Programme Manager - Nuclear Island in City of London

Location: London, initially eventually relocating to Suffolk

Salary: £643 Per day PAYE / £890 Per Day Umbrella

Description: Lead one of the most complex infrastructure programmes in Europe, delivering a new nuclear power station that will provide low-carbon electricity to around six million homes for at least 60 years. As the project moves firmly into delivery, we are seeking an exceptional Programme Manager – Nuclear Island to take ownership of a major portfolio within this nationally significant programme.

This is not a traditional project management role. This is a programme-scale leadership position, operating at the heart of a multi-billion-pound megaproject with significant regulatory, technical and delivery complexity.

Contextual information: Design, finance, construct, commission, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission the nuclear power plant and related infrastructure in Suffolk. Overall, whilst the Company is in the construction phase, the Boards' principal focus is on the development and construction of the NNB on time, on budget and to the highest quality and safety standards. The Company is maturing to meet all these requirements. The construction strategy is to replicate the design of Hinkley Point C, using the majority of the same supply chain, but innovating in the way it is delivered to achieve savings in time and cost of around 20%. The CCO will need to be guided by and incorporate lessons learned from the Hinkley Point C commercial delivery to achieve Sizewell C's ambition.

The Role: You will be accountable for the delivery of a major Nuclear Island programme portfolio, overseeing multiple interdependent projects across engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. Working at the centre of a highly regulated, safety-critical environment, you will:

• Lead a complex portfolio of projects with significant technical and commercial interfaces
• Manage and develop a team of senior programme and project managers
• Drive delivery performance across cost, schedule, risk and quality
• Operate within a demanding governance environment, engaging regulators, government stakeholders and joint venture partners
• Navigate programme complexity, resolving interface challenges and driving decision-making at pace
• Provide clear leadership across a major supply chain and delivery partner network

What We're Looking For: This role requires a proven programme delivery leader, not a single-project manager. You will bring:

• Experience leading multi-project portfolios within major infrastructure programmes
• A track record of delivering within highly regulated, safety-critical environments
• Deep understanding of EPCC delivery models and complex supply chains
• Experience managing large teams of senior project professionals (10–30+)
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to manage cost, risk and change at scale
• The credibility to operate confidently at senior leadership and executive level

Sector Background: We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in:

• Nuclear new build, nuclear services or decommissioning
• Major energy infrastructure (power generation, grid, offshore wind)
• Large-scale transport programmes (rail, tunnelling, systems delivery)
• Defence infrastructure or complex systems programmes
• Oil & gas megaprojects (EPCC environments)

Experience on programmes such as Hinkley Point C, Sellafield, HS2, Crossrail, National Grid or similar large-scale projects is highly relevant.

Leadership Profile: You are a calm, credible and highly capable programme leader who has operated in complex delivery environments. You will be:

• Composed and decisive under pressure
• Comfortable managing ambiguity and long delivery horizons
• Able to translate complex technical issues into clear, actionable decisions
• Respected for delivery, not hierarchy
• Politically aware and commercially astute

This is someone who has “seen things go wrong” and knows how to recover them. Own a major programme portfolio within a nationally significant infrastructure project. Work at true scale, with multi-billion-pound delivery scope. Operate with genuine accountability and executive visibility. Be part of a programme that will shape the UK's energy future for generations. Join at a pivotal moment as the project transitions fully into delivery.