Graduate Scheme 2024 - Project Management

Job Introduction

NNL is where your project management helps deliver our purpose. As part of our Project Management Authority, you’ll play a critical role in managing projects that deliver nuclear science to benefit society. 

You will develop project management skills and the attention to detail to enable industry-leading scientists, engineers and analysts to work together to deliver unique projects using cutting edge technology. It’s a challenging role but it’s an opportunity to grow, adapt and develop new skills in a fast-moving area.

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.

At NNL, not only will you receive the opportunity to work on exciting and rewarding projects, but you’ll continually learn from skilled and knowledgeable industry experts who are leaders in their field. We will help you become everything you can be, by challenging, stretching, and pushing you to your limits while supporting you every step of the way.

To join the NNL graduate programme you will have graduated or be on course to graduate with a 2:1 or higher in any subject. 

You will have the right to work in the UK, have lived in the UK for at least 5 years and be able to achieve SC level security clearance. 

You will be naturally curious with the drive and motivation to discover more – about yourself and our business.

Forward-thinking, proactive and positive, you will bring your own energy to the team and you’ll have an enquiring mind that helps us to discover solutions to the world’s biggest issues.

You will have excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills.

Role Responsibility

Imagine being a Project Manager on ground-breaking projects aiming to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions to net-zero, developing nuclear science to aid a breakthrough in medical application or working on the next generation of space batteries.

We are looking for people with a good appreciation of science and technology, who are good at planning and organising data, communicating between people with differing skills and are motivated to make sure that activities are driven through to completion on time and to a defined budget and quality standard.

If you have a Project Management degree, STEM based degree, or degree in Business or Finance related topics and you have the right attributes, you don’t need to worry about a lack of Project Management knowledge or experience. You will learn on the job with the support of our experienced Project Managers, your line manager, mentor, colleagues, and fellow graduates. You will undertake Project Management training, leading to an APM qualification. 

You will join an organisation where you are free to be yourself whilst being part of our incredible early careers community. NNL is creating a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging through our ED&I Ambassador network and relationships with Women in Nuclear (WiN), Race Equality in Nuclear (REiN) and the Nuclear Rainbow Forum. 

Your programme starts with a tailored, induction programme to welcome you into the business and to get to know your graduate cohort. The Induction will help you understand the breadth of what NNL does and to provide an overview of your development programme and our expectations.

You will then embark on your two-year graduate scheme undertaking a programme of activities designed to help you develop your understanding of the nuclear industry and grow as an individual, these include;

• Understanding NNL, the nuclear sector and nuclear professionalism
• The application of professional knowledge and skill
• Personal development and understanding your own personal brand
• Collaboration and team working
• Understanding our customer and making effective decisions

You will complete your programme with a focussed training centre to support your seamless transition off the scheme to continue your career with NNL. We provide support as you actively work towards professional recognition in your chosen field.

You will be based at Preston or Sellafield in West Cumbria. This role allows for hybrid working. 

As part of the selection process for the graduate programme you should expect to complete online cognitive ability assessments. Successful candidates will be invited to attend an in-person assessment centre which will assess technical and behavioural competencies. Assessment Centres for this role will be held in February 2024.

You will start your graduate programme in early September 2024.

About the Company

NNL is an incredible place to work A place where people do things that have never been done before A place where people push boundaries to further themselves, the business, and society as a whole.

This is a place where personal and professional opportunities are limitless. If you want to change the world, if you want to tackle climate change, if you want to help advance medical science, if you want to help put things in space, if you want to answer the big questions, if you want to work with extraordinary materials, if you want to meet great people, learn new skills, challenge yourself, work flexibly, and build a long successful career with the power to make a real impact… you can do it all here.

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