* Salary: £59,723 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
* Division: UKIFS - Programme
* Site Location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire and West Burton, Nottinghamshire
* Confirmed Grade: Level 6
* Department: UKIFS - Whole Programme and Controls
Company Description
Company Description:
The UK Government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd., a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKIFS is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing the STEP prototype.
Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKIFS, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKIFS and the STEP programme to be involved in this groundbreaking journey.
As an employee of UKIFS, you will benefit from:
* Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
* Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
* Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your 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.
* A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive.
The salary for this role is £59,723 and onsite working is expected for 3 days each week.
Employees of UKIFS can be based at either of our sites: West Burton, Nottinghamshire or Culham, Oxfordshire.
This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open source data.
The Role
As the Cost Estimation Lead, you will develop and manage the whole programme cost model of the STEP prototype programme. You will lead a dedicated team to instill cost-consciousness across the organisation, ensuring value for money and supporting the pathway to commercial fusion power.
You will:
* Lead the Cost Estimation Function:
o Manage the production of the STEP whole-programme cost model, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and integration with wider corporate planning.
o Foster a collaborative culture that values cost-consciousness and aligns with STEP’s programme values.
o Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including strategic partners and internal teams.
* Technical Excellence in Costing:
o Establish and maintain programme cost estimating documentation, including the Cost Breakdown Structure and Cost Estimating Strategy.
o Perform quantitative cost risk analysis to identify opportunities for cost optimisation and risk mitigation.
o Develop techniques to extrapolate costs from the prototype to future fusion power plants, incorporating scalability and commercial considerations.
* Collaborate with project teams to create comprehensive programme cost estimates that reflect stakeholder objectives and programme complexity.
* Facilitate independent reviews, ensuring cost models meet required validation and verification standards.
* Provide cost inputs for business cases and government spending reviews, ensuring timeliness and relevance.
* Foster Leadership and Innovation:
o Lead and grow a high-performing cost estimation team, providing mentorship and professional development opportunities.
o Drive continuous improvement by integrating lessons learned from major programmes and exploring innovative costing solutions.
* Develop Effective Processes:
o Align cost estimation with procurement, quality control, change management, and the programme’s integrated master schedule.
o Implement processes for regular cost baseline reviews, change control, and the presentation of cost data for decision-making.
o Develop tools, methodologies, and best practices for cost estimation and optimisation.
This role requires a proactive leader with the ability to navigate complexity, manage diverse stakeholders, and deliver actionable insights in a pioneering technological environment.
Qualifications
We are seeking a skilled professional with a strong background in cost engineering and a passion for innovation in programme economics.
* Technical Expertise:
o Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline, with a comprehensive background in cost engineering for infrastructure or engineering environments.
o In-depth knowledge of cost estimation methodologies, techniques, and tools, including quantitative risk analysis.
o Strong numerical and analytical skills, with experience presenting complex data to diverse audiences.
* Leadership and Collaboration:
o Proven ability to lead and inspire teams while building trusted relationships across stakeholders.
o Experienced in defining and maintaining cost assumptions and challenging them throughout the costing process.
o Skilled at fostering collaboration across functions, ensuring alignment with programme objectives.
* Strategic Thinking and Adaptability:
o Demonstrated ability to integrate costing strategies with wider programme planning and business case development.
o Resilience in a high-paced, emergent environment, with a commitment to continuous improvement.
* Membership in a relevant professional body or recognised qualification.
* Familiarity with the fusion or power sectors and understanding of power plant technologies.
* Experience working on major programmes or government business case development.
* Proficiency with financial software, ERP systems, and cost management tools.
UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We are under-represented from some groups and so want to encourage applications in particular from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African backgrounds and from Pakistani and Bangladeshi British backgrounds. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) and Wellbeing and our EDI Networks actively promote Inclusion and takes steps to increase diversity within our organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.
UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email [emailprotected] if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.
Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.
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