Programme Areas

Click into each profession below to access information about where you could be suited.

Commercial

Description:

The commercial profession provides a service to the whole of Sellafield Ltd. As part of our support to achieve the Site’s strategic objectives, the Commercial Directorate places and manages supply chain contracts, with committed expenditure in excess of £1bn per annum.

The directorate’s portfolio is varied due to the complex nature of the operations on the Sellafield site therefore our teams are aligned to operating areas working in multi-discipline teams providing help, support and guidance on a number of commercial, contract management and procurement topics. During their traineeship, graduates will gain experience working across the whole spectrum of the site’s operations from multi-million pound construction/procurement projects, site delivery projects, long term strategic partnerships and enterprise wide projects/programmes.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

The Commercial/Supply Chain Directorate performs an integral part with regard to delivering projects and programmes; be it via strategic procurement activities, supplier relationship management or commercial contract management. Typical graduate roles consist of being part of a close knit commercial/QS team that provides assistance and support to not only the Commercial/Supply Chain Directorate but also the project team it forms part of.

Graduates receive daily on the job training, coaching and mentoring by experienced commercial colleagues that ensure they receive gradually increasing levels of responsibility. This includes assisting with the collation, drafting and organisation of tender documentation, drafting terms and conditions of contract, contract management, commercial governance, and liaising with/attending meetings with internal stakeholders/project functions (project management, technical, legal and safety), and the supply chain.

Progression possibilities:

Commercial graduates follow a structured graduate scheme that ensures they receive the experience and training necessary to commence and enhance their career progression through the Commercial/Supply Chain Directorate. Graduates will undertake professional training/qualifications aligned to either, the Charted Institute of Purchase and Supply (CIPS) to gain MCIPS or Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to gain MRICS Chartership.

Graduates are encouraged to produce and manage their own Development Plan that sets out training and further skills / knowledge required to assist them progressing through the company.

Suitable degree disciplines:

• Business Related Degrees.
• Quantity Surveying Degrees.
• Law Related Degrees.
• Accounting and Finance Degrees.

Commissioning

Description:

Commissioning is the act of bringing something newly produced into a working condition; Or in the Sellafield context: is the process of assuring that all systems and components of a building or industrial plant are designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained according to the operational requirements of the plant owner and within the safety constraints of the relevant regulatory body. Commissioning engineers are involved in all parts of the project process, as a key input into design, procurement and construction. During the Commissioning phase of the project our engineers will test systems and components of a constructed plant in accordance with procedures they author from design information and first engineering principles. Once the plant is tested and found to meet the design intent, the Commissioning Engineers will hand it over to the plant operators.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

Graduates will be assigned within several different commissioning teams on a variety of nuclear projects during their two year graduate scheme period. The Commissioning Graduate will have a general split of 60% of their time in the office, writing test procedures and technical reports, planning work, analysing data, attending committees and inputting into various other project processes such as design and project support; and 40% of their time out on site/plant carrying out practical commissioning engineering tasks, such as executing tests, carrying out inspections and diagnosing and rectifying defects. These assignments will systematically enable professional and personal development whilst providing the engineering, technological, innovation and leadership challenges required to achieve Chartered status.  Some of the Commissioning Graduates even achieve Incorporated Engineer status along the way to CEng and have gained this within the 2 year graduate trainee period.

Progression possibilities:

Development during the trainee period will enable the graduate to meet the future project challenges undertaking lead roles as technical expert engineers or technical and business managers. Post trainee period assignments within commissioning will provide continued development tailored to meet individual professional accreditation requirements. Graduate career pathways can vary and will be designed to progressively challenge the individual whilst they accrue experience as an engineer and as a leader within the company. All our graduates will accrue the right technical, project, business and leadership experience to achieve CEng within 4 years of joining the Sellafield Ltd.

Suitable degree disciplines:

• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Construction

Description:

The Construction Function is key in the integrated project delivery model, the team responsible for the multi-disciplinary engineering to deliver the construction works whilst assuring compliance with several Nuclear Site License Conditions.

Before construction work begins the function works alongside engineering design to influence, develop and implement construction strategies and plans in line with the overall project delivery model. The profession is required to review technical work before, during and after implementation, has responsibility for nuclear and radiological safety during the construction phases and plays a significant role in achieving major milestones in the decommissioning of Sellafield site.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

This broad function means that construction graduates will typically be exposed to all areas of Sellafield’s project delivery – involved in design and commercial specification as well as on-site involvement with significant construction work in a variety of areas and operational plants across the site. This provides them with a range of experiences during their placement, aiding both their career and routes to chartered status in their chosen discipline.

A career in the construction profession means being involved in technical solutions to site challenges and offers opportunities to work on innovative and novel systems which may not be seen outside of Sellafield.

Progression possibilities:

Typically graduates will leave their two year placement as a construction engineer within a Sellafield project team, responsible for technical delivery and oversight of an area. Following this they are ideally placed for progression up the engineering and construction career ladder as their experience grows.

Suitable degree disciplines:

• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Design Engineering

Description:

From emergent, on-plant situations requiring design support and advice, plant modifications on legacy facilities and infrastructure, to large multi-million pound new build projects, Design Engineering at Sellafield Ltd covers a great spectrum of opportunities for graduates. Design Engineers at Sellafield Ltd face some of the most unique & challenging work in the industry, and our engineering capability enables us to accelerate high hazard reduction in a safe, environmentally responsible, cost effective and pragmatic manner.

The individual scope varies dependent on your discipline area; you will be expected to demonstrate your technical ability and knowledge through the production of design deliverables. Alongside this, Design Engineers are also expected to exhibit the correct behavioural attributes, have a questioning attitude and a good understanding of the project lifecycles from studies/concept design through to operation and decommissioning.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

Over the course of two years, design graduates are seconded to operating units throughout the business, enabling you to gain experience in a variety of aspects of engineering. You will be given real work and be responsible for ensuring delivery to the correct quality and timescales. The work is highly variable, reflective of the different operating units you will be working in.

As part of the graduate scheme you are also expected to get involved with STEM activities, both internal and external to the organisation. There will also be opportunities for you to get involved with work outside of your direct project delivery, such as becoming a member of the graduate council or a Centre of Expertise.

Progression possibilities:

Typically design graduates will initially aim to become a Design Engineer. Then look to seek more responsibility and ownership by becoming discipline lead engineer for specific tasks and projects. This experience is well suited for progression towards Chartered status and a senior or responsible engineering role.

Suitable degree disciplines:

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Environmental Support

Description:

The Sellafield site focus is shifting from operations to environmental remediation: ensuring safe, secure reduction of hazard and risk driving sustainable solutions that maximise environmental, economic and societal value.

The purpose of the Environment Capability is to support the Sellafield Ltd business whilst ensuring that the requirements of our environmental obligations are met, and our environmental impact is minimised. The work of the Environment Capability includes: provision of an Environmental Management System certified to ISO14001, giving specialist advice and guidance regarding environmental compliance and improvements, interfacing with regulators to ensure environmental permits and other decisions are in place, production and management of Environment Cases and environmental assessments, and undertaking monitoring and assurance activities against environmental standards.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

As a graduate in the Environment Capability, you will be involved with the Corporate Environmental Team and front line teams, aligned to a plant area, developing towards a fully competent Environmental Advisor.

As an Environmental Advisor you will be working alongside other environmental professionals interfacing with regulators, management, plant operators and technical support functions as part of an integrated team.

Your role will be varied and include carrying out Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Impact Assessments, producing Environment Cases, getting involved in investigations, undertaking assurance activities, attending stakeholder meetings, and advising on environmental aspects of specific projects.

Progression possibilities:

The Environment Capability has a defined Career Pathway to guide you through the requirements to develop into a fully competent general Environmental Advisor.

The Sellafield Ltd Graduate Management Trainee Scheme is accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). We will fully support your progression to Chartered Status through IEMA or other appropriate Professional Institutes to suit your discipline.

Suitable degree disciplines:

Previous graduates have typically held degrees in Environmental Science, Geography, or Geology, however, other STEM disciplines would be considered.

*Please apply via our Science, Maths and Technical opportunity.

HR

Description:

Human Resources is at the heart of the company, when starting at the company there are opportunities to work and engage across all levels of the organisation. From advising senior managers and business leaders on complex employee relations issues to talking to new starters.

The profession is compact and dynamic, this allows you to gain generalist knowledge of the HR departments and get a real taste for the direction for your future career. One of the key areas in order to enact effective HR is understanding the business and how HR fits in Sellafield Ltd.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

There are many roles across the function which graduates can move in to. One of the key benefits is being able to drive your own development, responsibility is definitely earned, and hitting the ground running and showing that you are a high performer is a key skill.

There are many development opportunities such supporting and assisting executive level meetings, representing the business at events and being HR rep for senior management meetings.

Progression possibilities:

The way that the scheme is structured allows for real flexibility when looking for progression within the function. One of the great things about the HR programme is that you have the opportunity to explore different roles before deciding on the career path you want.

Making the most of the time on the scheme gives the foundation to carve a career path within the organisation. When you are towards the end of the scheme you will start to look at final job options, with the skills and experience you have gained through the Graduate scheme it will have a great influence on your future career.

Suitable degree disciplines:

A Bachelors/Master’s degree in Human Resources is preferred, although other degrees will be considered if the applicant has shown a keen interest in Human Resources and pursued this through further training, education or work experience.

ICT

Description:

Sellafield Ltd is managing a period of unprecedented change; this requires a flexible, agile and responsive organisation with a culture that supports change. By the year 2020 we will have completed our reprocessing operations and will have shifted our focus to retrievals, risk reduction and decommissioning activities. The key enablers to our Transformation journey include greater innovation and ICT solutions. Our ICT Strategy will be fundamental to the transformational journey by supporting:

• innovative solutions through technology
• modelling of scenarios, performance and options
• mobile and agile ways of working
• the supply chain to collaborate and communicate
• applications and technology aligned to enterprise requirements
• integrated digital environment
• enterprise wide data management
• automated reporting and management information
• digital asset lifecycle management

Typical roles and responsibilities:

A number of areas of the business have come together to create the ICT Profession

Information Services Organisation – this area supports information management, enterprise applications, business systems, communications technology, infrastructure, networks and knowledge management.

Asset Management – a single view of all ICT assets across the business.

Control Systems Group – this area provides a specialist support service to Programmable Electronic Systems (PES) which is the Operational Technology on the Sellafield Ltd Site.

Cyber Security and Information Assurance (CSIA) – this area ensures Sellafield Ltd is a safe, secure and resilient business by ensuring it can defend against, recover from and be resilient to evolving cyber and information related threats.

Sellafield Advanced Business analytics (SABA) – this is the home of Sellafield’s decision support capability using 3D technology to identify issues and apply solutions to them.    

ICT graduates will be given the opportunity to gain an understanding, through placements, in each of the above areas within the ICT Profession to ensure that the most suitable pathway is identified. This will enable you to maximise your development and career opportunities both during your time on the scheme and beyond.

Progression possibilities:

The ICT programme allows for real flexibility when looking for progression. Within the profession you will have the opportunity to explore different roles before deciding on the career path you’re best suited to.

When you are towards the end of the programme you will start to look at final job options, with the skills and experience you have gained through the  programme it will have a great influence on your future career.

Suitable degree disciplines:

We are looking for enthusiastic and innovative individuals from the following degree disciplines to join our programme:

• Computer Science
• Cyber Security (MSc)

Plant Engineering

Description:

Plant Engineering is an organisational approach where facilities are divided into logical systems and a single engineer is responsible for approving all activities impacting his or her assigned system(s).

There are two main roles within this profession; Equipment Engineer and System Engineer. Both roles hold equal importance and are vital in delivering key work. Equipment Engineers are responsible for specific equipment which can range from sensitive Radiometrics right through to Pumps, Motors and Gas Turbines and includes significant civil infrastructure and building structures. The System Engineer considers the whole system from a holistic point of view. They understand how each piece of equipment affects their system’s design intent and ensure the systems maintain within their operational and safety requirements

Typical roles and responsibilities:

Responsibility starts on day one of the graduate scheme within Plant Engineering. You will be assigned specific tasks and be expected to contribute to real work. Responsibility increases as you develop your skills and knowledge. You also have the option to complete secondments within Design and Technical departments, it is expected that you will return to the Plant Engineering Profession to fulfill either a System or Equipment Engineering role, where you will be able to develop and demonstrate your technical expertise in your given area.

On the Graduate Scheme you will have the opportunity to input into your own career path. Within the Plant Engineering Profession you will be allocated either role, from which you will receive training and on the job experience enabling you to fulfil the role upon leaving the scheme.

Progression possibilities:

Progression through the graduate scheme is staged with time served. Graduates should expect to see their responsibilities increase and supervision decrease as they move through the scheme. The advantage of Plant Engineering is that it has clearly defined lines for progression. This could be by changing between Equipment and System Engineer roles to taking on more complex systems which can see you with increased responsibility and scope to move up through higher management roles.

There are opportunities within the teams to gain line manager experience for other Equipment and System Engineers. The work you will experience is directly aligned to UK SPEC supporting progression towards IEng and CEng; for which there is an active expectation that individuals shall progress to achieve professional registered status.

Suitable degree disciplines:

• Civil Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Project Management & Controls

Description:

Project Managers are the people who have the responsibility of delivering projects safely, on schedule and on budget. They lead an integrated project team of professionals in the design, construction, commissioning or decommissioning of some of the most challenging projects in the most challenging environments in industry.

Project Controls make a vital contribution to the successful completion of any project and provides the “eyes and ears” of good project delivery. Project Control is about the intelligent use of lifecycle data to support delivery and adds value by looking ahead, identifying potential issues and providing practical options and informed analysis to support decision making and influence the future of programmes and projects.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

Whether you are embarking on a career in Project Management or Project Controls it is vital to understand the other profession, therefore whilst on the scheme graduates undertake 6 monthly placements in both Project Management and Project Controls. On the scheme, graduates typically take the role of supporting the Project Manager or Project Controls Manager; whilst working in these roles the graduate is given hands on responsibility and accountability for delivering work in a real world situation on a live project.

Progression possibilities:

Within both Project Management and Project Controls there is a lot of scope for progression throughout your career. Project Management has a well-defined career path which details the steps you need to undertake in order to progress to the next stage in your career and potentially become a Project Manager managing their own multi million pound project.

Similarly with Project Controls the individual will be aligned to a discipline (planning/cost engineering) to specialise in. As they progress through their career they could potentially become senior within that discipline or progress to become a Project Controls Manager.

Both professions align to the Association for Project Managers (APM) as the professional chartered body.

There are many opportunities for further training in the various aspects of project delivery through the Project Academy for Sellafield, both on the scheme and beyond.

Suitable degree disciplines:

A Bachelors/Masters degree in Project Management is preferred, although other degrees will be considered if the applicant has shown a keen interest in Project Management or Project Controls and pursued this through further training, education or work experience.

Risk

Description:

Risk management is a formal and structured process that enables the identification, assessment, planning and management of risks associated with a project, programme, portfolio and Enterprise.  The overall purpose of risk management is to increase the likelihood of meeting project and business objectives, outcomes or strategic direction.  Risk management should protect the business by maximising opportunities and minimising threats providing a framework to control risk at all levels in the organisation.

Risk management is a process that allows individual risk events and overall risk to be understood and managed proactively, optimising success by minimising threats and maximising opportunities.

APM Body of Knowledge

Typical roles and responsibilities:

Whilst on the scheme graduates undertake placements to gain exposure to differing aspects of risk application. Dependent upon availability and current business need, this could include supporting risk management within a project at various points through its lifecycle, or a programme as it delivers its benefits, through to supporting functional and enterprise risk perspectives. Whilst undertaking these roles, the graduate is given responsibilities such as:-

• Day to day management of risks on a project, programme or enabling function.
• Maintaining current risk registers to an appropriate quality.
• Identifying new risks.
• Assisting in risk reviews.
• Ensuring appropriate mitigating plans are in place which are tracked to ensure risks are managed.
• Liaising with the team to produce fit for purpose risk management plans.
• Undertaking quantitative Monte Carlo risk modelling which requires close understanding of cost and schedule management to produce P50 and P80 values.
• Supporting risk practitioners.

Progression possibilities:

Within Risk Management there is a lot of scope for career progression. A career pathway is in place for the risk profession and professional development through the Association for Project management is recognised. Together with the many opportunities available to be deployed across the breadth and depth of the enterprise, a career is possible to develop into a risk practitioner, specialist or manager.

Suitable degree disciplines:

• Engineering
• Maths
• Physics
• Business
• Science related

Safety Case

Description:

Safety Cases form the backbone of nuclear safety at Sellafield, helping us develop safe solutions for our projects and maintain safe conditions on our facilities.  The Safety Case is not only a fundamental requirement of our licence to operate, but essential in our understanding of hazards and safety controls.  Safety Case professionals work on projects and facilities site-wide and through the full lifecycle from design, through operations, to decommissioning and demolition.  They are responsible for not only understanding and analysing the hazards and risks that could occur, but identifying how safety can be managed and ensuring robust controls are implemented in practice.  All roles require you to operate as part of a multi-disciplined team, solving problems within a challenging context.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

Graduates in safety cases can undertake roles as Safety Assessors (focussing on understanding hazards and controls) or Safety Case Advisors (ensuring that safety controls are in place and maintained on a facility). Both roles offer a career pathway, with foundational training that builds understanding of principles, and the opportunity to develop specialist skills in areas such as criticality or radiological safety. Graduates will get the opportunity for secondments in each of these roles and can expect to work on a range of facilities or projects during their training, getting hands-on experience throughout.

Progression possibilities:

Beyond the graduate training, Safety Cases career pathways offer a range of progression opportunities, whether through specialisation in a technical discipline or taking responsibility for the management of teams and safety cases for our nuclear facilities or major projects. The foundational training and broad experience gained on our programmes also offers a great platform for wider career options in technical, operational or leadership roles.

Suitable degree disciplines:

Whilst many of our team members have STEM Bachelors/Masters degrees, we would also consider candidates with other degrees where they can show the balance of behavioural and technical capabilities required by the roles.

Safety Support

Description:

The Safety Support profession is comprised of 700 Nuclear Professionals. The profession is responsible for setting policy and standards, giving competent professional advice and undertaking monitoring and assurance activities of those standards, in all aspects of Radiation Protection, Conventional Safety and Occupational Hygiene.

The remit of the profession is to support the Sellafield Site to meet its objectives for high hazard reduction whilst supporting plants through all phases of their life cycle from design, through operations to decommissioning.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

As a graduate in the Safety Support profession, you will be involved with the Central Safety Support teams and the front line teams, aligned to a plant area, developing towards a fully competent Safety Adviser.

As a Safety Adviser, you will be working alongside other safety professionals, interfacing with regulators, management, plant operators and technical support functions as part of an integrated team.

Your role will vary from carrying out technical assessments, investigations, undertaking assurance activities and developing standards to attending stakeholder meetings and advising on safety aspects of specific projects.

Progression possibilities:

Your development will involve a comprehensive training plan in all aspects of Radiological Protection, Conventional Safety and Occupational Hygiene, with the chance to ultimately specialise in one of these disciplines. The Safety Support profession has a robust, clearly defined Career Pathway and Competency Scheme to guide you through the requirements to develop to a fully competent general Safety Adviser and the potential to develop into a specialist in one of the safety disciplines.

Your discipline specific chartership will be fully supported by the profession, with the ability to gain a second chartership in a safety related field.

Suitable degree disciplines:

Changing emphasis of work on the Sellafield site will bring many new and varied safety challenges. The profession will consider graduates in STEM subjects who demonstrate a strong interest in Safety.

Strategy & Planning

Description:

The Strategy and planning team (through engagement with the Sellafield Ltd Executive team and Board), is responsible for setting and communicating the organisation’s Corporate strategy. They ensure alignment with Government and NDA strategy in the Sellafield Ltd suite of documentation to support detailed planning and decision making.

In addition to documenting the high level direction for the organisation, the team conducts scenario analysis to determine the optimal plan for the organisation, this is communicated via the Corporate Plan, which details the 20 year plan for Sellafield Ltd.

The team maintains an understanding of the external operating environment to ensure that any changes external to the company are considered and reflected in planning activities.

The Strategy and planning team works closely with business delivery areas to ensure that the high level strategy is effectively translated in to detailed plans. They ensure that business decisions align to the overall strategy; they support strategy development and maintain oversight and assurance of strategy activities.

The aim of the team is to ensure that strategy directs performance and ultimately realises the delivery of value for our shareholder.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

The Strategy and planning team works across Sellafield Ltd and holds the enterprise view of strategy implementation. The team works with multiple teams across the enterprise such as: Risk Management, Enterprise Performance and Business Planning as well as maintaining close working links with the delivery areas. The roles within Strategy and Planning are wide and varied, all requiring a collaborative approach to working. It is not uncommon for members of the team to work cross-functionally in order to deliver the best value adding outcomes.

Progression possibilities:

The Strategy and Planning Team is part of the Strategy and Technical directorate and as such is part of the technical career pathway. For the non-technical applicant, being part of the Strategy and Planning team will provide an excellent enterprise view and therefore the skills and knowledge gained whilst working in the team are readily transferrable to multiple teams on the site and within the wider estate.

Suitable degree disciplines:

An example of some of the preferred degree disciplines is provided below but this is not exhaustive and other degrees disciplines might be considered if the applicant demonstrated appropriate transferrable skills and aptitude.

• Traditional STEM degree disciplines
• Business Administration
• Politics or Social Sciences
• Law
• Environmental Science

Technical

Description:

The Technical Profession consists of 500 science, technology, engineering and maths specialists, who mainly have degrees in chemistry, physics, maths, materials science and chemical engineering disciplines. They work in multi-disciplined teams spread right across the company, but mostly based on the Sellafield site in Cumbria. They focus on solving short (few days), medium (1-2 years) and long term (5-10 years) technology challenges.

All members of the Profession have or are developing a technical specialist skill and are linked to at least one of our technical specialist communities (called CoEs – Centres of Expertise). These build networks with other specialists inside and outside Sellafield Ltd, particularly with the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) which has a laboratory on the Sellafield site, and with academia, including links with key universities.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

The work carried out by the Profession is varied and challenging, and requires people who are both innovative and self-motivated. Current graduates identify the variety of work as one of the best parts of the job. Work involves problem solving and scoping and managing Research & Development tasks carried out by technical suppliers, then applying the output to solve SL’s technology challenges, many of which are novel and unique.

Examples of graduate roles are: technical support to plant operations, setting up trials to support plant process improvements, data acquisition, and data analysis. As a graduate you will also be expected to maintain relationships with external customers and manage the interface between Sellafield Ltd plants and external companies and contractors, whilst also acting as a subject matter expert for all customers.

Progression possibilities:

There are two career paths within the profession:

Technical Specialist and Technical Manager

Both have formal criteria for progression along the path. Specialists develop deep technical skills and grow specialist networks outside the company, and managers develop wider technical skills and people management experience. Movement between the career paths is encouraged to gain depth of experience.

The Graduate Scheme is aimed at providing you with the experience and exposure to ensure that the career path you choose is right for you.

Suitable degree disciplines:

• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Mathematics
• Physics