Supercluster Partnerships Lead

Supercluster Partnerships Lead, you will act as STEP Fusion's primary point of contact within the Trent Supercluster, helping to bring people, ideas and opportunities together. You will gather programme intelligence across skills, supply chain and research, shaping it into clear, coordinated work programmes that support sustainable regional economic growth. This role involves senior-level partnership working across local authorities, education providers, industry and internal STEP teams, requiring a collaborative and inclusive approach to building strong, trusted relationships. You will provide clear, timely and insight-rich reporting across STEP Fusion. This includes bringing together complex regional intelligence, transforming Supercluster activity into concise programme updates, and producing briefs, dashboards and narrative reports to support informed decision-making. You will highlight risks, opportunities and emerging trends from the regional landscape, ensuring they are shared appropriately so leadership maintains clear oversight of delivery, alignment and strategic progress. Accountability 1: Develop a framework for defining STEP programme requirements

• Identify and clearly articulate STEP's priority needs across supply chain, skills and research.
• Produce structured requirement sets to support Supercluster planning.
• Ensure regional strategies reflect STEP's core priorities and maximise economic and community benefit.
Accountability 2: Manage relationships with Supercluster leads
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with Supercluster leaders and stakeholders.
• Act as an effective advocate for STEP within the Supercluster, and for the Supercluster within STEP.
• Enable open collaboration and ensure shared strategic alignment.
Accountability 3: Develop work packages that deliver strategic requirements
• Translate programme requirements into clear, actionable work packages.
• Shape purposeful workstreams across skills, supply chain and R&D.
• Work in partnership with local authorities, industry, education providers and academia to design and deliver regional programmes.
Accountability 4: Stakeholder reporting, governance and assurance
• Establish reporting that clearly tracks progress, benefits and impact.
• Contribute to key programme documentation, including delivery plans and risk registers.
• Support a culture of continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and helping resolve issues through governance processes., Demonstrate leadership at all levels by role-modeling behaviours aligned with our culture, values and mission.
• Help create a positive, inclusive and supportive working environment where everyone can contribute and thrive.
• Actively contribute to a respectful, collaborative workplace that values diverse perspectives.
• Represent our organisation's values and professionalism in all interactions.
• Encourage problem-solving, collaboration and a shared sense of purpose.
• Use sound judgement to support long-term programme outcomes.
• Lead by example, demonstrating integrity, professionalism and ethical behaviour.
The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities, and you may be asked to undertake other reasonable duties as required., Active engagement with APM and other relevant external bodies as part of continuous development. Support the wider STEP PPM community via active contributions at STEP meetings and events, contributions at Community of Practice or conferences etc. We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success. UKIFS is committed to being accessible. Please email if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information. This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKIFS.


• Qualification or experience equivalent to degree in a scientific or engineering
• discipline.
• Experience and demonstrable ability to co-ordinate activities with multiple internal
• and external (sometimes very senior) partners.
• Experience in cross-partnership working - to enable the job holder to work effectively
• with key departments, who have a strong stake in this work - notably with the UKAEA
• comms and senior teams.
• Several years of experience of organising and delivering STEM outreach activities,
• with an ability to grasp complex technical issues and deliver them clearly.
• Demonstrable experience as a confident public speaker and presenter to a wide
• variety of differing audiences, from primary schools to U3A groups, university students
• to community events etc.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organisation skills.
• Excellent influencing skills, with senior external and internal partners (e.g. local politicians, council officials, senior staff in STEP, outreach and comms teams and OAS).
• Understanding of the social value opportunities and requirements relevant to large
• infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to prioritise tasks effectively.
• Good team player.
• Flexibility - willingness to multi-task and help others.
Desirable
• Experience in evaluating science communication activities.
• Prior knowledge of monitoring and delivering social value or capturing programme benefits in a complicated environment.
• Good knowledge of UKAEA programmes, activities, mission and strategic goals.
  
  The UK Government has established UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) 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. UKFE is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of the STEP prototype.
Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKFE, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Fusion Energy Ltd will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKIFS and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground breaking journey. As an employee of UKFE, you will benefit from:
• Outstandingdefined benefit pension scheme,details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporatebonus schemeup to7%and aRelocationallowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working optionsincluding family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programmeand trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leaveallowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range ofcareer development opportunities
• A vibrantculturecommitted to being fullyinclusive
A full list of our benefits can be found herehttps://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/ The salary for this role is £51,317 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension. This position is to be based at West Burton, Nottinghamshire and onsite working is expected for 3 days each week.