Independent Assessor in Wallingford

Help shape the UK's energy future. Independent Assessor opportunity with the Civil Works Alliance (CWA), supporting 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.

This role will be within the CWA Wide Section.

What will you do?

The Independent Assessor is responsible for delivering independent assurance and audit activities across Civil Works Alliance (CWA) scopes, including civils, manufacture, fabrication, tunnelling and offshore works. The role operates independently of the Civil Works programmes delivery sections, providing objective, evidence-based assessments of compliance with the CWA Quality Management System, Sizewell C requirements, regulatory obligations, and nuclear industry standards.

The postholder ensures that:

• Quality risks are identified early through risk-based assurance
• Supply chain and project teams are subject to robust, independent challenge
• Nuclear safety culture, CFSI controls, and critical-to-quality requirements are consistently applied and effective.

The role supports assurance across the full project lifecycle, from pre-award supplier assessment and mobilisation through to manufacture, fabrication, construction, installation and final handover. The activity of the postholder consists in a second line of defence-in-depth, tasked to provide good governance and confidence in delivery outcomes.

Principal Accountabilities, Activities and Decisions

• Deliver independent audit and assurance assessments across civils, manufacture, fabrication, tunnelling and offshore scopes, aligned to scopes risk profile and safety classification, in line with CWA CQAP requirements.
• Conduct supplier audits, surveillance and governance reviews, including pre-award assessments and mobilisation readiness.
• Driving visibility, tracking and closure of quality enablers and residual actions to support readiness for scopes release and client or regulators permission where applicable.
• Provide independent, evidence-based challenge to programme and supply chain teams to ensure compliance with CWA Quality Management System; ISO 9001 / ISO 19443 requirements and SZCs and ONRs requirements.
• Demonstrate alignment between project assurance arrangements and the Hold Point process, so that quality evidence forms a coherent and reliable basis for SZCs decision-making and regulatory engagement.
• Identify systemic weaknesses and lead or recommend targeted improvement actions, in collaboration with Subject Matter Experts.
• Contribute to the development of risk-based audit and independent assurance strategies across the programme.
• Support cross-project learning by identifying common themes, trends and improvement opportunities.
• Promote a strong Right First Time and nuclear safety culture mindset through independent oversight.
• Supporting the business unit external accreditation process to ensure it can operate in its chosen sector.

What are we looking for?

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of Nuclear Quality Assurance and regulatory expectations, and ISO 9001 and ISO 19443 quality management systems.
• Ability to deliver independent audits and provide credible challenge at all organisational levels.
• Experience in risk-based assurance and governance oversight.
• Strong analytical capability to assess compliance, behaviours and system effectiveness.
• Ability to operate independently, objectively and with integrity.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present clear, evidence-based findings to senior stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

• Demonstrable experience delivering independent assurance, audit and supplier surveillance in major infrastructure or nuclear project.
• Good working knowledge of Welding inspection (e.g. CSWIP 3.0).
• Proven track record of leading or contributing to audit programmes and governance reviews; assessing nuclear safety culture maturity and risk; and performing supplier assurance and pre-award assessments.
• Experience operating independently of delivery teams within assurance functions.
• Strong experience across multiple scopes such as manufacture, fabrication, construction, tunnelling and offshore, in highly regulated sectors.
• Relevant experience with supervision of the works.
• Strong working experience with Quality Management Systems.
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor with proven track record.

Desirable

• Relevant Engineering Qualification (or equivalent experience).
• Trained ISO 19443 Auditor with proven track record.
• 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.