Job Description

The Head of Technical & Technology provides the underpinning, direction and leadership for all short, medium and long term technical and technological activities within the Portfolio. It sets the technology standards and undertakes the technical assurance for the Portfolio to maximise both customer value and return on investment for the business.

Technical activities span research and development to the full breadth of Sellafield facilities and flowsheets. This role also develops, demonstrate and deploys new innovative technologies to meet the capabilities defined by the Head of Strategy and Portfolio; thus the role encompasses the full range of science, engineering, digital and AI capabilities.

They are the technical and technological ambassador for the Portfolio, promoting, representing and defending the direction undertaken by the organisation into National and International stakeholders.

Principal Accountabilities

• Acts as Technical Authority for the Portfolio and responsible for Portfolio Technical Assurance & Governance.
• Define and implement effective technical arrangements in the Portfolio.
• Develop and maintain the technical baseline and roadmap that underpins the site strategy, and the technical underpinning for the flowsheet in conjunction with the other Heads of Technical and Technology where required.
• Develop the technology needs for the Portfolio, by capturing operational views for both today and the future, and work with the CTO and the other Heads of Technical and Technology to deliver solutions that meet these needs collaboratively across the business.
• Maturing and developing technology and technical solutions through the Technology Readiness Levels to ensure it integrates with other systems.
• Ensure facility processes are within the Operating Envelope.
• Lead and provide a service of plant facing technical support.
• Underpin Technical decisions with data and subject matter expertise to support the Portfolio decision calendar.
• Facility level scenario planning and technical modelling to understand if the strategic objective of the facilities can be delivered.
• Act as and manage the Intelligent Customer(s) for the Portfolio’s technical activities.
• Own Portfolio Technical Risks on the Site Risk Register.
• Maintaining technical standards, delivery quality, maintenance of technical capability and contribution to the wider goals of the Group Job Family.
• Making recommendations on technology matters, including recommendations to stop or formally review the status of technology development that give concern.
• Providing leadership, health, safety and career development of the Individuals in the Science and Technology Job Family within the portfolio.
• Support the Science and Technology Centre of Expertise network to ensure it is developed, maintained and provides the relevant SMEs for the Enterprise.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential Skills:

• STEM Degree, and chartership in a relevant STEM professional body
• Wide multi-Directorate experience and technical knowledge of SL plants and processes with good understanding of Sellafield Ltd and Sellafield site interconnectivity and interdependencies
• Extensive experience of leadership in a technical discipline with sufficient depth and breadth of knowledge to lead with credibility at this level
• Thorough understanding of value stream capabilities and vulnerabilities in terms of knowledge, skills, experience and technologies (incl. assets).
• Ability to influence senior company leaders and external stakeholders (including customers, regulators and government departments)
• Ability to maintain a strong connection between the technical area and the business environment, with track record of successfully dealing with conflicting company priorities, and resource limited specialist teams
• Experience in leading studies or technical work programmes within a multi-discipline team
• Clear understanding of the role and its relationship with other departments and external bodies
• Exceptional analytical skills, with experience of solving novel and contentious company technical challenges
• Excellent communication and technical leadership skills
• Good technical planning, project management and financial control skills
• Relevant chartership/institute recognition

Desirable Skills:

• Masters degree (or equivalent) and Postgraduate qualifications in a core SL subject.
• Appropriate chartership/institute recognition
• Fellow of a relevant STEM professional body
• In-depth knowledge and practical experience of a wide range of science and technology principles and processes used at Sellafield. Knowledge of SL systems, equipment and procedures
• Extensive international and national technology networks, and a recognized national authority within the skill area

Additional Information

• Open VN
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Contact/s: Dave Nugent

As part of your application, please include a cover letter detailing how you meet the knowledge and experience required for the role.

The date of the interviews for this position will be confirmed in due course.

If you choose to apply for this role and your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview. In the interview, you will be assessed against the NDA Leadership Standard.

Sellafield Ltd are recognised as a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3). Disability Confident employers offer an interview to disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. Sellafield Ltd define the minimum criteria as the ‘essential skills’ which are listed on the vacancy notice. Whilst completing your application form, you will be able to indicate if you wish to be considered under the disability confident scheme. If you would prefer to discuss this directly with us, please contact the GBS Recruitment team on recruitment@sellafieldcloud.co.uk

Please ensure that you save a copy of this advert for future reference if you make an application for this role.

The closing date for this vacancy is 21st September 2026.