Internal Vacancies

The salary range for this position is £45,220 to £49,435 (Grade 4C).

If you have any queries regarding the position itself please contact Dale McMullen.

Please be aware that all new appointments will be made in-line with the PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions. Therefore, if you are not already on PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions and you are selected and accept this role, there will be changes made to your contractual terms. The terms and conditions of the role will be made clear in the offer letter. 

If you have any queries about the impact of applying for this role on your terms & conditions, pay, pension or benefits, please contact the HR Support Team.

Job Description for Operations and Technical Support Assistant:

UKNNL is where your understanding of reactors fuels the nation. As part of our Fuel Reactor & Reprocessing capability, you’ll play a vital role in developing the UK fuel cycle in line with advances in new technology and new processes. As old reactors reach the end of their lifespan, we need experts like you, with the technical skills to virtually model scenarios that not only enable us to explore new ways of managing the inputs and outputs of reactors, but also pave the way for the implementation of smaller, cleaner revolutionary new reactors. This is a place where you can use your knowledge and expertise to do long term meaningful work for years to come. 

Fuels, Reactors & Recycling (FR&R) is looking for an individual to be part of the Pu Characterisation and Repackaging Team which has team members primarily based at UKNNL Central Laboratory. The team is part of the Fuels, Reactors and Recycling (FR&R) - Radiochemistry capability within UKNNL which deliver commercial R&D to help solve a wide range of challenges in the nuclear industry.  

The Radiochemistry capability has unique Medium Active operational expertise and provides key skills to support the UK’s national programmes. The team specialise in laboratory-scale experiments in solvent extraction, isotopic separation, recycle technologies and Pu Science.

FR&R is looking for an Operations and Technical Support Assistant who will support the delivery of the Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) 100 Programme Operations which is technically led and directed by the WM&D (Waste Management & Decommissioning) Capability. The position will require high standards of glovebox and fumehood operations and require oversight of effective operations and close interaction with technologists from the WM&D capability.

The successful candidate will initially focus on supporting work on the HIP rig in UKNNL’s Workington facility learning about HIP technology and then gradually transitioning over to carrying out work in Area 400 of UKNNL Central Laboratory, supporting the active HIP rig and glovebox suite based there. The work in Area 400 will primarily consist of glovebox and fumehood operations.

The individual will undertake any required training to be able to work safely and effectively in our unique laboratories at the UKNNL Central Laboratory, which is located on Sellafield site, Cumbria, and will need to be competent to provide a technical support service in the development and implementation of project type programmes.

The location for this role is flexible and can be based at Sellafield or Workington.

Main Responsibilities for Operations and Technical Support Assistant:

• Planning, organising, and delivery of laboratory work to meet project requirements.
• Ensuring technical quality of laboratory and rig hall work through best practice and through regular consultation with Technical Leads/Technologists.
• Ensuring detailed record keeping systems are in place and maintained for all relevant operations to ensure the traceability of work.
• Collating, analysing, and processing experimental data to support Technical Leads in formulating scientific conclusions.
• Production and checking of technical documents (for example, notes for the record or short technical memos).
• To coordinate the procurement, use, storage, and disposal of chemicals and samples to maintain housekeeping standards and stock levels.
• Ensuring a system of calibration and maintenance is in place for all relevant equipment in addition to organising the calibration and servicing of equipment through UKNNL craft teams or external suppliers, (e.g. PAT and PUWER testing of equipment).
• Complies with legislative, regulatory and company policy standards and procedures e.g. safety, quality, risk, security etc. applicable to the role (e.g. maintain team Performance Centre).
• To produce and maintain workpacks to a high safety standard and in accordance with the relevant project scope and plan.
• To take on and fulfil grade appropriate additional roles where required. At 4C these could include Area Owner, One Card Holder, Originator, Business Guardian of standalone computers, etc.

NB: This position has no line management responsibilities. However, it may involve training new starters and apprentices in basic lab, rig hall, and / or technical operations.

Essential Criteria for Operations and Technical Support Assistant:

• Minimum HNC/Level 3 or equivalent (A-Levels, BTEC National Certificate or Diploma etc.) in a relevant scientific subject; Chemistry, Materials Science, etc. or Relevant experience of working in a regulated environment.
• Experience in laboratory, rig hall and/or cave work.
• Ability to achieve and maintain any SQEP specialties’ (e.g. FH or GB Operator) to meet needs of business / customer work.
• Proven ability to analyse data, specifically data produced by laboratory or plant instruments.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively and be a respected team member.Demonstrable positive attitude towards achieving high levels of safety and quality.
• Evidence of ability to interact with other departments and at a higher level in, and outside of, own team.
• Proven ability to constructively engage with stakeholders and successfully coordinate the delivery of work safely and to high standards of quality.
• Evidence of ability to plan and deliver work.
• Evidence of working flexibility to deal with changing workloads.
• Evidence of producing work packs and associated documentation (Risk Assessment, COSHH assessments) to a high standard.
• Ability to gain Originator nomination for UKNNL Central Lab (formerly known as Person Organising Work (POW) nomination).
• Ability to obtain DV level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial, criminal record checks, interview plus 10 years of UK residency).

Desirable Criteria for Operations and Technical Support Assistant:

• Degree in a relevant scientific subject; Chemistry, Materials Science, etc.
• SQEP to work in Areas 400 and/or 500 in the UKNNL Central Laboratory.
• SQEP in active fumehood operations.