Engineering Policy & Enablement Manager - UKIFS
UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd, a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), is delivering STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) to prototype fusion energy with first operations targeted around 2040. Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, with flexible working options available.
A full list of benefits can be found at the UKAEA careers site. For more information on UKIFS, see the Candidate Recruitment Pack.
Overview
STEP is the UK’s flagship programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant. UKIFS will lead delivery with industrial partners, building a fusion supply chain and supporting the transition of STEP from the UKAEA into UKIFS governance for delivery.
What you’ll be doing
The Engineering Policy & Enablement Manager will own the delivery of unified engineering governance in the form of policy, process and procedure across the STEP programme. You will lead the implementation of governance through digital PLM systems, structured documentation, and supporting tools, acting as the visible SME for engineering policy and tools.
Key activities include building a policy-to-behaviour culture, tailoring local processes while maintaining a consistent programme-wide approach, and enabling scalable, standardised ways of working with whole-plant partners and WPPs.
You will work across functional areas to define principles, frameworks and guidance, and to ensure adoption through tools and processes that support engineering delivery.
Core areas of influence include policy, process, procedure, engineering strategy, delegation of authority, planning templates, communications and ethical engagement, and engineering toolset delivery.
Your main areas of responsibility
* Develop and Implement Key Process Enablers. Create a policy, process and procedural framework enabling Engineering governance at local and enterprise levels.
* Produce materials such as templates, digital processes and briefings to aid policy adoption across cross-functional teams.
* Collaborate with Functional leads to tailor governance to local needs while maintaining plant-level cohesion.
* Coordinate with WPPs to ensure policy goals translate across Engineering entities via interfacing agreements and waivers.
* Promote policy adoption into digital tools to maximise engineering delivery.
* Participate in tool selection, define templates, and lead setup for key compliance tools (e.g., FMEA, HARA).
* Develop key Design for X principles (reliability, cost, certification, etc.).
* Enable Processes and Continuous Improvement. Own governance documentation through its lifecycle, aligning with industry best practice and desired ways of working.
* Work with whole-plant partners to balance governance approaches for best-for-programme outcomes and efficiency.
* Maintain governance horizon scanning to identify applicable external practices.
* Ensure proportionality, adoptability and scalability of processes, keeping a best-for-programme mindset.
* Lead multi-disciplinary teams. Provide leadership over the integrated policy environment, steer delivery teams to produce fit-for-purpose procedures, and mentor process champions.
* Define methods for Engineers to demonstrate to the Design Authority that ways of working meet best practice and standards.
* Develop Engineering governance values. Represent governance in enterprise culture discussions, promote Just Culture and policy-through-behaviours, engage cross-team stakeholders, and manage change with emphasis on people aspects.
* Chair and lead Engineering Policy and Process meetings, guiding lifecycle progression and ensuring readiness for future phases.
* Embed Product Integrity values across the Engineering team through the lifecycle.
* Leadership Mindset Embrace and model the organisation’s culture and values, foster an inclusive environment, collaborate respectfully, and lead by example with integrity and sound decision-making.
Note: The role may require additional reasonable tasks as needed.
Qualifications
Essential:
* University graduate in a STEM or applicable subject area.
* Experience in policy management and technical writing.
* Demonstrable stakeholder engagement and requirements elicitation skills.
* Experience working in a PLM-centric environment.
* Proven ability to define and shape systems from first principles and stakeholder requirements.
* Experience of working in a diverse multi-party organisation.
Beneficial:
* Systems engineering experience.
* Experience in safety-critical environments (e.g., aerospace, defence).
* Chartership or working towards a relevant charter.
* Knowledge of policy spaces including safety codes and systems implementation approaches.
Additional Information
For more information on UKIFS, visit the Candidate Recruitment Pack. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and promote inclusion. This role requires BPSS clearance, including DBS checks, and possibly open-source data checks; see GOV.UK guidance for overseas criminal records checks if applicable.
The closing date to apply is 20 October.
This UKIFS vacancy can be based at West Burton (Nottinghamshire) or Culham (Oxfordshire).
For more information on UKIFS, refer to the Candidate Recruitment Pack and the Life at UKAEA benefits page.
Job locations: Didcot, Abingdon-On-Thames, Reading, Kidlington, Oxfordshire area as noted in listings.
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