Programme Manager, Whitehaven

We are seeking an experiencedProgramme Managerto take overall responsibility for the leadership, coordination, and delivery of a major nuclear and civils programme based in Whitehaven. The role has accountability across multiple projects and workstreams, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient delivery in line with nuclear regulatory requirements, client objectives, and long‑term programme outcomes.

The Programme Manager will provide strategic oversight across design, construction, commercial, planning, risk, and stakeholder functions, acting as a senior leader within a highly regulated, safety‑critical environment.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Leadership&Governance

• Lead the end‑to‑end delivery of the nuclear and civils programme, ensuring alignment with client, regulatory, and organisational objectives
• Establish and maintain robust programme governance, controls, and reporting structures
• Provide visible leadership across the programme, promoting a strong safety, quality, and compliance culture

Delivery&Performance Management

• Oversee multiple projects and packages, ensuring delivery to agreed scope, cost, quality, and schedule
• Monitor programme performance, identifying and addressing risks, issues, and interdependencies
• Ensure effective integration between design, construction, logistics, commissioning, and handover activities

Nuclear Safety, Compliance&Assurance

• Ensure programme activities comply with nuclear site licence conditions, UK legislation, and client standards
• Support nuclear safety case delivery and assurance processes
• Lead engagement with audits, assurance reviews, and regulatory scrutiny at programme level

Commercial, Risk&Controls

• Provide strategic oversight of programme budgets, forecasting, and commercial performance
• Ensure effective risk and opportunity management across the programme
• Support change control and decision‑making at programme and senior leadership level

Stakeholder&Client Management

• Act as a senior interface with the client, regulators, and key stakeholders
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners
• Provide clear, accurate programme updates to senior leadership and client representatives

Team Leadership&Development

• Lead and develop multi‑disciplinary teams across project and programme functions
• Support succession planning and capability development within the programme team
• Foster a collaborative, high‑performance working environment

Skills&Experience

Essential

• Proven experience as aProgramme Manageror Senior Project Manager on major infrastructure or civils programmes
• Experience working inhighly regulated environments, ideally nuclear or equivalent safety‑critical sectors
• Strong understanding of programme governance, controls, and reporting
• Experience managing complex interfaces across multiple projects and stakeholders
• Excellent leadership, communication, and decision‑making skills
• Eligible forUK security clearance

Desirable

• Previous experience onnuclear‑licensed sitesor nuclear infrastructure programmes
• Experience managing programmes delivered under NEC or similar contracts
• Strong background in civils, infrastructure, or engineering‑led delivery

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent experience in engineering, construction, or project management

Desirable

• APM, PRINCE2, or equivalent programme/project management qualification
• Chartered status or working towards chartership

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong delivery focus
• Credible and confident at senior leadership and client level
• Calm and decisive under pressure
• Committed to safety, quality, and long‑term programme succe

Secutiry clearance will be required