Design & Construction Lead
Location: Manchester, Warrington, Derby with Hybrid working available
Directorate: Regulatory Affairs
Package: We anticipate paying a salary between £60,000 - £78,750 DoE plus benefits.
About Us
We're building something that matters: safe, sustainable, repeatable small modular nuclear reactors that help power a net‑zero future. Our work is purposeful, ambitious, and grounded in making a meaningful impact on the world.
The Team
You'll join a forward‑thinking Health, Safety & Environment function that is shaping how safety is embedded into every aspect of design and engineering. Our team exists to influence, guide and innovate so we can deliver a world‑class SMR product safely and responsibly.
Role Summary
We need a
Design & Construction Lead
to help shape and implement our health and safety approach across the design and construction phases. Reporting into the Head of HSEQ, you'll ensure safety is built into design from day one and support teams in meeting their legal and regulatory duties.
This role will be key in ensuring the Regulators have detailed technical submissions.
Key Deliverables
We Need You To
–
Partner with the ONR
and engineering teams to deliver clear, compliant health and safety documentation that supports the Safety Case.
– Lead the deployment of our
Design & Construction safety policies
, providing expert guidance so engineering teams fully meet their CDM responsibilities.
–
Create meaningful safety insight
through written reports on LRA, HAZOP, FMEA and other key design safety processes.
– Drive a culture of safety excellence across all phases of design and future construction, applying innovative thinking and best practice.
* Author documents for Public view relating to our design
* Create technical submissions to regulators such as ONR/ GDA and/or Customers
Why This Role Matters
This is a highly visible, strategically important role, suited to someone who wants to influence how an entire organisation designs and builds safely.
Essential Skills & Experience
– Chartered or working toward Chartered IOSH membership, or equivalent experience.
– Strong understanding of UK health and safety legislation, CDM regulations and ALARP principles.
– Proven experience in design safety in complex, regulated environments (e.g., nuclear, energy, infrastructure).
– Ability to coach, influence and build strong relationships across engineering, regulators and senior leaders.
* Ideally exposure to presenting to Regulators or Regulatory Bodies.
Location & Ways of Working
This role is based flexibly, with hybrid working and occasional travel to design offices, partner sites and test facilities as required.
What's In It For You
A base salary between
£60,000 - £78,750
,
£2,200 benefits allowance
,
12.5% bonus opportunity
, 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, life assurance, income protection and £250 new joiner payment — alongside meaningful career development in a pioneering industry.
Selection Process
You can expect a fair and supportive process, including an initial conversation with Talent Acquisition followed by competency‑based interviews with the HSEQ leadership team. BPSS clearance will be required as part of the offer process.
Inclusion Matters to Us
We're committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. If you meet
75%
of the criteria, we'd love to hear from you. We're happy to discuss flexible working or adjustments at any stage of the process.
Why Join Us?
You'll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:
* A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
* Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
* A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.
Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.
Our Application Process
Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are:
* Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
* Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
* Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check