Head of Commercial

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UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS), backed by UKAEA, seeks a visionary Head of Commercial to lead the strategy and governance of high value contracts for the STEP fusion programme from West Burton, Nottinghamshire, with 3 days onsite, a salary of £83,421 and a benefits package including a defined benefit pension, relocation support, flexible working and generous leave. You will shape contract strategy, forge alliance-based partnerships, drive procurement and governance, and build a high-performing team while ensuring compliance and energising the UK fusion supply chain. Essential: MCIPS or RICS, extensive large engineering contract experience, NEC-style alliancing, and cross-functional leadership; desirable: Government Commercial Practitioner, JV or start-up experience. To apply, tailor your CV with concrete outcomes on cost assurance and value from collaborations, highlight how you would enable industry integration for STEP, prepare for BPSS/ DBS checks and potential SC clearance, and apply early as postings close after about four weeks.

Company Description

Company Description: 

The UK Government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd , a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKIFS is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of the STEP prototype. 

Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKIFS, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKIFS and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground breaking journey. 

As an employee of UKIFS, you will benefit from: 

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert. 
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible). 
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment. 
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders,  
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities 
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive 

 A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/  

We offer a competitive salary which includes excellent benefits and outstanding pension.  The salary for this role is £83,421. 

This position is to be based at West Burton, Nottinghamshire and onsite working is expected for 3 days each week.

Job Description

The Role  

As Head of Commercial within the Commercial Division of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. (UKIFS), you will take a pivotal leadership role at the heart of our delivery team. You will shape, steer and safeguard the strategic contracts that power the STEP programme, ensuring our commercial partnerships fuel innovation, delivery excellence and long-term value. Reporting directly to the Commercial Director, you will: 

Develop and Lead Contract Strategy 

• Champion a robust approach to cost assurance and governance, ensuring the programme operates with clarity, confidence, and commercial discipline. 
• Forge and nurture long-term strategic alliances with our Whole Plant Partners, creating high impact commercial relationships that drive collaboration, accelerate outcomes and enable world-first engineering delivery.impact commercial relationships that drive collaboration, accelerate outcomes and enable world-first engineering delivery. 
• Craft forward thinking procurement strategies and embed leading-edge contract terms that empower suppliers to perform at their best.thinking procurement strategies and embed leading-edge contract terms that empower suppliers to perform at their best. 
• Champion alliancing principles, embedding a culture of partnership where suppliers and programme teams work in lockstep toward shared success. 
• Collaborate closely with technology leads to ensure every contract is aligned with programme scope, innovation goals and the evolving supply chain. 
• Act as a catalyst for growth in the UK fusion supply chain, unlocking commercial pathways that drive industry-led advances essential to the mission. 
• Lead proactive and strategic dispute resolution and contract modifications, ensuring challenges become opportunities for improvement. 
• Uphold exemplary commercial governance by ensuring all contracts meet regulatory, legal and sector-specific requirements. 

Build and Lead a High Performing Team.

• Partner with the Commercial Director to shape a world-class commercial function at the forefront of the UK’s push towards fusion energy. 
• Build, inspire and empower a high performing contract management team, instilling a culture of curiosity, ambition and continuous improvement.performing contract management team, instilling a culture of curiosity, ambition and continuous improvement. 
• Mentor and develop team members, equipping them with the confidence, capability and commercial insight to thrive in a complex, fast-moving environment. 
• Influence programme-wide strategy through clear, data-led commercial decision-making. 
• Lead with integrity, professionalism and purpose, embodying the excellence expected across the STEP programme. 

Drive Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement.

• Act as the senior commercial voice within the programme, shaping decisions that influence programme scope, delivery pathways and partner engagement. 
• Work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure commercial strategy is seamlessly integrated with technical, programme and business priorities. 
• Build and maintain strong, resilient relationships with suppliers, ensuring alignment on milestones, expectations and delivery performance. 
• Serve as a cultural ambassador for UKIFS, championing our values and reinforcing a collaborative, inclusive and outward-looking working environment. 

Prepare for Industry Integration.

• Develop and embed the commercial and procurement frameworks needed to successfully launch and manage strategic contracts. 
• Lead the commercial workstream during the selection and onboarding of major industry partners, ensuring seamless mobilisation and alignment from day one. 
• Guide strategic partners through integration into the STEP programme, setting the conditions for sustained success. 
• Continuously evolve commercial governance and leadership approaches to meet the growing complexity of programme delivery and market engagement. 

The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities and you may be required to undertake other reasonable tasks or duties requested.

Qualifications

We are seeking a visionary leader with a deep understanding of complex contract management, particularly in high-value, innovative engineering or infrastructure projects. 

Essential Skills & Experience: 

• MCIPS or RICS Qualification (or equivalent). 
• Extensive experience managing large, complex contracts, ideally in engineering. 
• Strong expertise in contract law, procurement strategies, and commercial frameworks. 
• Demonstrated success in alliancing or collaborative contract models (e.g., NEC contracts). 
• Experience leading large commercial teams and engaging cross-functional stakeholders. 
• Exceptional negotiation, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills. 
• Ability to operate in a highly regulated environment while managing complex compliance requirements. 
• Strategic mindset with a track record of delivering best-for-programme outcomes. 
• Adaptability in a fast-changing, evolving programme. 

Desirable Experience: 

• Accredited Government Commercial Practitioner (or willingness to obtain). 
• Experience in developing joint ventures or consortia contracts. 
• Experience in a commercial leadership role within a start-up or high-growth environment. 
• Leadership in commercial transformation or organisational change initiatives. 
• Public sector and private sector experience, with knowledge of regulatory frameworks. 

Additional Information

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, and people 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. 

UKIFS is committed to being accessible. Please email [email protected] 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 UKIFS.

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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants 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.  

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.  We may consider your application for future positions or similar positions within the organisation.

We have a number of exceptional opportunities available at the moment, to view them all please visit Careers - STEP.