Construction Lead

NRL is recruiting an experienced Construction Lead to play a pivotal role on one of the UK’s most high-profile nuclear construction projects. This is a rare opportunity to lead complex construction activities on a nationally significant development, working at the forefront of safety, quality, and delivery excellence.

Construction Lead – Sizewell C (Nuclear New Build)
Salary- £80,000 - £110,000 per annum (DOE)
Location
- Suffolk, United Kingdom
Job Type
- Full Time (40 hours per week)

Role Purpose

The Construction Management Lead will act as an Intelligent Client and Delivery Partner, providing leadership, oversight, and assurance of construction activities on the Sizewell C project. The role is responsible for ensuring construction is delivered safely, compliantly, and in accordance with the Nuclear Safety Case, meeting programme, cost, and quality requirements while maintaining a strong nuclear safety culture.

The role will work collaboratively with the Client, Principal Contractor, and supply chain to ensure construction readiness, execution, and handover activities are effectively planned and controlled.

Key Accountabilities

Nuclear Safety & Culture

Act as a role model for nuclear safety culture, ensuring safety is the overriding priority
Ensure construction activities comply with the Sizewell C Nuclear Site Licence Conditions, safety cases, and regulatory expectations
Support and challenge the supply chain to ensure safety case compliance and hold point management
Interface with safety, assurance, and regulatory functions during audits, reviews, and inspections

Construction Delivery & Oversight

Provide leadership and oversight of construction activities within assigned scope or area
Monitor and assure contractor performance against agreed scope, programme, and quality standards
Ensure construction sequencing aligns with safety case assumptions and constraints
Oversee readiness reviews, start-of-work authorisations, and handover processes

Programme, Cost & Risk

Support the development and delivery of integrated construction programmes
Identify, manage, and escalate risks and issues impacting safety, schedule, or cost
Contribute to change control, forecasting, and performance reporting
Ensure lessons learned are captured and applied

Quality, Assurance & Configuration Control

Ensure construction activities comply with nuclear quality requirements and approved documentation
Oversee inspection, test, and verification activities
Ensure configuration control, traceability, and records management meet Sizewell C requirements
Manage non-conformances and corrective actions

Stakeholder & Interface Management

Act as a key interface between the Client, EPC contractors, designers, and regulators
Chair or contribute to construction, safety, and progress meetings
Provide clear, evidence-based reporting to senior stakeholders

Leadership & Capability

Lead and mentor construction and site assurance personnel
Ensure competence, authorisation, and behavioural expectations are met
Promote continuous improvement and collaboration across the project

Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours

Knowledge & Skills

Strong understanding of nuclear new build construction environments
Knowledge of UK nuclear regulatory framework and ONR expectations
Experience working within client-side, delivery partner, or assurance roles
Strong planning, risk management, and governance skills
Ability to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

Degree (or equivalent) in Construction Management, Engineering, or related discipline
Significant experience in construction management on nuclear or highly regulated infrastructure projects
Experience working on or supporting nuclear-licensed sites
CSCS Black Card (or equivalent)
Demonstrable experience working within nuclear safety cases
Eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC minimum)
Desirable

Chartered or working towards chartership (CIOB, ICE, IMechE, RICS)
NEBOSH Construction Certificate or equivalent
Knowledge of nuclear quality standards (ISO 19443, NQA-1)
Temporary Works Coordinator / Supervisor
Lifting Operations experience

The NRL Group connect global companies with the right people to bring engineering projects to life. Supporting contracting companies with energy transition plans and working with our clients to create a cleaner, greener future.

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