Find More Than 10K+
United Kingdom Jobs

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in leading a team contributing to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

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 urgently needs. UKAEA are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow's fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid. As we work towards our mission and goals, UKAEA has devised values (Innovative, Committed, Trusted and Collaborative) that capture the spirit of how we work.

The Head of Data Solutions holds responsibility for maintaining quality of UKAEA knowledge and information management and for promoting and delivering excellent data science and research data management activities. They drive the exploitation of ‘Big Data’ (helping to ensure that maximal information and knowledge are extracted from UKAEA’s experimental and simulation data). UKAEA has a wealth of existing data, information and knowledge from JET and MAST-U experiments and will rapidly create more through its growing programmes and operational activities. They maintain quality and ensure efficacy of UKAEA information and data management systems, to ensure that high value data assets are adequately curated.

They are expected to be a recognised expert with a range of experience spanning data engineering, data management and data analytics. More specifically, they are expected to be an expert in Research Data Management (RDM), including the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) principles, Open Data, and research data publications management. They understand the needs and requirements for engineering data including models, simulations, product information and digital twins. They are charged with delivering solutions around fusion tokamak engineering data, simulation data, engineering design data (e.g., CAD), and product information (BOM, EBOM, materials databases etc.) and play a leading role in the deployment of engineering Simulation Process and Data Management (SPDM), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems and “beyond PLM” technologies for supporting science and engineering in the Industrial Metaverse era.

Working closely with UKAEA stakeholders, industry, and academia, they play a leading role in the development of a UKAEA wide “Digital Thread”, helping to ensure that decisions are based upon all available data, information and knowledge. They are also responsible for ensuring that UKAEA has the requisite skills, capacity, and ambition to scale up and scale out its data systems to prepare for the ITER and Exascale era of big data analytics, working with the Director of Computing Programmes to connect UKAEA data systems to the wider UKRI supercomputing landscape and roadmap. This is an outward facing role that requires strong business acumen (e.g., for helping to secure further funding and growth) and a collaborative ethos (engaging with academia, international labs, and industry) to help nurture digital maturity across UKAEA’s nascent but rapidly growing supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong and empowering leadership of UKAEA Knowledge, Information and Data Analytics activities.
• Manage and grow a team of knowledge, information, and big data analytics experts and encourage the development of these skills across other departments and programmes within UKAEA.
• Develop and keep up to date an engaging and empowering strategy and delivery framework for knowledge, information, and data exploitation at UKAEA.
• Ensure that information governance legislation, policies and standards are effectively implemented and adhered to across the organisation.
• Execute and oversee Data Solutions projects and change activities within the Computing division and ensure that they meet the requirements, expectations and needs of UKAEA stakeholders.
• Ensure that the Data Solutions team is involved in the development/delivery of other UKAEA programmes and product delivery activities (such that all work is stored against a digital thread and requisite data storage is planned/budgeted for in advance of need and delivered against a long-term roadmap).
• Understand and mitigate Data Solutions risks within the Computing division and across other divisions and programmes.
• Develop and use Management Information (MI) metric reporting to monitor the performance of Data Solutions services.
• Understand the knowledge and information lifecycle and facilitate its adoption across UKAEA.
• Be cognizant of how to extract maximal information from UKAEA data assets and help others to do so.
• Evaluate Data Solutions practice across the organisation and measure how well it fits with UKAEA's goals and strategy, ensuring that data and information systems, processes and practices are developed and synergised across UKAEA via a process of continuous improvement.
• Assist in the deployment of engineering Simulation Process Data Management (SPDM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems and “beyond PLM” technologies for supporting science and engineering in the Industrial Metaverse era.
• Explore novel, disruptive technologies to help automate and streamline information and knowledge discovery (e.g., by deploying state of the art Natural Language Processing, NLP, solutions).
• Ensure the best use of existing knowledge, information and data tools and identify and advocate for new, industry standard or possibly emergent/disruptive technologies to help UKAEA meet its ambitious mission goals.
• Work with the Cyber Security team to ensure appropriate cyber security for UKAEA knowledge, information, and data – including ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
• Foster close collaboration with the Computational Science & Engineering unit to ensure that data architecture maximises utilisation of simulation data assets.
• Develop and deliver Data Solutions training and awareness campaigns to increase the understanding and adoption of good data and information practices across UKAEA.
• Engage with Professional Body Membership and Community Participation (e.g., ARA, AIIM, CILIP and IRMS).
• Work closely with other Units within the Computing Division to break down silos and encourage intra-divisional collaboration and delivery.
• To manage Staff in the Data Solutions unit (Employees and Contractors) according to UKAEA systems.
• Take a leading role on the development and execution of the strategy for the Computing Division and unit in conjunction with the other unit leaders and Computing Division Directors
• Responsible for the safety of staff and any facilities operated by the unit through the Divisional Safety Committee and the Safety Management systems of the UKAEA.
• Look for opportunities outside the organisation for collaboration, partnership and/or bringing in income (grants, contracts, donations, etc.).
• Budget Responsibility: £1 million to £2 million p.a.

Essential skills, experience and competence required

• Degree (or relevant experience) and ideally a PhD. in a STEM subject.
• Extensive experience leading knowledge and information management in a complex organisation.
• Ability to manage broad portfolios of work, ensuring systems and roles are in place to prioritise goals, manage budgets and schedules, and communicate with stakeholders whilst enabling agile, iterative, quality-driven approaches to software delivery.
• Significant people management experience for varied teams of 20+ technology professionals and ability to define and establish new capabilities and develop others as leaders.
• Ability to communicate, build trust and influence at all levels.
• Deep understanding and experience in practice of FAIR research data management principles.
• Sound knowledge and application experience of Simulation Process Data Management (SPDM) and PLM (design data management) techniques and technologies.

Desirable skills, experience and competence

• Experience applying Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning or Natural Language Processing techniques for information and knowledge discover.
• Track record of strategic leadership and establishing broad networks and partnerships.
• Membership of appropriate professional bodies (e.g., ACM, IEEE, SIGHPC etc.).

What we offer

Our comprehensive benefits package includes a vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive, an Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, Flexible working options including family friendly policies, Emergency paid leave, Generous annual leave allowance (30.5 days) increased with length of service, wide range of career development opportunities, outstanding defined benefit pension scheme; Corporate bonus scheme (up to 7% for Levels 1 - 7, as well as 3rd and 4th year apprentices) and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly from individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities and women. The Executive team with support from our ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting EDI and taking steps to increase the diversity of our people through reinforcing best practice in recruitment and selection, and revaluating approaches where it is clear we can remove barriers to success.

Please be advised that we generally advertise vacancies for 4 weeks however we may close earlier than this if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.

Please note all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and any other appropriate security checks as part of their clearance – which will include The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks which will show the details of all current criminal convictions or will confirm that there are no such convictions.

Note for applicants who are applying for employment with UKAEA either from outside the United Kingdom or who have spent time outside the United Kingdom in the last five years. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants . If the country you are resident in or have resided in is not listed on this website or that the UK Government is not aware of how to obtain a criminal records check from that state then we are unable to process your application.