Head of Commercial

Overview

The UK Government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd, a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKIFS is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing the STEP prototype.

Fusion energy is crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence. The UK aims for a prototype fusion plant with first operations around 2040 and, through UKIFS, to lead delivery and build a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year.

As an employee of UKIFS, you will benefit from: outstanding defined benefit pension, a corporate bonus scheme up to 7%, flexible working options, an Employee Assistance Programme, generous annual leave, career development opportunities, and a vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive. A full list of benefits is available at the UKAEA careers site. The salary for this role is £83,421.

This position is based at West Burton, Nottinghamshire, and onsite working is expected for 3 days each week.

Job location details, interview process information, and accessibility notes are included below under Additional Information.

As Head of Commercial within the Commercial Division of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. (UKIFS), you will take a pivotal leadership role at the heart of our delivery team. You will shape, steer and safeguard the strategic contracts that power the STEP programme, ensuring our commercial partnerships fuel innovation, delivery excellence and long-term value. Reporting directly to the Commercial Director.

• Develop and Lead Contract Strategy
• Champion a robust approach to cost assurance and governance, ensuring the programme operates with clarity, confidence, and commercial discipline.
• Forge and nurture long-term strategic alliances with our Whole Plant Partners, creating high impact commercial relationships that drive collaboration, accelerate outcomes and enable world-first engineering delivery.
• Craft forward thinking procurement strategies and embed leading-edge contract terms that empower suppliers to perform at their best.
• Champion alliancing principles, embedding a culture of partnership where suppliers and programme teams work in lockstep toward shared success.
• Collaborate closely with technology leads to ensure every contract is aligned with programme scope, innovation goals and the evolving supply chain.
• Act as a catalyst for growth in the UK fusion supply chain, unlocking commercial pathways that drive industry-led advances essential to the mission.
• Lead proactive and strategic dispute resolution and contract modifications, ensuring challenges become opportunities for improvement.
• Uphold exemplary commercial governance by ensuring all contracts meet regulatory, legal and sector-specific requirements.

• Build and Lead a High Performing Team
• Partner with the Commercial Director to shape a world-class commercial function at the forefront of the UK’s push towards fusion energy.
• Build, inspire and empower a high performing contract management team, instilling a culture of curiosity, ambition and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and develop team members, equipping them with the confidence, capability and commercial insight to thrive in a complex, fast-moving environment.
• Influence programme-wide strategy through clear, data-led commercial decision-making.
• Lead with integrity, professionalism and purpose, embodying the excellence expected across the STEP programme.

• Drive Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
• Act as the senior commercial voice within the programme, shaping decisions that influence programme scope, delivery pathways and partner engagement.
• Work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure commercial strategy is seamlessly integrated with technical, programme and business priorities.
• Build and maintain strong, resilient relationships with suppliers, ensuring alignment on milestones, expectations and delivery performance.
• Serve as a cultural ambassador for UKIFS, championing our values and reinforcing a collaborative, inclusive and outward-looking working environment.

• Prepare for Industry Integration
• Develop and embed the commercial and procurement frameworks needed to successfully launch and manage strategic contracts.
• Lead the commercial workstream during the selection and onboarding of major industry partners, ensuring seamless mobilisation and alignment from day one.
• Guide strategic partners through integration into the STEP programme, setting the conditions for sustained success.
• Continually evolve commercial governance and leadership approaches to meet the growing complexity of programme delivery and market engagement.

The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities and you may be required to undertake other…