Job Description

This role offers the opportunity to gain significant insight into working at Executive and Board level, providing visibility, breadth, and an interesting and very varied scope of work.

This role is suited to individuals who have the required capability, motivation and commitment to drive value, effectiveness and efficiency. This development role provides access to all facets of the Chief Operating Officer role and provides an opportunity to engage with key internal and external stakeholders.

Principal Accountabilities

Acting as an informed, flexible, and capable resource to the Chief Operating Officer and close liaison with the Chief Operating Officer Personal Assistant and the Operations Lead Team to ensure that:

• There is clear communication between the Chief Operating Officer and Lead Team on all matters. Responses from the Chief Operating Officer are maintained whilst they are away from the office and escalated where necessary.
• Preparing for key meetings – such as Enterprise Development Committee and Enterprise Performance Committee, Investment Review Panel, etc.
• Reviewing information, conducting analysis and providing clear articulation of the key points to enable the Chief Operating Officer to make key decisions.
• Prepare and facilitate the monthly COO Lead Team meetings.
• Ensuring that briefing papers from key stakeholders to inform all visits are received in good time.
• Attend a variety of meetings in support of the Chief Operating Officer.
• Effective monitoring of ongoing activities across the function, including:
– Assisting in the management of Projects.
– Co-ordinating and monitoring projects and activities and effectively updating the Chief Operating Officer.
– Providing focus on the long-term view on projects and issues whilst ensuring traction on key milestones towards their achievement.
– Liaising on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer to answer requests for information or updates on specific projects, work streams or current areas of focus.
• Working with the Internal Audit function and facilitating all audits to be carried out within Operations.
• Working alongside the risk function to understand the principal risks and report to the Chief Operating Officer.
• Working with the Lead teams on budget, project spend and accruals

Job Context & Challenges

Sellafield Limited is a large industrial organisation with more than 10,000 employees carrying out a diverse mix of roles (mix of blue and white collar, from junior administrators, to internationally recognised technical experts) employed on a number of different sets of terms and conditions, each supported by a number of complex historic agreements.

The organisation is heavily unionised with 3 recognised Unions representing 3 diverse worker groups each with their own unique issues and concerns.

The organisation is currently going through a period of unprecedented change following the transition to a new value driven operating model, the end of reprocessing and the acceleration of risk and hazard reduction.

As part of the transformation there are several work streams that are looking at changing how we work and how the organisation accesses people services and is enabled by our People Function.

Knowledge & Experience

• Graduate in relevant discipline or equivalent.
• Accredited to an appropriate professional body where appropriate.
• A broad level of professional business knowledge and experience as well as an understanding of the systems and processes used within the organisation.
• The above stated requirements demonstrate the Company’s commitment to provide opportunities for candidates to further develop professional expertise. It is recognised however, that some internal candidates may not currently hold all the above qualifications and in such cases suitable relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of formal educational/professional qualifications.

Essential Skills

• Ability to take ownership of work and deliver outcomes, working independently where required while effectively prioritising tasks across competing demands.
• Experience of handling confidential and sensitive information with integrity, professionalism and sound judgement.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen actively, communicate clearly and adapt messages for different audiences.
• Ability to provide constructive challenge, using evidence and analysis to question assumptions respectfully and improve decision‑making at all levels of the organisation.
• Highly developed relationship‑building skills, acting as a trusted sounding board while working with tact, discretion and professionalism.
• Ability to work effectively within complex organisational and governance environments, building alignment across stakeholders through clear communication and collaboration.
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple activities effectively.
• Ability to understand and analyse complex situations, identifying key issues at an appropriate level of detail and providing clear, actionable insight.
• An ability to contribute openly to robust, constructive discussion at any level and tenacity to push through changes.
• Resilience and adaptability to a consistently high intensity workload while maintaining effectiveness and wellbeing.
• Ability to make timely, informed decisions, including in situations of uncertainty, and to take responsibility for the outcomes of those decisions.
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement, recognising errors, learning from experience and applying lessons to future work.
• Strong communication skills, producing clear, concise and well‑structured documentation

Additional Information

• Open VN
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Contact/s: Chris Brookes

This is a 12 month secondment opportunity.

The interviews for this vacancy are expected to take place Thursday 2nd July 2026.

ASW’s may have the right to apply for internal Sellafield Ltd vacancies. Please note if you are an Agency Supplied Worker you are required to attach evidence of all qualifications obtained to support your application. We require a minimum of A*-C (9-4) GCSE in English Language, Maths & Science/IT or equivalent / higher qualification.

If you choose to apply for this role and your application is shortlisted by the hiring manager, you will be invited to a competency based interview. In the interview, you will be assessed against the below competencies:

Behavioural:
1. Commitment to the business
2. Effective communication
3. Problem solving

Technical:
1. Improving plant performance

Please see link to the competency framework for further information:
https://slportal.ssa-intra.net/pub/SC001/00027/Competency%20Framework/Forms/AllItems.aspx

If your technical competency is not in the above framework, please refer to the profession’s share point page for further information.

During the interview, you will also be expected to give a 10 minute presentation –
By 2028 we need to have delivered on the performance ambition for Sellafield. What contribution would you make in realising this ambition as the Chief of Staff for the COO?

This presentation should be sent to recruitment@sellafieldcloud.co.uk via email at least two working days before your interview. You should also take four paper copies of your presentation to your interview in case of any IT issues on the day.

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 Sunday 14th June 2026.