Business Continuity Manager

For more information on UKIFS, visit: https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf 

Employees of UKIFS can be based at either of our sites; West Burton, Nottinghamshire or Culham, Oxfordshire

This role requires employees to complete SC clearance, including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. 

Fusion energy offers the potential for significant quantities of low-carbon, inherently safe, abundantly fuelled, baseload energy, supporting sustainable climate action and energy independence. While the technical challenge remains high, confidence is increasing, and the rewards of realising fusion are almost incalculable. Anticipated to come online for commercial purposes in the middle of this century, fusion offers a viable means to sustainable net zero in the UK and globally, as well as to increased energy security. The UK is currently a world leader in fusion research and development and in the drive to realise commercially viable energy from fusion, a sector with an estimated value of £tns per year. 
 
STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040, and a path to commercial viability of fusion. STEP is deliberately bold and ambitious and seeks people who want to be part of a world-changing endeavour and who have credible and relevant experiencing in delivery. 
 
STEP is currently led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, which has breadth and depth of expertise in fusion science, engineering and operations built over decades. Over the next year, leadership will transition to a new Company, UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. (UKIFS) to focus on the delivery of the prototype and, in so doing, the development of a fusion supply chain. From the next government investment gate, UKIFS will lead a collaborative team of industrial Whole Plant Partners who bring expertise in engineering and construction, plus UKAEA who will remain as a strategic Partner providing fusion expertise.

The Role:

The Business Continuity Manager will provide strategic and practical expertise to UKIFS on all matters relating to Business Continuity, Business Resilience, Emergency Planning, Crisis Management and Security Risk Management.  

You are required to be the Business Continuity SQEP (Suitably qualified and experienced person) and subject matter expert (SME), championing and sharing best practice across UKIFS, co-ordinating related activity across management disciplines with contributions from technical and scientific areas of expertise. 

You will also act as a champion to advocate, promote, and leverage business resilience investment and prioritisation in programmes and projects, adopting and promoting best practice while setting the approach, tone, and culture across UKIFS and STEP. This also involves networking within the Business Resilience community attending forums, seminars, exhibitions etc. to stay informed on emerging risks, and build relationships that can enhance our ability to adapt and respond effectively during crises. 

Whilst being proportionate, appropriate, and realistic in your approach, you will be taking accountability for the delivery of business resilience throughout the UKIFS and STEP Business Resilience Capability Development Timeline (BRCDT), from UKIFS stand up and company development phase through site characterisation, site handover, ground works and construction, engineering, commissioning, and full operations of the prototype facilities. 

Accountabilities:

Security Risk Management

• Develop and introduce a holistic UKIFS Security Strategy, framework and policy aligned to regulative and legislative demands. 
• Identify emerging threats and risks pertaining to UKIFS operations and business.,  
• Monitor changes to the threat and risk environment and develop and advise on any appropriate mitigations to minimise impact on UKIFS operations and business. 
• Input to and support UKIFS risk registers liaising with risk owners as appropriate. 
• Develop and introduce a security incident response plan. 
• Liaise and collaborate with the departments responsible for UKIFS computing and cyber security matters.  
• Consider and apply protective security management to all areas of UKIFS business,  
• Develop and implement a Secure by Design, physical security regime for the duration of the development of the site at West Burton or any indeterminate UKIFS site that may become apparent  
• Develop and implement a personnel security regime for UKIFS Develop and implement a security culture programme within UKIFS. 

You will ensure we are aligned to: 

• UK Government annual Departmental Security Health Check (audit) – Compliance to mandatory standards assurance. 
• HMG Functional Standard GovS007 for security, plus associated functional standards as appropriate, 
• UK GovAssure – UK Gov cyber security assessment approach 
• Holistic UKIFS Security Strategy. 
• NPSA guidance on protective security functions. 
• Regulatory compliance (HSE/EA requirements). 
• Compliance to HMG Government Security profession Career Framework 

Business Continuity Planning:

Responsibilities:

• Develop and introduce a Business Continuity Policy. 
• Undertake Business Continuity Planning with Business Impact Analysis and Business Continuity Plans for UKIFS corporate, and each UKIFS facility and division. 
• Training programme for all Disaster recovery Team members and associated personnel. 

Aligned to:

• ISO & British Standards 
• Compliance to future HMG Business Continuity Management standard and competency framework (Currently in early development within HMG). 
• The Emergency Preparedness accountability. 

Emergency Preparedness:

Responsibilities

• To develop and implement future UKIFS Emergency Planning Strategy. 
• Site Emergency Plan and Facility Emergency Arrangements needs at all designated UKIFS sites. Note: As operations and infrastructure grows so does the complexity of emergency preparedness requirements.  
• Develop an emergency response training programme for UKIFS and STEP staff – via classroom, seminars, hybrid, and eLearning. 
• Develop UKIFS and STEP emergency preparedness procedures, aide memoirs, templates, and guidance. 
• Develop and introduce an exercising programme and regime for UKIFS sites, facilities, and teams. 
• Develop and introduce a debriefing and lesson identification protocol to share all learning and best practice. 

Aligned to:

• Competencies Framework (National Occupational Standards NOS) 
• ISO & British Standards,  
• CDM regulations and other legislative compliant as determined. 
• National Civil Contingencies Concept of Operations & Guidance. 

Crisis Management:

Responsibilities

Develop UKIFS corporate capability to cover the following Crisis Management (CM) needs:

• UKIFS CM Policy
• UKIFS CMT terms of reference, membership, and principles
• UKIFS Standards
• UKIFS CM Processes
• UKIFS CM Facilities, C&C suites.
• CM Training
• CM Exercising
• Debriefing and Lesson Identification protocols
• CM Reporting protocols

Aligned to:

• ISO and British standards. 
• UK Gov Functional standards and associated government departmental guidance. 

Operational Management and Building Competency

• Contributing to the management of the UKIFS Operations budget of +£5M per annum, and financial reporting as required. 
• Developing the capability across STEP as the programme matures, may require future direct responsibility for the business resilience and security budget. 
•  To recruit, develop, lead, and manage a small team of level 4/5 Business Resilience advisors.  

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 organisation'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 organisation'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 organisational goals. 

Essential Requirements: 

• Hold or be able to achieve an SC security clearance.  
• Minimum educational requirement of a degree, or similar level relevant occupational qualifications and accreditations ideally in a business resilience discipline (e.g., business continuity, emergency planning, crisis management, or security risk management) is preferred, however extensive relevant senior management and practitioner experience in a law enforcement, Counter Terrorism, military, or Critical National Infrastructure role would also be accepted. 
• Proven experience / track record in a business resilience role ideally in a high operational demand, technical or scientific setting. 
• Knowledge of UK Government security standards, functions, and requirements. 
• Proven leadership and management experience, with excellent communication and influencing skills.  
• Ability to clearly communicate both verbally and through the production of written reports. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills to enable effective working relationships to be developed with people in a wide range of roles and levels of responsibility. 

Beneficial Requirements: 

• Experience of the civil nuclear industry, critical national infrastructure, law enforcement, security or military environments is desirable with a balance of business acumen and technical knowledge. 
• Full Microsoft Office 365 suite skills. 
• Knowledge of all supporting international and national agencies and authorities. 
• Working experience and knowledge of HSE and EA regulatory powers. 
• An awareness of import/export control (Dual use) and non-proliferation (additional protocol) requirements. 
• Secure by Design and Secured by Design, BREEAM, RIBA, CDM regs, UK Government Functional Standards, NPSA, NCSC, ProtectUK and UK GSG. 

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/  

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. 

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.