Certification & Handover Lead in Wallingford

Help Shape the UKs Energy Future. Opportunity with the Civil Works Alliance (CWA), Supporting Sizewell C. As part of the CWA (Civil Works Alliance), you will support the building of Sizewell C. Sizewell C will be a 3.2-gigawatt power station generating low-carbon electricity for around 6 million homes and will play a key role in our energy future, supplying reliable, clean electricity for at least 60 years.

The Certification and Handover Lead is the senior CWA quality authority responsible for the end-to-end strategy, coordination and delivery of progressive assurance, certification and asset handover across the Civil Works Alliance. The role owns the Certification & Handover Process, ensuring evidence of compliance is generated, assured and submitted in line with SZCs requirements, regulatory expectations and the CWA Quality Management System.

As a senior manager within the Alliance, the postholder provides technical direction on quality records, traceability and digital progressive assurance. The role requires effective collaboration with CWA Delivery Teams, close engagement with Supply Chain Partners, and leadership of a dedicated team of records quality managers and records engineers/officers.

Principal Accountabilities, Activities and Decisions

• Lead the strategy, implementation and continuous improvement of the CWA Certification & Handover Process, ensuring alignment with SZC requirements, Project Alliance Agreement and regulatory expectations.
• Oversee the planning, production, assurance and submission of all certification deliverables, including LTQRs, Construction Sub-Packages (CSPs), End of Construction Status Reports (ECSRs) and Handover Certificates, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and timely acceptance.
• Drive consistent and effective use of Field View as the Alliances digital progressive assurance system, ensuring high-quality data capture, workflow compliance and reliable reporting across delivery streams.
• Provide senior leadership, direction and coaching to their team members, ensuring high performance, competency development and strong integration with delivery teams.
• Engage confidently with CWA Delivery Directors, SZC client representatives, Supply Chain Partners and regulators, presenting progress, risks and readiness clearly and compellingly.
• Ensure that ITPs, verifying records, traceability data, non-conformance information and assurance evidence are complete, controlled and compliant with contractual and technical requirements.
• Lead and support quality investigations, corrective actions, and improvement activities relating to certification, documentation quality, and progressive assurance.
• Promote a strong Right-First-Time culture across the Alliance by embedding robust documentation discipline, traceability expectations and assurance behaviours within all delivery streams.
• Coordinate internal readiness reviews, audits and document quality checks to validate maturity before SZC submission, ensuring consistency across CWA deliverables.
• Act as the focal point for certification-related governance interfaces, ensuring alignment with CWA QMS procedures, templates and SZC requirements.
• Influence and support Supply Chain Partners in achieving compliant, timely and high-quality record submission, ensuring progressive documentation aligns with programme milestones.
• Support regulatory and client assurance engagements such as audits and interventions, demonstrating compliance through complete, traceable and well-evidenced certification packages.
• Develop adequate KPIs and monitor certification and handover performance using structured reporting and dashboards, identifying risks early and leading recovery actions as required.
• Drive continuous improvement of digital tools, certification templates, workflows and partitioning strategies, reporting and dashboards to increase efficiency, clarity and visibility across the programme.

What are we looking for?

Knowledge & Skills Essential

• Subject Matter Expert in progressive assurance, lifetime quality records, document control, traceability and certification for nuclear or highly regulated environments.
• Highly competent user of Field View and digital progressive assurance tools, including workflows, digital inspections, record linking, reporting dashboards and data interrogation.
• Strong quality leadership skills; able to build effective relationships across delivery teams, project managers, supply chain partners and stakeholders to promote compliance and Right First Time culture.
• Able to prepare and deliver high-quality reports, dashboards and executive-level presentations to Directors, Senior Leaders and regulatory stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of ITP structures, verifying records, handover workflows and certification packages.
• Able to clearly communicate and interpret quality, certification and records requirements; identify and implement improvements to systems and processes.
• Excellent understanding of progressive assurance principles, document control, traceability systems and documentation required to demonstrate compliance in safety-critical environments.
• Excellent analytical and organisational skills; able to manage large volumes of complex information, identify gaps and drive resolution.

Qualifications & Experience Essential

• Prior experience on nuclear, highly regulated or safety-classified projects within major infrastructure programmes.
• Proven track record leading certification, records management, progressive assurance and/or handover functions in large-scale, complex, regulated infrastructure environments.
• Strong working knowledge of Quality Management Systems focused on documentation, traceability, verification and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrable experience with Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs), quality plans and supplier documentation packages, including verification, approval and non-conformance management.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor teams responsible for record-keeping, document control, certification and quality assurance, including supplier-facing coordination.
• Experience coordinating and supporting audits, surveillance and readiness reviews related to documentation integrity and certification readiness.
• Proficient in digital quality and document-management platforms that enable progressive assurance and handover.

Qualifications & Experience Desirable

• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor (or equivalent quality auditing) training; broader ISO auditing exposure advantageous.
• Chartered Quality Professional (CQP) and Member of the Chartered Quality Institute (MCQI).

What we will offer you?

The CWA is a single delivery organisation made up of the client (Sizewell C) and three parent companies - Balfour Beatty, Bouygues and Laing O'Rourke - which offer industry leading packages including market leading salaries, generous annual leave entitlements, pension scheme and other flexible benefits.

About Us

The CWA celebrates the creativity and innovation that comes from a diverse workforce, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds especially those from under-represented communities. Our project is built on five core values: Humility, Positivity, Respect, Solidarity, and Clarity. By joining us, you'll be encouraged to bring your whole self to work, speak up, and share your ideas. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We are committed to protecting your privacy. If you decide to apply, please avoid including sensitive personal data in your CV.