Nuclear Waste Services has a vacancy for an experienced Research Manager - Special Nuclear Materials to join our team flexible from our office in Cumbria.
The Research Manager will effectively manage the technical delivery of work undertaken within the UK and international supply chains in the areas of ceramic material fabrication and assessment of durability / performance under geological disposal conditions. The work delivered within this role is part of a £19 M project of key strategic importance to Nuclear Waste Services and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Managing the effective delivery of all aspects of experimental work undertaken within the UK and international supply chain to the required time, cost and quality for a project associated with the geological disposal of ceramic wasteforms.
- Close collaboration with Technical Leads at UK and international supply chain partner organisations throughout the experimental project lifecycle (including the development of experimental scopes of work and effective troubleshooting of issues that arise during delivery).
- Technical review / assurance activities relating to supply chain partner safety paperwork and approaches to experimental work, ensuring that work is conducted safely and in compliance with all regulations.
- Provision of high-quality updates to the Technical Integrator, Project Manager and Principal Research Manager as well as contributions to the technical integration of experimental results into a wider project associated with the geological disposal of ceramic wasteforms.
- Working closely with the Technical Integrator and Principal Research Manager on strategic planning of experimental activities to align with wider NWS activities in the area of High Heat Generating Waste Science.
- Support of the Technical Integrator in regular engagement activities with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield Limited (SL), our regulators (the Environment Agency (EA) and Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)) and the UK Government Committee for Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM).
- Supervision of PhD students and Post-Doctoral Research Associates (PDRAs) undertaking projects within the areas of ceramic material fabrication, characterisation and assessment of durability / performance under geological disposal conditions.
- Proactive engagement with commercial, procurement and project management colleagues to ensure that new scopes of work are launched in a timely manner to meet project timescales and objectives.
- Technical assurance of deliverables generated following the completion of experimental work to ensure satisfactory outcomes are achieved for NWS and the wider NDA group.
- Effective synthesis of the outputs of experimental packages of work into concise summaries, position statements, knowledge base updates and data definition forms for application within the wider project in compliance with NWS procedures.
Experience Required
Essential
- A PhD in materials science, chemistry or an allied subject (or equivalent professional experience).
- Experience in the development of experimental protocols to evaluate the behaviour / performance of heat generating wasteform materials under geological disposal conditions.
- A good knowledge of processes for the fabrication of ceramic materials for nuclear waste immobilisation and disposal as well as quality control aspects post-fabrication.
- A strong track record of managing the successful delivery of complex experimental programmes of work.
- Knowledge of historic and current UK waste management activities in the area of High Heat Generating Waste as well as the inventory for geological disposal.
- Strategic understanding of radioactive waste management and the NDA’s role, including understanding of the emerging NDA topic strategies and programmes.
- Demonstrably good oral and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in the dissemination of complex scientific information to a variety of stakeholders.
- The ability to deliver high-quality work independently as well as effectively collaborating with a wider team.
Desirable
- Experience of working with Special Nuclear Materials (or simulants).
- Experience of working with the NDA and its Operating Companies.
- Experience of working with National Laboratories and Commercial Organisations within the UK and overseas.
- Experience of working with academics and UK Universities.
- Chartered membership status (or working towards) in relevant professional institute (e.g., Royal Society of Chemistry or the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining).
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