We are looking for a Senior Research Manager to join our busy team, at Nuclear Waste Services. The role will be hybrid working with ocassional travel to Cumbria and Harwell. There will also be international travel to Europe and the USA.
As part of this role you will be the Subject Matter Expert for the disposal of High-Level Vitrified Waste (HLW), comprising ca. 5% of the entire GDF Inventory for Disposal. The key challenge is to formulate and lead the delivery of a strategic programme of laboratory and desk-based activities. These studies will provide the underpinning scientific understanding of the long-term evolution and leaching performance of vitrified wastes necessary to demonstrate long-term safety of the GDF over hundreds of thousands of years. Recent scoping studies have identified some key differences in the performance of magnesium-containing UK glasses versus the more well characterised French waste forms.
You will be required to understand the respective challenges, engage with key internal, UK and international peers and stakeholders, develop and deliver the strategically important programme focussed on providing the underpinning science base that justifies safety case claims and arguments, and ensure this evidence base is appropriately incorporated into the GDF safety case. They will also support NWS and NDA colleagues considering the overall HLW management strategy, integrating their needs in the technical development programme.
You will also be required to provide appropriate scope and cost information to maintain and update the business case supporting the funding of the required work programme, together with activities related to the implementation of commercial contracts enabling the studies.
Research strategy and programme definition
- Accountable for technical leadership and definition of research to underpin the technical basis for geological disposal.
- Accountable for interpreting the needs of the disposal system safety case, site-specific assessments and RWM’s engineering design for scientific knowledge potentially including mathematical modelling and translating these into a well-defined research strategy and programme.
- Accountable for contributing to and supporting the development of RWM’s technical strategy and Science and Technology Plan.
- Accountable for planning and prioritising research work in alignment with the GDF programme and underpinning projects.
Intelligent Customer
- Accountable for obtaining solutions (including scientific knowledge and modelling) by acting as intelligent customer for specified areas of RWM’s research programme as appropriate to the post-holder’s academic discipline and experience.
- Responsible for research input to disposability assessments, in accordance with RWM procedures.
- Responsible for scientific liaison with University Departments through the RWM research support office, industry wide scientific fora and scientific institutes.
Technical Authority
- Accountable for acting as technical authority and providing authoritative advice and input to RWM objectives as required, this may include interactions with the regulators and other key stakeholders.
- Accountable for interpretation of research outcomes and translating these into advice to other RWM departments.
- Responsible for providing focused technical support to the critical business areas of Waste Management and GDF Siting.
- Responsible for acting as a senior representative at national and international scientific fora and events, as appropriate.
- Responsible for developing, maintaining and communicating RWM’s scientific knowledge in specified areas and for ensuring that the knowledge database in these areas remains accessible and its relevance to future work is well-defined.
- Responsible for understanding the content and relevance of overseas research programmes to RWM’s safety case and engineering interests.
- Good first degree and PhD in science or engineering subject.
- Chartered membership status (or willingness to work towards this) in relevant professional institute.
- Recognised expert (international standing) with demonstrable knowledge of in the specialist area.
- Significant experience in management of research scope delivered by appointed parties.
- Understanding of the needs of the disposal system safety case and the scientific basis for disposal of radioactive waste.
- Effective communication of technical aspects to either a specialist or non-technical audience.
- Proven ability to influence collaborative and contracted projects to gain the requisite outcomes.
- Significant experience in translating a technical challenge into specific knowledge gaps, identification of research needs and objectives and formulating appropriate research activities to further RWM’s understanding.
- Understanding of complexities of working within a programme and project driven environment.
- On appointment to an RWM, full-time staff are entitled to a generous annual holiday allowance of 38 days’ annual leave. LLWR up to 43 days in addition to a buy/sell scheme
- Rewarding performance (bonus scheme)
- We offer a generous above average pension scheme
- learning and development support
- payment of relevant annual professional subscriptions
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Financial advice assistance
- Flexible working
- Extended family-friendly policies
- Cycle to work scheme
- We welcome flexible and agile working practices
- Flexible working requests can be submitted from day 1 of employment
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. 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, we 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, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.