Technical Risk Manager in Retford

Company Description

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) 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. UKIFS will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week; however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working.

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

The salary for this role is £56,596.00 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension. The closing date to apply for this position is the 13th February 2026. This UKIFS vacancy will be based at our site in West Burton, Nottinghamshire.

Job Description

As a Technical Risk Manager, you’ll lead the identification and management of technical risks across multi-disciplinary teams. You’ll support design decisions, manage technical conservatism, and ensure risks are escalated and aligned with STEP’s evolving design phases. This is a hands-on, strategic role for someone with strong engineering foundations, systems thinking, and a passion for shaping the future of sustainable energy.

As a Technical Risk Manager you will:

• Bridge detailed design work with a systems-level view of the STEP Prototype Plant (SPP), identify and communicate technical risks early and clearly.
• Support IPTs in options analysis, risk-based trade-offs, and justification of design proposals through leadership in engineering risk identification.
• Ensure a pragmatic and consistent approach to technical conservatism, so that all engineering areas align with a shared understanding of acceptable technical risk across the PBS and design artefacts.
• Create and maintain high-quality, traceable risk artefacts within the STEP PLM environment.
• Provide clear, objective, and actionable risk reporting into dashboards, reviews, and governance forums for a variety of technical and programme stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Programme and Project risk managers to share technical risk for handling and incorporating as part of the wider STEP risk package.

Accountability 1: Technical Risk Framework & Governance

• Lead the development and implementation of technical risk management approaches to maximise the success of a design by managing risks from a variety of sources, i.e. technical complexity, regulatory, material selection etc.
• Define and embed processes that support consistent identification, documentation, and mitigation of technical risk across Integrated Project Teams, working with IPTs to develop empowered local practices for risk management while maintaining whole programme consistency.
• Leverage data within the PLM ecosystem to ensure technical risk is visible, actionable, and traceable.
• Implement and maintain risk registers and associated artefacts within the STEP PLM solution.

Accountability 2: Design Team Support & Risk Escalation

• Lead the delivery of Engineering risk activities with design teams, supporting internal assessments, reviews and other activities.
• Structure and facilitate risk workshops, assumption reviews, and design assurance activities as part of a structured lifecycle approach to risk management.
• Identify whole-plant risks and work with senior engineering stakeholders to manage resolution or escalation.
• Identify risks that may impact project/programme schedules and elevate significant risks to the respective programme leads and management committees.
• Support the evolution of risk-informed options analysis and decision-making frameworks for technical risks.
• Promote a culture of early risk identification, evidence-based risk acceptance, and no surprises.

Accountability 3: Embody a Leadership Mindset

• Regardless of your formal position, you embody a leadership mindset and a set of leadership behaviours.
• You embrace and embody our organization’s culture, values, and mission in all aspects of your work.
• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values.
• Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace, valuing diversity, and promoting teamwork.
• Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organization’s values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Lead by example, demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and ethical behaviour.
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organization goals.
• Supervise junior engineers and students, providing them with challenging projects, monitoring their progress and providing constructive feedback.
• Adhere to group and organizational management systems.

Qualifications

Essential Skills and Experience:

• A degree or equivalent experience in Engineering or Risk Management.
• Deep understanding of risk management methods.
• Knowledge of programme risk management, techniques and interfaces.
• Delivery of Engineering projects using PLM tools.
• Ability to shape and define processes and systems from first principles.
• Experience working in a diverse multi-partner organization.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication abilities.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience in systems-thinking approaches to engineering.
• Experience in a complex Engineering design environment; aerospace, defense, automotive, process industry etc.
• Experience in proactive engineering management techniques (i.e. Advanced Product Quality Planning).

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 organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success. UKIFS 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 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 the following link for information on criminal records checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/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.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications. We may consider your application for future positions or similar positions within the organization.