Capability Manager (Separation Science and Special Nuclear Materials)

Job Introduction

Job Description for Capability Manager (Separation Science and Special Nuclear Materials):

There’s never been a more exciting time to be part of the nuclear sector. New opportunities are being created all the time. At NNL, you’ll be in the ideal place to capitalise on this momentum, face new challenges and develop a long, successful and meaningful career. 

We’re an organisation that’s here to experiment and push the limits of what’s possible. So, if you’re keen to excel in your chosen field, this is the place to do it. Because at NNL, anything is possible.

NNL is looking for a high calibre, motivated and experienced individual to manage the Separation Science and Special Nuclear Materials team which has team members primarily based at NNL Central Laboratory.  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.  Due to growth in the team as a result of the need for alpha skills-trained scientists and technicians to meet ongoing and future needs, a position has come up for a second Capability Manager.  The team specialises in glovebox operations and chemical processing and separation alongside physical characterisation and inspection of nuclear materials and containers providing a service for a wide range of customers.  The team has several industry customers, including HMG, the NDA and Sellafield Ltd. and supports a number of key strategic areas in line with NNLs strategic purpose.
To manage the technical team successfully the suitable candidate must:

• Be able to effectively manage people, focussing on their welfare, nurturing their behavioural competencies as well as supporting the development of their technical capabilities.
• Ensures 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

Main Responsibilities for Capability Manager (Separation Science and Special Nuclear Materials):

• EHSS&Q Accountabilities: 
  • The Capability Manager (CM) 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 Plans.
• Capability Accountabilities: 
  • The CM 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.
• Budget Control Accountabilities: 
  • The CM 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. Reward and Recognition.
    • Facilities & Equipment costs maintenance, renewal, disposal, repair, inspection, access and utilisation. 
• Customer Delivery Accountabilities: 
  • The CM 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 CM 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 Criteria for Capability Manager (Separation Science and Special Nuclear Materials):

• A directly relevant science degree (e.g. chemistry, materials, mathematics or physics) or an equivalent level of relevant experience.
• Line management experience. 
• Working to high quality standards in a highly regulated environment.
• Valid UK Driving License.
• Ability to obtain DV level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial, criminal record checks, interview plus 10 years of UK residency).

Desirable Criteria for Capability Manager (Separation Science and Special Nuclear Materials):

• Experience of nuclear operations (particularly working in a medium active alpha environment) and an understanding of nuclear safety and nuclear security culture.

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.

National Nuclear Laboratory