Lead IT Project Manager

Overview of Responsibilities

About us  

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.  

About the job 

As a Lead IT Project Manager, you will oversee the delivery of strategically important technology projects and programmes that support UKAEA’s mission to develop fusion energy as a future source of sustainable power. Working across IT infrastructure, digital services, cyber security and advanced computing, you will shape delivery strategy, influence investment decisions and drive organisational capability. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact on both project outcomes and the future direction of project delivery across the organisation.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the delivery of complex and strategically significant IT projects and programmes from initiation through to completion.
• Provide leadership across multidisciplinary teams, suppliers and stakeholders to achieve successful business outcomes.
• Contribute to portfolio planning, prioritisation and resource allocation across the Computing Division.
• Develop, implement and continuously improve project, programme and portfolio governance frameworks.
• Advise senior stakeholders on delivery strategies, investment decisions, risks, dependencies and expected benefits.
• Coordinate delivery across technical and business functions, resolving competing priorities and maintaining programme alignment.
• Lead benefits realisation activities to ensure projects deliver measurable value.
• Drive continuous improvement of project management methodologies, standards, tools and delivery practices.
• Coach and mentor project professionals, supporting capability development and knowledge sharing across the organisation.
• Support succession planning and the development of future project and programme leaders.

What You’ll Bring

• Degree in IT, Computing, a research-related discipline, or equivalent experience gained in a project delivery environment.
• Practitioner-level project management qualification (e.g. APM, PRINCE2 or MSP).
• Extensive experience delivering complex IT, digital, infrastructure, research or business change projects and programmes.
• Strong expertise in project, programme and portfolio management, including governance, risk, financial and benefits management.
• Experience developing and implementing project governance frameworks, delivery standards and organisational capability.
• Experience managing significant project budgets and commercial activities within complex environments.

UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.

Benefits 

We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here) and highlights include:   

• A salary of £64,820 (inclusive of a Cross-Discipline specialist allowance)   
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution  
• 25 days annual leave, 2.5 privilege days and 8 Bank Holidays   
• 3 days of site closure over Christmas break  
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions  

Our commitment to ED&I 

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. 

Please email talent@ukaea.uk if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates. 

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.