Overview
UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd., a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), is leading the delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. The project targets first operations around 2040 and aims for commercial viability by the middle of the century.
Role
Reporting to the Director of Safety, Quality & Mission Assurance, you will be the senior authority for regulatory compliance, permissioning, consenting and regulatory engagement across UKFE and STEP.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the single authoritative senior voice on regulatory matters across UKFE and STEP.
- Build and sustain trust‑based relationships with regulators, positioning UKFE as proactive and transparent.
- Lead regulatory engagement through periods of challenge and regulatory evolution, including novel frameworks for fusion.
- Set clear expectations for regulatory behaviours, capability and consistency across the organisation and partners.
- Act as a senior ambassador for UKFE and STEP with regulators, communities, industry and government.
- Provide clear, evidence‑based regulatory advice to the Board, Executive, SRO and Programme leadership.
- Ensure regulatory risks, opportunities and constraints are visible and embedded in strategic decision‑making.
- Translate complex regulatory landscapes into clear options, trade‑offs and recommendations.
- Challenge optimism bias or delivery pressure where regulatory credibility could be compromised.
- Define, own and deliver the end‑to‑end regulatory compliance strategy for UKFE and STEP.
- Lead all permissioning, consenting, exemptions and approval activities across the programme.
- Ensure regulatory submissions are coherent, complete, auditable and aligned with policy and guidance.
- Provide assurance to Executives and regulators that UKFE has a controlled, credible and auditable regulatory approach.
- Design and lead a future‑proof regulatory operating model capable of scaling with programme maturity.
- Ensure regulatory roles, responsibilities and decision rights are clear and consistently applied across UKFE and delivery partners.
- Integrate regulatory engagement with programme planning, engineering, assurance and governance to avoid late or fragmented engagement.
- Act as final arbiter on regulatory coordination issues, ensuring coherent external positions.
- Monitor the effectiveness of regulatory compliance arrangements and drive continuous improvement.
- Support development of proportionate, enabling regulation for fusion where frameworks are still evolving.
- Contribute to national policy thinking and cross‑sector forums, positioning UKFE as a thought leader in fusion regulation.
- Build, lead and develop a high‑performing regulatory and consenting team.
- Foster an inclusive culture promoting learning, professionalism and shared ownership of outcomes.
- Act as a role model for ethical, transparent and accountable leadership.
Qualifications
Essential
- Strong senior leadership experience, with a track record of building confidence across regulators and stakeholders.
- Extensive experience of regulatory engagement with bodies such as the Environment Agency, HSE, UK Government departments and local authorities.
- Experience of nationally significant infrastructure projects, Development Consent Orders or complex planning and consent regimes.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, including the ability to articulate persuasive, evidence‑based regulatory arguments.
- Ability to operate effectively under pressure in high‑profile, high‑scrutiny environments.
- High standards of integrity, professionalism and ethical practice.
Desirable
- Experience working across both public and private sectors.
- Experience in complex, collaborative, multi‑partner programmes.
- Membership of, or qualification through, relevant professional bodies.
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.
Salary
£86,758 plus excellent benefits including outstanding pension.
EEO Statement
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.
Additional Information
This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. There is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, it can be transferred to UKFE.
For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, information on criminal records checks is available at 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 the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.
STEP Behaviours
- We champion safety.
- We all matter.
- We act as one.
- We embrace change.
- We are pioneering.
- We deliver.
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