Acceptance Manager

Assystem is among the top three independent nuclear engineering firms worldwide. With over 60 years of experience in highly regulated sectors, the group supports public and industrial stakeholders in the execution of complex and strategic infrastructure projects, subject to high safety and security requirements. Assystem mobilizes 8,000 experts in 13 countries and intervenes across the entire project lifecycle, in engineering, project management and digital solutions.

Your Mission:

The Opportunity: We are seeking an experienced and motivated Acceptance Manager to lead the planning, development, and execution of acceptance strategies for a major defence infrastructure programme. Working closely with commissioning teams and a wide range of project stakeholders, you will play a critical role in ensuring successful transition from concept design through construction, commissioning, handover, and sustainable operational use. This is a unique opportunity to shape acceptance strategy from the earliest design stages while supporting one of the UK’s most complex and highly regulated programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Acceptance & Readiness Strategy
  • Proactively develop and implement acceptance strategies across the programme
  • Ensure acceptance requirements are embedded within governance and delivery activities
  • Drive readiness planning to support smooth entry into operational service
  • Develop clear routes through acceptance and operational handover
• Design & Engineering Collaboration
  • Work closely with engineering and design teams to ensure systems, processes, and equipment meet:
  • Operational requirements
  • Regulatory requirements
  • Customer authorisation requirements
  • Influence early-stage designs to support long-term operational sustainability and acceptance success
• Programme Delivery & Governance
  • Support integrated schedule development for acceptance and commissioning activities
  • Contribute to Hold Point Control strategies and associated documentation
  • Monitor compliance with acceptance processes and programme milestones
  • Identify and manage RAIDO items, developing mitigation and improvement strategies
• Technical Documentation
  • Research, compile, and author technical documentation supporting acceptance activities
  • Prepare reports and evidence required for operational approval and handover
• Stakeholder & Procurement Support
  • Collaborate with contractors, suppliers, operational teams, and wider stakeholders
  • Support procurement activities by advising on acceptance-related specifications and technical considerations
  • Ensure alignment between programme delivery and operational requirements

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a proactive and experienced professional with a strong background in complex engineering, infrastructure, or highly regulated environments.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience working within nuclear or highly regulated environments
• Strong understanding of commissioning, acceptance, and operational readiness requirements
• Knowledge of:
• Risk management
• Quality assurance
• Structured governance frameworks
• Complex programme delivery
• Experience supporting infrastructure, engineering, or equipment delivery programmes
• Proven experience managing:
• Acceptance activities
• Commissioning programmes
• Operational handover
• Entry into service readiness
• Ability to interpret and produce technical documentation including:
• Reports
• Logic diagrams
• Plans
• Specifications
• Technical procedures
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across multidisciplinary teams
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively
• Understanding of Defence Lines of Development (DLoDs)
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage priorities, schedules, and delivery deadlines across multiple contributors

Desirable Experience

• Chartered status with a recognised professional engineering institution
• Knowledge of engineering standards and operational procedures within regulated defence environments
• Understanding of engineering lifecycle processes aligned to CICWP
• Experience with Hold Point Control processes
• Familiarity with enterprise asset management systems and associated standards

Be part of dynamic construction and engineering projects. Work in a collaborative and professional environment. Develop your skills within a structured and well-supported team.

Please be aware that many roles at Assystem are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

We will consider Inside IR35 Contractors or permanent staff. We are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter! Bring your unique contributions and help us shape the future.