Executive Officer

Company Description

UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd, a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), is at the forefront of developing fusion sustainable energy. Through the design and delivery of the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme, we aim to build a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UKFE will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year.

Benefits

• 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.
• Wide range of career development opportunities.
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive.

The salary for this role is £40,402 with excellent benefits including outstanding pension. Employment is expected onsite 3 days each week; flexible working is supported.

Job Description

You will support the Executive Office in delivering UKFE governance and assurance activities. Working closely with the Executive Office Lead, you will ensure the effective operation of boards, committees, reviews, and reporting processes. The role involves collaborating across all areas of the organisation, supporting strategic initiatives, and enabling high-quality decision-making at executive level.

Governance & Corporate Support

• Support the Executive Office Lead in implementing governance and delivering complex or cross-company initiatives that are critical to the business on behalf of the CEO and Directors.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of the corporate business plan, managing time-bound projects within challenging timescales.
• Assist in developing and implementing policies, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders including DESNZ, UKAEA Group, the UKFE and STEP Programme teams, and whole-plant partners.
• Build and maintain strong internal and external stakeholder relationships, representing the Executive Office professionally.
• Deputise for the Executive Office Lead when required.
• Analyse business operations to identify gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Support improvement initiatives commissioned by the CEO and Directors.
• Manage the flow of information reviewed by decision-making committees.
• Assist in developing the governance and reporting approach for UKFE and the STEP Programme in coordination with the Business Resilience and Operations Team.

Reporting, Insight & Issue Management

• Support the Executive Office Lead in preparing briefing materials and collating information on key issues, risks, and emerging challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify emerging reporting and approval requirements across UKFE.
• Escalate issues and risks to the Executive Office Lead, recommending mitigation options for review and implementation.
• Coordinate updates and track progress on cross-functional issues originating from the Executive Office.
• Ensure critical milestones are effectively monitored and reported to enable informed decision-making.

Secretariat Function

• Act as secretariat for Executive and Committee-level meetings, ensuring decisions are well-supported and governance requirements are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and facilitate Executive and Committee meetings, supporting the Executive Office Lead where needed.
• Ensure timely preparation and distribution of meeting materials including agendas, submissions, minutes, decision records, forward plans, and action tracking.

Leadership Mindset & Behaviour

• Regardless of your formal level, you are expected to demonstrate leadership behaviours and embody the organisation’s culture, mission, and values.

Key Responsibilities

• Foster a positive, inclusive team environment aligned with organisational cultural values.
• Contribute to a respectful and collaborative workplace that values diversity and teamwork.
• Act as a cultural ambassador in all interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Lead by example through integrity, professionalism, and ethical behaviour.
• Provide mentorship and informal guidance to colleagues, encouraging professional growth.
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organisational goals.

Qualifications (Essential)

• Ability to grasp and communicate big picture issues, to a variety of stakeholders and at the same time translate this into detailed plans and solutions.
• A degree or equivalent qualification and experience, complemented by a robust enthusiasm and interest in scientific and engineering fields.
• Ability to write strategy, business cases, policy, management, and other business documents.
• Ability to implement plans and decisions made at executive level, including managing upwards and across the organisation.
• Effectively organise and prioritise the senior executive time to support them with delivering UKIFS objectives, managing the flow of information to the team and making judgements on priorities.
• Ability to influence at a range of levels in the organisation, ranging from senior levels to working level.
• A track record of securing decisions and approvals from senior colleagues in complex organisations.
• Good experience of building relationships, demonstrating sensitivity, tact and an appreciation of other perspectives and viewpoints to find compromise, delivering through other people.

Qualifications (Beneficial)

• Experience of working with government and arms-length bodies.
• Experience of drafting, influencing and implementing public sector policy.
• Experience of stakeholder management with government, industry, and academia, preferably in the engineering sector.

Additional Information

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 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.

Security Requirements

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 UKIFS. For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants for information on criminal records checks. 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.

Closing Date

The closing date to apply for this position is the 8th May 2026. Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.