Chief of Staff

Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Full-time - flexible working requests welcome
Salary: £75,415 + excellent benefits, including outstanding pension
Site Location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire
Confirmed Grade: Level 7
Department: STEP

Company Description

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. has been established by the UK Government to spearhead the delivery of fusion energy, a pivotal challenge of our time. This ambitious undertaking involves setting up the company, attracting top talent, engaging with industry, developing a robust supply chain, planning and constructing the fusion plant, and solving complex technical issues simultaneously. The urgency stems from the imperative to address the climate crisis, and success promises substantial economic opportunities.

Fusion energy, offering abundant, low-carbon, and secure baseload power, is crucial in combatting climate change and bolstering energy independence. Despite inherent technical challenges, growing confidence surrounds the immense rewards. With expectations of commercial viability by mid-century, fusion provides a viable pathway to global sustainable net zero and enhances energy security. The UK, a leader in fusion research, unveils STEP, an initiative targeting a prototype fusion plant by 2040. Led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, this groundbreaking effort transitions leadership to UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd., emphasising collaboration with industrial partners for prototype delivery and building a fusion supply chain estimated to hold a sector value of £7tn per year. Join STEP for a bold journey towards this world-changing endeavour.

Job Description

As an employee of UKAEA, you will benefit from:

- Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
- Corporate bonus scheme of up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
- Flexible working options, including family-friendly policies.
- 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 equality and being fully inclusive.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions.

The Role

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As Chief of Staff, you will provide leadership and guidance to all staff members and stakeholders, reflecting the CEO and Chair’s intent and the organisation’s values and behaviours. You will also be offering strategic advice to the CEO and Chairman, co-ordinating and integrating across the functional and delivery arms of the company and wider programme, including engineering and technology.

This is a hugely exciting role for someone who wants to make a meaningful difference at a global level, be part of shaping a new organisation that brings people together and gets the best from them, and who wants to learn through working with a great senior leadership team.

Additional Responsibilities:

- Drive leadership priorities for enhanced organisational effectiveness.
- Establish strong relationships with stakeholders, representing the Chair and CEO and representing the company to secure support for STEP Programmes.
- Support the Board and Executive Committee in strategy deployment.
- Facilitate communication between leadership and staff for efficient information flow and liaise between executive management and departments for effective communication.
- Manage CEO and Chair's correspondence and diary for organisational efficiency.
- Track and fulfil commitments, contributing to the organisation's reputation for delivery.
- Identify improvement opportunities and implement policies and procedures.
- Manage special projects assigned by the CEO and Chair.
- Embody a leadership mindset, organisational culture, values, and mission. This includes fostering a positive, inclusive, and diverse team environment.

Qualifications
Essential Requirements:

- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate teams and engender stakeholder confidence.
- Experience in operating with senior staff and stakeholders, rapidly understanding their perspectives and adapting style to the situation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling Board-level papers.
- Ability to rapidly absorb and analyse complex situations and navigate a path through.
- Ability to get things done through others, balancing drive and pace with care for the team.
- Able to manage a large, diverse, and fast-changing workload, prioritising effectively.
- The ability to build, collaborate and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, including at Board and Ministerial / equivalent level.
- Project, commercial and financial experience, literacy and acumen sufficient to properly understand a major programme's workings and manage discrete projects within that.

Additional Information

For a full list of benefits and to apply, select the apply button to be taken through to the UKAEA careers pages.

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and women. 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. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.