Technical Advisor (NIRO Secondment 12 months)

Job Introduction

This is a secondment opportunity to work as a Technical Advisor to Science and Innovation for Climate and Energy (SICE) within the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for a period of up to 2 years.  
SICE aspires to use science, engineering and innovation to transform the UK to a net zero economy and enable the UK to end its contribution to climate change. In the current spending review period SICE will invest at least £1bn in new energy technology. This is set out in the Energy white paper: Powering our Net Zero Future and the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. Together, these signal an ambition for developing Advanced Nuclear Technologies and implementation of the Nuclear Sector Deal (NSD). In this role you will be required to develop and manage projects within the BEIS Net Zero Energy Innovation Programme and Advanced Nuclear Fund, playing an integral role in developing green technologies (such as advanced nuclear) needed to tackle climate.

The role can be based in BEIS’s Manchester office or undertaken remotely from anywhere in the UK (including NIRO office, Birchwood) including home working, with regular travel to London once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

This is an unrivalled opportunity to play an important role in an organisation that will shape the safe, efficient future of nuclear in the UK and as such we are seeking as diverse a range of candidates as possible.
Applications are being sought during June, the start date for the secondment is flexible but expected to be no later than September 2021.  
The successful candidate will be seconded for one year initially. Subject to interest and satisfactory performance, there will be an opportunity to extend the secondment for an additional year (2 years total max.).

Interested candidates are asked to submit a 2-page CV and a 1-2-page statement outlining their: 

• Motivations for applying for the secondment
• Suitability for the role, based on the requirements outlined above

Send to olivia.t.manfredi@uknnl.com

As part of the application process, candidates will be invited for interview with a panel of NIRO and BEIS team members.

Role Responsibility

As a Technical Advisor, your main responsibilities will be: working in the SICE Nuclear Team, alongside BEIS leads who will provide guidance and support. You will be trusted with the responsibility to manage nuclear research projects for developing Advanced Nuclear Technologies (multi-million pound portfolio) and have the opportunity to be involved throughout the project’s lifecycle including during the scoping, design, launch, closing and knowledge capture phase.  Potential areas that you might work on include:

• Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) Demonstrator Programme
• AMR fuel technology and supply
• International engagement
• Preparing business cases for funding the above
• Specification and management of Research and Development (R&D) contracts

A day in this role could involve: 

• Working on a Business Case for a new R&D initiative.
• Team workshop on the outputs needed from a particular BEIS R&D project.
• Drafting a briefing for a BEIS programme board considering an R&D proposal.
• Project progress review meeting with an R&D contractor.
• Working with the Nuclear Innovation and Research Office (NIRO) to gather evidence for a business case or supporting project.
• Engagement to obtain updates on international collaboration work.
• Briefing a Minister on an R&D project or a wider advanced nuclear issue.

The secondment will be managed through the Nuclear Innovation and Research Office (NIRO) who will be available to support you and your work for BEIS during your secondment. NIRO is operated as an arms-length organisation by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). Funded by BEIS, its role is to provide independent strategic advice and guidance to government across a range of nuclear and energy-related activities. NIRO is made up of NNL, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Industry secondees who have the knowledge and experience to achieve this aim.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Criteria for Technical Advisor:

• The SICE Team values the first-hand experience of the nuclear industry that NNL secondees bring, but the role itself does not require in depth knowledge of a particular area of nuclear technology. The role would be ideal for somebody looking to develop experience in their early career or as a graduate placement. Key requirements are therefore:
• Broad knowledge of the nuclear industry.
• Interest in nuclear R&D and ability to analysis and evaluate technical work.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong team working skills.
• Flexible attitude and ability to manage a varied workload.

Desirable Criteria for Technical Advisor:

• BPSS Clearance

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