Capability Manager - Characterisation and Effluent Rig Operations Team

Job Introduction

Job Purpose: 

To co-ordinate and lead the technical and operational activities within the new Characterisation and Effluent Rig Operations team based at Workington laboratory, assuring safe, successful delivery of agreed customer work scopes and continuous improvement of the team activities.  This will include identification of opportunities for operational improvements, staff development/recruitment and new customer work alongside successful completion of related actions in line with the Waste Behaviour & Characterisation area Capability Strategy.
 

Authorities & Dimensions:

It is expected that the successful candidate will manage a team of approximately 15 scientists and engineers based at NNL’s Workington Laboratory.  The aforementioned team members are of different levels of experience and qualifications, some being technical experts in their field with decades of experience and others much earlier in their careers and hence needing more development, coaching and support. 

The Capability Manager will take all necessary action to ensure all KPI’s and performance metrics, relating to the team are effectively communicated and then achieved in line with business requirements and targets.  This will include technical capabilities, EHSS&Q performance, cost control, project delivery, facility and equipment ownership/operation and recruitment.
 

Job Context & Challenges:

NNL Capability managers play a key role in ensuring the safe and successful delivery of their teams work to their customers, and in representing the interests of their team and wider capability area in the part that they play across NNL and the wider nuclear industry.

To be successful Capability Managers must display NNLs values in everything that they do.  Safety comes first at all times and strong Customer relationships and levels of satisfaction are key.  Integrity must be shown and Capability Managers must Take Responsibility for solving problems and challenges with continued Enthusiasm and through forming Collaborative networks and relationships.

Main Responsibilities

Principal Accountabilities:

•    EHSS&Q – Duty of care for all team members and ownership of related equipment and facilities related to team operations.
•    EHSS&Q – Safe and successful delivery of all technical work undertaken within customer projects and programs, including delivery of EHSS&Q Improvement Plan and Assurance Plan activities.
•    Capability – Leadership of team and responsible for performance management, SQEP, development, technical training, progression and recruitment of team members.
•    Capability – Efficient and effective identification, procurement, maintenance, utilisation and disposal of all equipment and facilities required and owned by the team.
•    Capability – Close integration with internal, customer and collaborative innovation and technology development programmes and identification of associated Capability development requirements.
•    Capability – Identification of specific new opportunities for the team/capability, and inclusion in WB&C Capability Strategy via associated actions and successful delivery.
•    Financial – Accountable to Capability Leader in compiling team budget reflecting staff and fixed costs relating to skills and capability maintenance, recruitment, training, progression, fixed costs, Reward & Recognition, etc.
•    Financial – Successful achievement of business KPIs in relation to set budgets and management of variations to minimise impact on NNL and customers.
•    Customer – Direct engagement with customers, NNL Account Directors, etc to understand their needs, add value via successful technical delivery and maximise all business opportunities.
•    Leadership – Accountable for cultural and business strategies associated with the team, recognising related innovations and opportunities and leadership of resulting change programmes.
 

The Ideal Candidate

Qualifications & Experience:

•    Pre-existing technical understanding of effluent management and waste characterization in relation to nuclear applications is desirable, otherwise alternative technical knowledge and experience that is complimentary and hence an indicator of the ability to quickly pick this up.
•    A degree and/or a relevant demonstrable level of experience.
•    Experience in managing a technical team, people, facilities and equipment on a nuclear and non-nuclear site is desirable, otherwise complimentary skills indicating the ability to work in this environment.
•    Experience in managing a budget, cost control, financial forecasting and planning across a team
•    Experience in developing relationships with customer’s related to technical team offerings and support delivery of their projects.
•    Operational experience in a highly regulated environment, managing technical and facility programmes to a high EHSS&Q standard, whilst managing changing and competing priorities and absorbing new information rapidly to address complex issues.
•    Experience in leadership and driving cultural change through the support and implementation of strategic business developments.
 

About The Company

Grounded in robust science and decades of experience, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the authoritative voice in the UK and beyond for technological development within the nuclear power sector.

Our unparalleled understanding of the science, challenges and opportunities makes us an unrivalled authority and partner in the field, providing experts, technologies, and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.

Harnessing potential technologies and translating them into to industry-ready solutions means our pioneering approach spearheads international improvement and technological progress.

We work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with our integrated micro drilling technology, or as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems for spacecraft, based on radioactive materials

NNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where NNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging.