Deputy Head of People - UKIFS Ltd

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 an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. 

Are you a strategic and operational HR leader ready to take on a career-defining challenge? UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. (UKIFS) is looking for a dynamic Deputy Head of People to join our Team. This role is a blend of high-level strategic work and hands-on HR leadership in a fast-paced, evolving environment. You’ll play a pivotal role in a groundbreaking mission to develop a commercially viable fusion energy plant through the UK’s flagship STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme.

This is a rare chance to help build an entirely new organisation in one of the most exciting sectors of the future—fusion energy. You’ll play a key role in creating a people function that will shape the company’s culture and success. If you’re a proactive HR leader who thrives in dynamic environments, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a real impact.

What You’ll Do:

• Strategic Leadership: Partner with the Head of People to execute the UKIFS people strategy and foster a high-performance culture.
• Operational HR: Ensure smooth HR operations, from policy management to employee relations, compliance, and collaboration with shared services.
• People Partnering: Advise senior leaders on recruitment, performance, and employee development while driving engagement and inclusion.
• Project Management: Lead key HR initiatives, using data insights to support continuous improvement.

What We’re Looking For:

• CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent) with extensive HR leadership experience.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on HR delivery.
• Expertise in employee relations, employment law, and HR best practices.
• Strong stakeholder management and change leadership skills.
• Experience in government or start-ups.
• Expertise in talent retention, Employee Value Proposition VP, and onboarding.

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.