance and strategic direction on projects that will shape future approaches to fusion technology, remote handling and radioactive waste reduction.

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What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the delivery of complex engineering and decommissioning projects, ensuring successful outcomes across scope, schedule, cost and quality.
• Develop project execution strategies, delivery plans and governance arrangements that support effective decision-making and delivery performance.
• Manage project budgets, forecasting and financial performance to ensure delivery within approved funding.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, coordinating resources and driving accountability for delivery.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, securing alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify, manage and mitigate project risks, issues and interdependencies.
• Oversee project controls, reporting and performance measurement, providing clear visibility of progress and delivery risks.
• Contribute to business cases, investment decisions and benefits realisation planning.
• Lead change control activities, ensuring changes are effectively assessed, governed and implemented.
• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with UKAEA standards and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering complex engineering, infrastructure or technical projects to time, cost and quality objectives.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing projects with multiple stakeholders, interfaces and dependencies.
• Strong commercial and financial management capability, including budgeting, forecasting and business case development.
• Experience delivering projects within regulated engineering, scientific or industrial environments.
• Degree in Engineering, Project Management or a related discipline, or equivalent experience, with recognised project management qualifications such as APM PMQ/APM RPP or equivalent.
• Experience of decommissioning, remote handling, radiological environments or CDM-regulated projects would be advantageous.

A full list of our benefits can be found here and highlights include: 

• £71,815 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance-£7,700) 
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus 
• Final salary defined benefit scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution 
• 25 days annual leave, 2.5 privilege days and 8 Bank Holidays   
• 3 days of site closure over Christmas break  
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions  

Our commitment to ED&I  

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.  

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit. Further information can be found here.   

Qualifications

Additional Information