Construction Operations, Compliance and SQEP Lead

Job title: Construction Operations, Compliance & SQEP Lead
Job Type: Permanent
Start date: ASAP
Rate: Market Led
Location: Cumbria
Hours of work: 40 Hours Per Week

The Role:
Purpose of the Construction Operations, Compliance & SQEP Lead role is to lead construction operations across the frameworks, ensuring work is delivered safely, effectively and in accordance with applicable regulatory, contractual and site requirements. The role also ensures that everyone involved in delivery, from site operatives to technical and professional staff, is demonstrably competent to undertake their responsibilities.

This is a construction delivery leadership role, focused on operational performance, compliance and workforce competence. Reporting to the Head of Construction, it provides consistent operational oversight across the frameworks and ensures effective construction management and delivery standards.

The role is not a quality management position. The Head of SHEQ retains ownership of standards, the quality management system and independent assurance, while this role ensures those requirements are implemented and embedded within day-to-day construction operations.

Working closely with framework leadership, project teams, engineering, commercial and client representatives, the role supports the safe and successful delivery of nuclear infrastructure, EPCM and decommissioning projects.

Roles and Responsibilities:
Lead construction operations across the frameworks, establishing consistent standards for workface management, supervision, work sequencing, shift handovers and operational delivery.

Set and enforce construction operating standards, including pre-job briefs, permit discipline, control of work, housekeeping, foreign material exclusion and safe systems of work.

Manage operational interfaces with site and plant operations, ensuring construction activities align with access requirements, isolations, outage windows and site arrangements.

Oversee operational conformance and quality control, including inspection and test plans, hold points, non-conformances, concessions, deviations and corrective actions.

Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, CDM and site requirements, maintaining compliance registers, evidence and audit readiness.

Support safety-case compliance by ensuring work methods, equipment, operating practices and workforce competence align with approved safety-case assumptions, escalating concerns to SHEQ.

Own and maintain the SQEP framework for craft, supervisory and professional roles, including competence standards, assessments, authorisations, evidence, revalidation and withdrawal of competence.

Lead training, development and competence assessment, including nuclear safety training, apprenticeships, professional development and progression into competent, authorised roles.

Lead operational assurance, audit responses and mobilisation readiness, ensuring operating arrangements, compliance standards and workforce competence are established before work commences.

Build and lead the Construction Operations, Compliance & SQEP function, developing capability and succession, and reporting operational performance, compliance, audit findings and competence to the Head of Construction and Framework Director.

Candidates Essential Experience/Qualifications Requirements:
* Degree or equivalent qualification in engineering, construction management or a related discipline, supported by chartered status or equivalent professional recognition.
* Significant experience leading construction operations within a nuclear-licensed environment, with a strong background in site delivery, construction management or operational leadership.
* Proven experience managing SQEP frameworks across both craft and professional disciplines, including competence assessment, authorisation, professional registration and revalidation.
* Working knowledge of ISO 19443 and ISO 9001, including their practical application through graded approaches, inspection and test plans and hold-point controls.
* Experience working within live nuclear facilities, including permit-to-work systems, access arrangements and interfaces with plant operations.
* Understanding of safety-case requirements and their application to construction activities, including evidence requirements, change assessment and operational compliance.
* Experience engaging with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) or equivalent regulatory bodies, including inspections, audits and assurance activities.
* Proven ability to establish and develop operational, compliance and competence functions across multiple contracts or sites.
* Strong workface presence and credibility, with the ability to engage directly with construction teams, supervisors and operational personnel.
* Detailed knowledge of nuclear site operating arrangements, including permit-to-work systems, access controls, licence conditions and facility requirements.

Please note for this role Security Vetting will be required, all candidates MUST be eligible to obtain or ideally already hold.

Interested in this position? please click "apply now"

We try to respond to all applicants, but sometimes this is not possible due to high volumes of applications; if you have not heard from us within 14 days, regrettably it means you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Company information:
This is a Permanent vacancy and is being advertised by Rullion Ltd
Since 1978, Rullion has been securing exceptional candidates for a range of clients; from large well-known brands, to SMEs and start-ups. As a family-owned business, Rullion's approach is credible and honest, focused on building long-lasting relationships with both clients and candidates.

Rullion is a forward-thinking recruitment company that specialises in providing a wide range of talent consultancy services to a diverse client base; from small start-ups to large household names.
We celebrate and support diversity and are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for both employees and applicants.