Assistant operations manager

Assistant Operations Manager

A temporary opportunity has arisen to join the FCA programme as an Assistant Operations Manager, playing a vital role in the safe, secure and efficient operation of a licensed nuclear facility. This is a highly responsible position for an experienced operations professional who is ready to step into deputy Authorised To Operate (ATO) duties and make a tangible contribution to Dounreay’s mission.

You will be at the heart of day-to-day operations, balancing safety, performance and delivery while working closely with senior managers, project teams, contractors and regulators in a demanding and rewarding environment.

Appointment type: Unitl October 2027
Full time/part time: Full time
Job category: Operations
Competence Assessment: CA508 Assistant Operations Manager
Flexible working available?: Yes
Location: Dounreay
Pay band: Professional

What you will be doing:

You will take an active role in managing facility operations, ensuring work is planned, authorised and delivered safely, compliantly and efficiently within the safety case and lifetime plan. Working in partnership with senior managers, you will support programme delivery, performance monitoring and continuous improvement, while maintaining effective governance, contractor assurance and emergency preparedness.

• Support safe facility as Deputy ATO, ensuring nuclear safety, security and environmental compliance
• Drive delivery of operational and project activities, monitoring safety, cost, quality and programme performance
• Provide assurance through governance, incident review, contractor oversight and emergency arrangements
• Develop staff through effective line management and succession planning What you will bring:
You will have planning and decision making skills with a strong technical background and experience of managing complex industrial or nuclear environments. You will bring sound judgement, clear communication and the ability to perform under pressure while maintaining the highest safety standards.

• HND in Science or Engineering (or equivalent) with relevant operational experience
• Demonstrable experience in plant or industrial operations, ideally within a nuclear facility
• Proven capability in facility or operations management within a highly regulated environment
• Post specific capability analysis assessment

We are looking to hold interviews week commencing Monday 14 September 2026, however, please note that this vacancy may close earlier than the stated deadline should we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

If you require assistance at any point during the recruitment process contact [email removed] at the appropriate time so we can make any necessary, reasonable adjustment.

Step Up in Your Career - Internal Opportunity

We welcome all internal colleagues to apply, whether you’re ready for a move or just curious about the opportunity.

If you’re part of the NDA Group, please refer to the Mobility Principles for guidance on how a move into NRS can be facilitated - visit What is Mobility at the NDA group?

It is the applicants responsibility to inform their line manager of their application and we encourage informal conversations before applying - to discuss the role, speak to your current Line Manager, HR Manager or Hiring Managers, Lyndsay Miller, email: [email removed]