Head of Supply Chain Assurance

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 UKs 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 supported by the UK Atomic Energy Authority which has breadth and depth of expertise in fusion science engineering and operations built over decades.  UK Fusion Energy Ltd. (UKFE) Is a relatively new organisation established to focus on the delivery of the prototype and in so doing the development of a fusion supply chain.  UKFE will lead a collaborative team of industrial Whole Plant Partners who bring expertise in engineering and construction plus UKAEA who will remain as strategic Partner providing fusion expertise.

The Role:

Reporting to the Director of Safety Quality & Mission Assurance you will be accountable for the strategic design and operational delivery of UKFEs Supply Chain Assurance framework across the full project lifecycle.

You will provide senior leadership and oversight to ensure that Tier 1 2 and 3 suppliers consistently deliver to nuclear safety quality environmental and security requirements. From early design through offsite manufacture construction installation testing and final handover your role will be central to identifying and mitigating supplychain risk before it impacts safety cost schedule or regulatory confidence.

This role is pivotal to maintaining UKFEs Intelligent Customer capability supporting regulatory assurance and strengthening longterm supply chain resilience for fusion delivery.

What Youll Be Responsible For

Supply Chain Assurance Strategy & Governance

• Own and evolve the enterprisewide Supply Chain Assurance Strategy aligned to the nuclear safety case programme maturity and regulatory expectations
• Act as the single point of accountability for supply chain assurance policy standards and governance across UKFE partners and suppliers
• Provide authoritative challenge where supply chain risk exceeds acceptable nuclear safety or delivery tolerances
• Set assurance expectations early in procurement and contracting to prevent latestage quality or delivery risk

Supplier Audit Assessment & Oversight

• Lead a team of assessors and auditors conducting technical quality and nuclear safety culture audits across the supply base
• Define audit philosophy scope depth and prioritisation based on supplier criticality and risk
• Oversee audits of complex global suppliers commissioning specialist assurance where required
• Ensure audit outcomes drive meaningful measurable improvements in supplier capability

Supply Chain Risk Identification & Mitigation

• Identify single points of failure and systemic risks within multitier supply chains
• Lead strategic interventions to address supplier fragility capability gaps or overreliance on key vendors
• Provide early warning and escalation of emerging risks that could affect nuclear safety or programme credibility
• Support executive decisionmaking with clear options tradeoffs and consequences

Supplier Development & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with Commercial and Procurement teams to onboard and develop nonnuclearready suppliers
• Sponsor supplier capability development to meet nuclear quality and safety expectations
• Use audit intelligence learning from experience and data analytics to drive targeted improvement
• Balance rigorous assurance with supplier development to support innovation without compromising standards

Regulatory & Stakeholder Assurance

• Act as a senior assurance interface for regulators on supply chain integrity and Intelligent Customer responsibilities
• Provide credible auditable evidence to support regulatory inspections reviews and interventions
• Build regulator confidence through transparency consistency and timely escalation of issues
• Influence internal stakeholders on regulatory expectations and consequences of supply chain failure

Leadership & Culture

• Build and lead a highperforming supply chain assurance team
• Foster a valuesled inclusive culture grounded in professionalism integrity and learning
• Lead by example and act as a cultural ambassador for UKFE

Qualifications :

What youll bring

You will be a highly experienced supply chain or quality assurance leader with deep expertise in operating within regulated safetycritical environments. You bring strong systems thinking sound judgement and the confidence to challenge delivery pressures where nuclear safety quality or regulatory credibility could be compromised. Comfortable working across complex multitier supply chains you are equally adept at rigorous assurance and developing supplier capability. Experience supporting nuclear or equivalent megaprojects and engaging regulators with credibility will be key to your success in this role.

Essential

• Significant experience in supply chain or quality roles within regulated industries (e.g. nuclear aerospace oil & gas)
• Experience supporting Nuclear New Build or equivalent megaproject environments
• Degree in Engineering Supply Chain or Quality Management
• Chartered status (e.g. CQP (CQI) MCIPS CEng)
• Deep knowledge of ISO 9001 and ISO 19443 (Nuclear Quality)
• Understanding of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 within nuclear infrastructure contexts
• Ability to obtain highlevel security clearance (SC/DV); existing clearance desirable

Desirable

• Familiarity with ASME NQA1 or equivalent nuclear standards
• Experience working with global multitier supply chains
• Strong capability in supplier performance analytics and assurance tools
• Experience supporting regulatory audits and inspections

Additional Information :

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 organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email  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 UKFE.

As we work towards our mission and goals guided by our principles STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work: 

• We champion safety 
• We all matter 
• We act as one 
• We embrace change 
• We are pioneering 
• We deliver 

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: 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.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time