Capability Manager

Job Introduction

NNL is where your understanding of reactors fuels the nation. As part of our Fuel Reactor & Reprocessing capability, you’ll play a vital role in developing the UK fuel cycle in line with advances in new technology and new processes. As old reactors reach the end of their lifespan, we need experts like you, with the technical skills to virtually model scenarios that not only enable us to explore new ways of managing the inputs and outputs of reactors, but also pave the way for the implementation of smaller, cleaner revolutionary new reactors. This is a place where you can use your knowledge and expertise to do long term meaningful work for years to come.

NNL is looking for a high calibre, motivated and experienced individual to manage the Nuclear & Reactor Physics team which has team members at NNL’s Preston Laboratory, NNL Central Laboratory and NNL Chadwick House.  The team is part of the Fuels, Reactors and Recycling capability within NNL which delivers commercial R&D to help solve a wide range of challenges in the nuclear industry.  The team specialises in reactor modelling, fuel performance and strategic assessments as well as general nuclear consultancy providing a service for a wide range of customers.  A key focus of the team is delivery of the Advanced Fuel Cycle Portfolio for our customers in HMG. The role will be a key one in ensuring  that support for the UK’s net-zero target, and NNL’s own clean energy aspirations.

To manage the technical team successfully the suitable candidate must:

• have the ability maximise the team’s potential.
• ensure clear line of sight of all safety responsibility and the availability of resource to support delivery. 
• maintain a strong work relationship with the customer and all touchpoints throughout the organisation.    
   

Role Responsibility

The main responsibilities of the Capability Manager will be: 

EHSS&Q Accountabilities: 

• The Capability Manager will be accountable for EHSS&Q within their team: 
• Duty of care for all staff identified 
• Ownership and safe operations of equipment and facilities 
• Delivery of projects, programs and technical work 
• Delivery of the EHSS&Q Assurance and Improvement Plan

Capability Accountabilities: 

• The Capability Manager will be accountable for all resources within their team: 
• Staff: Leadership, performance, SQEP, development, technical training, progression and recruitment 
• Facilities & Equipment: maintenance, renewal, disposal, repair, inspection, access and utilisation. Key roles include oversight of; 
  • The Muon maging System (MIS) at NNL Central Laboratory 
  • The teams’ secure IT hardware and software (aligned to associated SyOPs)
  • Leads on customer delivery, exceling in delivering customer value and building a customer-centric culture. 

Budget Control Accountabilities: 

• The Capability Manager will support the Capability Leader for all budgetary control associated with their team and will be measured against budget control through KPI’s: 
• Staff costs including, recruitment, training, progression, T&S. R&R 
• Facilities & Equipment costs maintenance, renewal, disposal, repair, inspection, access and utilisation 

Customer Delivery Accountabilities: 

• The Capability Manager will be accountable for all customer delivery associated with their team: 
• Work with Account Directors and Customer Workstream Leads to engage with customer to maximise all business opportunities 
• Technical excellence in customer delivery 
• Technical resolution 

Leadership Accountabilities: 

• The Capability Manager will be accountable for cultural and business strategies associated with their team: 
• Development of the team in line with business requirements and recognising technical advancements 
• Quality of science and customer delivery 
• People performance, development and cultural change

The Ideal Candidate

Essential skills for the Capability Manager:

• A Physics degree or PhD as a minimum
• Experience of delivering research and technical projects
• Line management experience 
• Working to high quality standards in a highly regulated environment
• Coding and modelling experience
• Valid UK Driving License
• Ability to achieve SC clearance 

Desirable skills for the Capability Manager: 

• Experience of working in the civil or defence nuclear industries
• Experience of identifying and developing technical capability to meet company aspirations
• Nuclear Data, Nuclear Fuel Modelling or Reactor Physics background
• Familiarity or use of nuclear physics codes such as FISPIN, SERPENT, WIMS, CAMSO-SIMULATE etc.

About the Company

Grounded in robust science and decades of experience, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the authoritative voice in the UK and beyond for technological development within the nuclear power sector.

Our unparalleled understanding of the science, challenges and opportunities makes us an unrivalled authority and partner in the field, providing experts, technologies, and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.

Harnessing potential technologies and translating them into to industry-ready solutions means our pioneering approach spearheads international improvement and technological progress.

We work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with our integrated micro drilling technology, or as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems for spacecraft, based on radioactive materials

NNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where NNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging.

Recruitment Agency Notice

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List (PSL) for the provision of recruitment services. Only agencies on our PSL may provide CVs and only when the role is released to them by our recruitment team. We will not accept unsolicited CVs from suppliers not currently on our PSL. We explicitly reserve the right to add candidate details from unsolicited CVs from non-PSL agencies into our own candidate database and to pursue/hire such candidate(s) without any obligation, financial or otherwise, to the agency concerned.

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory