Research jobs in United Kingdom

• Salary: £42,858 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
• Division: UKIFS - Strategy and Investment
• Site Location: West Burton, Nottinghamshire
• Confirmed Grade: Level 4
• Department: UKIFS - Business Strategy

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 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 UKIFS, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions 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 UKIFS, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays.
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive.

The salary for this role is £42,858 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + 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.

The closing date for this advert is set for the 20th of January 2026.

As our Benefit Data Management Specialist, you will lead the benefit related data management and analysis portfolio as part of a growing team which develops and delivers the benefits, monitoring and evaluation (BM&E) activities across STEP. This is an exciting time to join UKIFS, and your role will be important in justifying continued funding of the STEP programme. You will play a key role in the central Business Strategy team supporting the enhancement of our quantitative data and its management, working closely with colleagues across the whole of UKIFS. You will enable UKIFS to drive data driven decision-making across the programme, advancing our Benefits Realisation, and Monitoring and Evaluation activities.

UKIFS, is a wholly‑owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority and was recently stood‑up (in Nov 2024). We are now in a stage of implementing new systems and processes that support and drive the management of our benefits data. You will play a leading role working alongside the UKIFS Programme Team, designing and implementing new processes and systems to collect and oversee the depth and breadth of UKIFS benefits data. You will help us drive through the latest techniques; creating new data flows and visualisations, launching new processes and systems, and aiming to continuously improve the quality of the benefits data we rely on to justify continued funding of the programme. Your work will play a pivotal role in the ultimate development of a robust socio‑economic evidence‑base to demonstrate the value for money and return on investment of STEP; furthering the goals of the UK Fusion Strategy.

Accountability 1:

Co‑development and implementation of data systems and processes

• Design and implement our updated data management processes to support effective Benefits Realisation and Monitoring and Evaluation activities.
• Collaborate with colleagues across UKIFS and our Whole Plant Partners to ensure that the implementation of our data management processes seamlessly integrates input from all relevant sources across our staff network.
• Ensure new data systems, tools and platforms are designed to maximise UKIFS’s insight; providing robust and comprehensive quantitative data for BM&E purposes.
• Support the development of data best practice, including Data Governance and Data management policies as a subject matter expert.

Accountability 2:

Lead the Management of data systems and processes

• Run our updated data management processes to support effective Benefits Realisation and Monitoring and Evaluation activities.
• Collaborate with colleagues across UKIFS and our Whole Plant Partners to ensure that our data management processes remain fit for purpose to gather and integrate input from all relevant sources across our network.
• Ensure new data systems, tools and platforms in operation maximise UKIFS’s insight; providing robust and comprehensive quantitative data for BM&E purposes, continuously improving data collection and its management over time.
• Follow data best practice, including complying with Data Governance and Data management policies. Ensure our data is robust and enables UKIFS to accurately track the impact of the programme to the UK.
• Ensure our quantitative data is regularly updated, allowing benefit data‑driven decision making at all levels of the programme, and enabling efficient and regular Benefits Reporting to the UK Gov. as is required of STEP as one of the UK’s Major Programmes.

Accountability 3:

Deliver Impactful Data‑driven Products

• Lead benefit data visualisation, working closely with colleagues in UKIFS Programme Team, to use the latest interactive data visualisation tools and techniques, structuring and managing our quantitative benefit data to provide ever greater insight on the benefits of the STEP programme.
• Collaborate with Key‑Stakeholders across and alongside the STEP programme who use and/or provide data, ensuring that raw data is transformed into products that clearly communicate the STEP benefits delivered. This would include for example, internally; UKIFS Finance, Programme Management, Commercial and Technical Teams, and externally; UK Gov departments, Whole Plant Partners and STEP suppliers.
• Use latest analysis techniques to quickly and accurately analyse data, running regular analysis and evaluations as required across the STEP programme – providing the data that forms the basis of Evaluation reports and briefings which communicate the Socio‑Economic Impact of STEP.
• Respond to ad‑hoc request for data views relating to policy, key thematic areas, for example the UK Government Spending Review or for key Business Cases in close collaboration with DESNZ colleagues.

Accountability 4:

Build a Strong Network

• Provide necessary support and expert advice to the Benefits and Impact Specialist. Build understanding of BM&E data and ensure delivery of high‑quality analysis for Governmental assurance and approval processes.
• Provide training, coaching, and mentoring across UKIFS to ensure the continued improvement in data systems and data management across the organisation and our Whole Plant Partners (WPP’s) and key suppliers.
• Build relationships across our key‑stakeholders as required including UKAEA, WPP’s and relevant HMG teams to ensure effective co‑ordination and collaboration on data management and visualisation.

Accountability 5:

Embody a Leadership Mindset

• Regardless of your formal position, you embody a leadership mindset and a set of leadership behaviours. You embrace and embody our organization's culture, values, and mission in all aspects of your work.
• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values.
• Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace, valuing diversity, and promoting teamwork.
• Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organization's values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organizational goals.

• A relevant degree or equivalent work experience in data management, statistics or any numerate subject such as STEM.
• Experience of visualising and analysing large /complex or imperfect data sets, using visualisation tools and techniques to maximise the insight for various different audiences and purposes.
• Familiarity with a range of statistical and data management methodologies and techniques.
• Practical knowledge of data quality, validation and verification.
• Technical skills with experience of using a range of different techniques to deliver data analysis such as best‑practice spreadsheet models and knowledge of R and Python.
• Ability to quickly respond to changing demands and priorities, with the confidence to take quick decisions without comprising the quality of work.

Beneficial:

• Experience of managing primary and secondary data and providing analytical support in a relevant policy, government, or research and innovation context.
• Experience of working on large scale complex transformative programmes and/or an interest in fusion industry or science & engineering programmes.
• Experience of working in a multi‑disciplinary environment collaboratively with colleagues such as in finance, policy, engineering, scientific, commercial, project delivery, legal and senior leadership teams.

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 [email protected] 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.

As we work towards our mission and goals, guided by our principles, STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work:

• We championsafety
• We allmatter
• We act asone
• We arepioneering
• Wedeliver

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.