Senior CDM & Safety Governance Lead in Retford

The UK Government has established UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd., a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKFE is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing the STEP prototype.

Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKFE, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Fusion Energy Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKFE and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground-breaking journey.

Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week; however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working.

As an employee of UKFE, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• Corporate bonus scheme 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.
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive.

The CDM Lead acts as UKFE’s senior authority on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. You will develop, embed and oversee the CDM governance framework across all UKFE projects and programmes, ensuring the organisation consistently meets its duties as a CDM Client. This role supports the Executive, Programme Directors, Project Managers, Designers and Principal Contractors with authoritative CDM guidance. You will lead assurance, evaluate competence, oversee duty holder performance and represent UKFE with regulators and external bodies. The scale, novelty and high-hazard nature of STEP make this a rare and highly influential position.

What You’ll Be Doing

• CDM Governance and Compliance
  • Lead the development, maintenance and continual improvement of the UKFE CDM governance framework.
  • Ensure UKFE consistently discharges all Client responsibilities under CDM 2015, including appointments, notifications and necessary arrangements.
  • Provide expert interpretation of CDM regulations to senior leaders, design teams and suppliers.
  • Lead development of design and construction assurance plans covering all project phases.
• Client Duty holder Leadership
  • Support the Director of Safety, Quality and Mission Assurance in ensuring adequate resource, time and arrangements for safe design and construction.
  • Oversee assessment and appointment of Principal Designers and Principal Contractors.
  • Review principal duty holder deliverables (PCI, CPP and H&S File) for accuracy and sufficiency.
  • Ensure design risk management processes are embedded and followed across UKFE and partner organisations.
• Programme and Project Support
  • Facilitate early-stage design reviews to ensure safety‑by‑design principles are applied rigorously.
  • Support procurement teams by embedding CDM requirements into contracts and supplier engagements.
  • Participate in design reviews, safety boards, gate reviews and readiness assessments.
• Assurance, Audit and Continuous Improvement
  • Lead construction safety and CDM compliance audits across internal teams and partner organisations.
  • Report performance trends to the UKFE Executive, QSMA leadership and Safety Committees.
  • Drive continuous improvement in design safety integration, cultural maturity and CDM competence.
  • Integrate lessons learned from UKFE, regulatory insights and external industry experience.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Leadership
  • Act as primary CDM liaison with regulators, including the HSE.
  • Represent UKIFS in national and industry working groups, advancing best practice in construction safety.
  • Mentor, coach and develop internal staff to uplift CDM capability.
  • Model UKFE leadership behaviours, fostering a positive, inclusive culture.

What You’ll Bring

• Chartered membership of IOSH, ICE, IStructE, APS, CIOB or equivalent.
• Extensive experience leading CDM 2015 compliance in major infrastructure or highly complex engineering.
• Demonstrable competence as Principal Designer Advisor, CDM Advisor or similar senior role.
• Deep understanding of design processes, risk management and safety-by-design.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to challenge constructively.
• Experience in safety-critical or high-hazard industries.
• Strong judgement, especially in uncertainty or ambiguity.

Beneficial

• Experience with nuclear, fusion or advanced scientific facilities.
• Knowledge of mission assurance, integrated safety and high-reliability frameworks.
• NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent advanced H&S qualification.
• Experience in multidisciplinary design and complex supply chains.

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. 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.

UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukifs.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKFE.

As we work towards our mission and goals, guided by our principles, STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work:

• We champion safety
• We all matter
• We act as one
• We are pioneering
• We deliver

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: Criminal Records Checks for Overseas Applicants. If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.