Senior Project Manager – Major Projects – UKIFS
Apply for the Senior Project Manager – Major Projects – UKIFS role at STEP Fusion.
Company Description
The UK Government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd, a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the delivery of fusion energy through the design and construction of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKIFS is building its own supply chain, attracting talent, and planning and constructing the prototype, targeting first operations around 2040. Join UKIFS and the STEP programme to be part of this ground‑breaking journey.
Closing date
5 January 2026
Location & Working Arrangements
West Burton, Nottinghamshire – onsite working expected for 3 days each week.
Salary & Benefits
Salary: £77,239 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits.
* Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
* Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and relocation allowance (if eligible)
* Flexible working options including family‑friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of employment
* Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders
* Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
* Wide range of career development opportunities
* A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive
A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/
Job Description
Fusion energy offers the potential for significant low‑carbon, safe and sustainable baseload energy, supporting climate action and energy independence. STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040 and a path to commercial viability of fusion. This key leadership role is responsible for managing complex, highly integrated projects, ranging from under £50k to over £0.5bn, with a typical annual budget exceeding £10m.
Key Responsibilities
* Manage and integrate complex projects and work with multiple stakeholders.
* Drive project delivery in alignment with UK Government standards and best practices.
* Lead teams and coach others to build capability and maintain quality.
* Manage budgets and negotiate decisions to keep projects on track.
* Influence and engage internal and external partners, including universities, suppliers, and professional networks.
* Identify opportunities for improvement and shape innovative solutions.
Accountabilities
* Create, integrate and lead projects to deliver agreed outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints.
* Day‑to‑day management and leadership of the projects and project teams.
* Provide effective leadership and management controls in accordance with UKIFS corporate standards.
* Design the project structure and organisation appropriate to the stage of the project throughout the delivery lifecycle.
* Apply industry standard delivery methodologies in accordance with UKIFS standards.
* Develop the budget and track delivery within budget.
* Manage effective transition between project phases and transition to business as usual at the end of the project.
* Develop and draft the Business Case, with input from specialists as necessary.
* Deliver the agreed Business Case benefits and outcomes.
* Ensure appropriate Benefits Realisation Strategy is in place and monitor longer‑term delivery of benefits against the Business Case.
* Identify skill requirements and deploy and develop resources; manage a medium‑large sized team.
* Identify and manage stakeholder relationships and need for senior level support; manage internal and external relationships as appropriate.
* Identify and monitor project risks and issues; develop mitigating actions and escalated as appropriate; identify and work with related projects and programmes to manage interdependencies.
* Support effective governance and decision‑making; provide timely and accurate reporting and engage in mechanisms that hold you, as Senior Project Manager, to account for delivery.
* Engage with assurance reviews in accordance with UKIFS standards, and support action on recommendations.
* Organise assurance processes such as stage‑gate reviews, as required.
* Ensure effective Change Management is in place to agree and document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders, in line with corporate change processes.
* Cascade vision and translate into delivery objectives for the team; develop and maintain Project Plan; identify and set appropriate Project Controls; manage performance and report progress to sponsors.
* Provide support, guidance and coaching for the project team; show commitment to personal development; promote effective individual and team performance.
Budget Responsibilities
* Manage the assigned budget allocation of typical expenditure greater than £10m pa; track invoices and project expenditure against the budget allocation.
* Identify forecasted under‑ or overspend early and propose mitigating actions through appropriate governance structures (e.g., project reviews, Board reports) for decision.
Professional Qualifications
* APM Practitioner Qualification
* APM Registered Project Professional
* PRINCE2 Practitioner
* Agile Project Management Practitioner
Essential Skills and Experience
* Proven track record of leading a variety of complicated (L5) / complex (L6) projects.
* Ability to engage successfully with diverse groups of stakeholders.
* Previous experience in a multi‑disciplined environment, managing projects that impact across multiple business areas.
Desirable Experience
* Experience of projects using agile or hybrid delivery methodology.
* Experience of working on science/engineering related projects.
* Experience of working on projects that form part of a wider programme of deliverables.
* Experience of working within the public sector with an understanding of public sector procurement.
* Honours / Masters degree in programme & project management.
* Degree in a relevant science or engineering discipline.
Additional Information
We welcome applications from under‑represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.
UKIFS is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukifs.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, such as changes to the way we interview or share information.
This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKIFS.
Applications from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years should refer to this information on criminal record checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants. If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal record check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Project Management and Information Technology
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