Nuclear Waste Services is looking for a Research Manager – Spent Fuel to join the team remote working from either Cumbria or Harwell. This is your opportunity for a life-long career undertaking the biggest clean-up project in Europe lasting many decades.
In your role as Research Manager – Spent Fuel, you will be responsible for obtaining solutions by defining and delivering scientific programmes in specified area of expertise in support of internal and external end-users’ needs (Siting, Waste Management, Safety Case, Design & Requirements and NDA).
- Directly report to Senior Research Manager (Spent Fuel) with no direct reports.
- Liaise and interact with staff across Nuclear Waste Services, particularly in GDF programme, technical directorate waste management team and communications.
- Manage external contacts including the supply chain, current material owners, academic institutions, professional institutes and international sister organisations.
- Manage research into spent fuel evolution, predominantly in post-closure conditions, and develop an improved understanding of the characteristics of the range of nuclear fuels destined for disposal in the GDF. This will include liaison with material owners.
- Support and development of a suitable containment system for the range of fuels.
- Act as Intelligent Customer responsible for monitoring delivery in the supply chain to scope, schedule, and cost. Act as Technical Authority making decisions within boundaries of accountability to be set by line management.
- The post-holder will typically hold the additional responsibility for interface and delivery of project / task reporting on project performance as required by the role (involving close, regular working with NWS’s programme and project management representatives), however no specific financial authorities are allocated to this post holder.
Essential:
- Good first degree and PhD in a science or engineering subject (or equivalent experience)
- Demonstrable experience of working in a multi-disciplinary collaborative environment
- Knowledge of the form, hazard and characteristics of spent nuclear fuels
- Effective communication of technical aspects to either a specialist or non-technical audience
- Ability to identify knowledge gaps and translate these into research needs and objectives
- Demonstrable ability to work within a project and programme driven environment
- Appreciation for the challenges in undertaking work with spent nuclear fuel.
Desirable:
- Demonstrable understanding of the needs of the disposal system safety cases and the scientific basis for disposal of radioactive waste.
- Chartered membership status (or working towards it) in relevant professional institute.
- Experience in management of technical and scientific programmes of work.
- Ability to influence collaborative and contracted projects to gain the requisite outcomes.
- Experience in experimental design and / or numerical modelling, particularly collaboration across this interface.
Aside from the huge professional scope at Nuclear Waste Services, the personal benefits are excellent, and include:
- Life-long career opportunities
- Very competitive salary
- Generous bonus scheme
- Holiday allowances
- Attractive pension schemes
- Cycle to work scheme
- Sick pay
- Group life assurance scheme
We value the unique differences that each of our colleagues bring to work every day and are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, included and able to perform at their best. At Nuclear Waste Service we are committed to creating a workplace that is diverse and inclusive. We value the diversity of our people and actively seek to have a workforce that represents the rich diversity of the communities we support. Currently we are underrepresented in some areas, and would particularly welcome applicants from Women, Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities, LGBTQ+ and candidates who have a disability.
In promoting equal opportunities, Nuclear Waste Service welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We select people according to their abilities and our needs. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of disabled candidates who meet all of the essential criteria, Nuclear Waste Service will interview the best candidates from within that group.