Head of People - UKIFS

Head of People - UKIFS
Abingdon Rd, Culham, UK
Full-time
Salary: £75,415 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
Site Location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire
Confirmed Grade: Level 7
Department: STEP

Company Description

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

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

For more information, visit our website.

Job Description

This role can be based in Culham, Oxfordshire or West Burton, Nottinghamshire.

Along with your CV, please include a Cover Letter explaining how you meet the essential criteria.

As an employee of UKIFS you will benefit from:

- Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
- 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

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions.

The Role

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference on a global scale? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy as Head of People and spearhead the establishment and evolution of our People function. As the Head of People, you'll be at the forefront of crafting and implementing a People strategy geared towards fostering a compelling employee value proposition, setting the stage for our collaboration with industrial partners in the coming years.

Responsibilities

- Develop and execute the People strategic direction for UKIFS and the STEP Programme in collaboration with industrial Whole Plant Partner People leads.
- Contribute to STEP Programme direction and delivery as part of UKIFS Senior Leadership.
- Implement People strategies for UKIFS team across employee lifecycle.
- Establish robust reporting for People function, offering insights to senior leadership.
- Set STEP's values across UKIFS and partners, embedding core culture elements.
- Develop compelling employee value proposition for top talent attraction and retention.
- Drive talent management, including performance, progression, and recruitment.
- Lead high-performing People team development and leadership program implementation.
- Embody leadership mindset, fostering positive, inclusive team environment.
- Work closely with UKAEA Group to ensure a coherent workforce plan and talent development.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

- Extensive experience leveraging HR initiatives to improve business performance.
- Proven experience in a strategic and operational leadership role.
- Ability to translate People initiatives into business impact.
- Experience driving organisational change and transformational HR initiatives.
- In-depth understanding of HR best practices and employment laws.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines autonomously.

Additional Information

A full list of our benefits can be found on our website.

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

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.