Head of Quality - Nuclear Island Programme in Bristol

Location: London, Bristol, hybrid basis with travel required.

Contract: Permanent, full-time.

What’s in It for You

• Bonus: 10% annual incentive
• Pension: Up to 7.5% employee / 15% employer contribution

Overview

The Head of Quality Nuclear Island is responsible for the implementation, managing and continually improving the management of Quality within the Nuclear Island Programme. The nature of the matrix delivery organisation means that the post holder will work within SZC Nuclear Island Delivery Team whilst functionally being part of the SZC Quality who have oversight to ensure that the project remains in compliance with Project Site Licence Conditions and the SZC Quality Policy with the Intelligent Customer arrangements. The Head of Quality Nuclear Island will ensure that the Programme Work scopes are delivered consistently (safely, efficiently and right first time) compliant with the current revision of ISO9001 while always respecting Nuclear Safety.

The role includes the responsibility for identification and mitigation of quality risks, effective monitoring and reporting of quality performance and prompt mobilisation and timely resolution of emergent issues to the Head of SZC Quality Delivery, SZC Quality Director and the Nuclear Island Programme Director.

As the Head of Nuclear Island Quality, you will lead and manage approximately 25‑30 FTEs to ensure the effective implementation of quality processes within the defined work portfolios in accordance with the SZC Nuclear Island Delivery requirements. You will lead a team of Quality Delivery Managers (QDMs) responsible for quality on a Sub Programme Work package delivery level. The Quality Delivery Managers will manage teams of Quality Management Leads (QMLs) assigned to specific scopes, suppliers or contracts, with further Subject Matter Expertise and other quality support roles to the overall function. The Head of Quality Nuclear Island will also work in close collaboration with HPC via the Collaboration agreement.

Framework and Boundaries

SZC will be delivered by three Programmes, Civil, NI and CI‑BoP. The Quality function provides support via a matrix organisation to the Programmes. The position is within the Quality function, which is divided into five departments, Quality Delivery, Quality Management, Supplier Quality, Pressure Compliance and Documents and Records.

The Head of Quality Nuclear Island is within the Quality Delivery department ensuring compliance of the Nuclear Island supply chain with the SZC requirements. Reporting to the PDO Quality Director, the post holder is responsible to ensure that project quality is delivered within the Nuclear Island supply chain, consistently (safely, efficiently and right first time) compliant with the SZC supply chain project General Quality Assurance Specification (GQAS), ISO9001/19443 and the principles of IAEA GSR2. Quality delivery is essential to the Project success, from inception to operational handover whilst respecting Nuclear Safety at all times.

The Head of Quality Nuclear Island will interact via the Head of Quality Delivery and Quality Delivery Managers, with other resources within the Programme Multi‑Disciplinary Team, as well as other SZC functions, to assess and support the effectiveness of the wider implementation of the quality arrangements within the Programme. They will have specific interaction with the manufacturing inspection teams, the site surveillance teams, commercial Supply Chain and with the Document Control and Records team to ensure that a coordinated and collaborative quality delivery strategy is applied for the Programme.

The role is based within the Bristol office with regular visits to the London office but will require visits to the SZC site, supplier’s premises (internationally) and the HPC offices to complete duties.

Principal Accountabilities, Activities and Decisions

• Operate effectively and with authority within the complex programme matrix organisation
• Lead and create the definition of the necessary Quality processes
• Influence key stakeholders including the NI Director and functional leadership group and the programmes supply chain to achieve desired outcomes, with accountability for quality decisions
• Define the Quality requirements within individual functional areas including the mobilisation/procurement of external expertise where necessary
• Be a recognised expert/advisor to others in all areas of Quality within the NI Programme
• Submitting regular performance reports indicating any deviations, corrective action taken and escalation of issues to leadership
• Provide a point of independent quality escalation for programme team members to the Head of Quality Delivery and the SZC Quality Director
• Responsible for managing third party suppliers to achieve the desired programme outcomes
• Supporting other functional areas in their associated deliverables e.g. quality input and evaluation of contracts and other associated scopes of work
• Establishing, hosting, supporting and chairing assurance and governance reviews at appropriate points during the programme
• Develop and mentor staff ensuring succession planning is in place

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma in Quality Management or degree level qualification
• Lead Auditor qualification to ISO 9001
• Chartered membership to an appropriate professional body, preferably Chartered Quality Institute (CQI)
• A natural leader with the ability to inspire, motivate and influence people to drive the business forward and achieve business goals
• Demonstrable experience as a senior Quality Leader who has managed similar large Quality teams, major projects, and budgets ideally within a highly regulated industry with multi‑disciplined major contracts
• Proven experience in the Nuclear Island Construction Environment this should include sufficient experience to enable a good understanding of adjacent activities and through life operational issues
• Demonstrable track record of successful Quality Management within an Engineering or project delivery environment
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and ideally ISO 19443:2018, with demonstrable understanding of managing CFSI risk

Additional Qualifications/Experience

• A qualification in Risk Management would be beneficial
• Chartered Membership of a relevant professional institution is highly desirable
• Experience in supplier management and knowledge of Nuclear Site License condition
• French Language is advantageous

Behavioural Competences

• Humility: Recognise the value brought from different cultures and experiences; Be open to other’s points of view and ideas, be willing to debate and to compromise
• Positivity: Positively challenge poor quality and performance; Identify solutions at the lowest possible level; Encourage others to bring new ideas forward
• Respect: Value the rules and environment in which we operate; Give and receive feedback with respect; Embrace and engage with new people and ideas
• One team, working closely together and helping each other; Empowered teams always looking forward; Shared responsibility for delivering the project outcomes
• Clarity: Communicate clearly and consistently; Promote collaboration and team alignment; Drive simplification at all levels

If this sounds like the next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today.

At Sizewell C we encourage and embrace diversity and how it can improve our experience and performance at work. It is a requirement that those who join us have the right to work in the UK. Whilst sponsorship may be a possibility that we can explore, we are fully committed to local recruitment where possible, and those already holding the right to work in the UK.

To be appointed to this role, you will need to meet the criteria for Security Vetting, which will, ordinarily, require you to have been a resident of the UK for at least three of the past five years.