Director of Nuclear Strategy

Overview

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and their diverse backgrounds, abilities, and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university. This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior leader to join the University of Sheffield AMRC's (AMRC) Leadership Team at a pivotal moment in the organisation's development, shaping the defense sector profile and driving strategic growth for one of the UK's most respected applied research institutions.

The Director of Nuclear Strategy is a critical senior leadership role within the AMRC, fundamentally tasked with driving the AMRC strategy across the nuclear space — positioning the AMRC as a leading centre in this sector. The role will work with colleagues across the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC) focussing on the Nuclear Mission.  Operating at the strategic intersection of academia, industry, and national infrastructure, the postholder will work closely with the nuclear civil bodies to seamlessly link national policy with regional execution, while evolving the AMRC’s nuclear strategy in line with changing global geopolitics and energy transitions.

As an innovation powerhouse within both the University of Sheffield and the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult network, the Director will focus heavily on UK nuclear manufacturing investment, maximising value, economic growth, and long-term impact for the region. The role requires a high-calibre leader with an extensive, pre-established network across civil nuclear (such as Great British Nuclear, NIA, NDA) or the nuclear supply chain, possessing a distinct capability to build high-impact coalitions that position not only the AMRC but the broader University of Sheffield as a premier authority in the nuclear sector.

Main duties and responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Develop, evolve, and execute the AMRC’s comprehensive Nuclear Strategy, ensuring rapid adaptability in response to shifting global geopolitics, net-zero targets, and national security requirements.

• Collaborate with the CEO, Commercial Director, and Senior Leadership Team to build strong working relationships with Tier 1 nuclear prime contractors, industrial partners, and funding bodies.

• Provide broad strategic positioning for the wider University of Sheffield, looking beyond the AMRC to ensure the comprehensive University nuclear capabilities are integrated and elevated nationally.

• Play a leading role in the HVMC Nuclear Mission, working closely with other centres to ensure maximum impact for national programs (SMRs, AMR development, and decommissioning).

• Serve as a member of the AMRC leadership Team, contributing directly to organisational strategy, planning, and institutional decision-making.

External Engagement and Stakeholder Relations 

• Build and sustain influential, trusted relationships with senior leadership within the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Great British Nuclear (GBN), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the defence nuclear enterprise, and nuclear trade bodies.

• Represent the AMRC as the primary strategic partner within national nuclear innovation networks, contributing to shared capability-building across the HVM Catapult network.

• Lead active engagement across the wider University of Sheffield to link, leverage, and elevate the University's broader research capabilities and overall positioning within the nuclear space.

• Champion nuclear growth initiatives with political, industrial, and civic stakeholders, driving targeted programs to maximise funding, economic value, and industrial impact for the region.

Sector Positioning and Strategic Advocacy 

• Build robust networks with nuclear sector businesses, regional aerospace/defence/energy clusters, and trade associations to embed the AMRC into critical supply chain pipelines and major procurement programmes.

• Ensure the AMRC's technological capabilities in secure manufacturing, digital twins, high-integrity welding, codes and standards compliance, and advanced materials are clearly articulated to nuclear stakeholders.

• Provide strategic direction for high-level nuclear industry days, technical workshops, and industrial forums to pull through advanced engineering research into active civil and defence nuclear applications.

• Monitor and evaluate national energy spending, defense reviews, and net-zero policy shifts to maintain continuous alignment and identify new business capture opportunities.

Organisational Contribution 

• Act as a high-profile ambassador for the AMRC, regularly speaking at major national and international nuclear conferences, symposiums, and strategic engagement events.

• Contribute to, and lead the development of, high-value competitive bids and proposals for major nuclear research grants and commercial contracts.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the AMRC, the wider University, and partner organisations to advance shared strategic objectives.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Executive Leadership: Proven experience operating at a senior executive level, contributing to organisational strategy, planning, and collective leadership team decision-making.

Essential

Application/Interview

Nuclear Sector Expertise: Deep working knowledge of the UK nuclear landscape (civil and/or defence), procurement pipelines, regulatory environments (ONR), and broader industrial strategy.

Essential

Application/Interview

Network & Relationship Building: An extensive, established network within civil nuclear bodies, the defence nuclear enterprise, or the nuclear industrial supply chain.

Essential

Application/Interview

Geopolitical & Strategic Acumen: Demonstrated capability to design, adapt, and evolve corporate strategies in response to rapidly shifting international energy markets, net-zero frameworks, and geopolitics.

Essential

Application/Interview

Policy Translation: Ability to closely link national energy and security policy with regional economic policy, particularly regarding regional infrastructure and growth deals.

Essential

Application/Interview

Ecosystem Navigation: Ability to work collaboratively across an interconnected matrix network (such as university structures, industrial clusters, and the HVM Catapult).

Essential

Application/Interview

Ambassadorial Presence: Outstanding track record of acting as a spokesperson, with excellent public speaking skills at high-level national and international events.

Essential

Application/Interview

Further Information

Salary

Competitive Salary

Work arrangement

Full-time, flexible/hybrid possible

Duration

N/A

Line manager

AMRC Commercial Director

Direct reports

N/A 

Right to work in the UK

If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility.  Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website .

Our website

www.amrc.co.uk

For informal enquiries about this job contact Anita Spafford (AMRC Commercial Director Exec Assistant): on [email protected]

Next steps in the recruitment process

The selection process will consist of an interview with a short presentation. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [email protected].

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment as a minimum. Further security clearance checks will be required for the role.