Originally named, Great British Nuclear, Great British Energy - Nuclear is an arm’s length body of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, dedicated to supporting the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies in Great Britain. We play a crucial role in advancing nuclear new build, ensuring the UK’s energy security and achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Great British Energy - Nuclear focuses on fostering innovation, facilitating investment, and coordinating efforts across the nuclear industry to build a resilient and sustainable energy future.
Great British Energy - Nuclear’s first step was to start the technology selection process for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in 2023. SMRs can potentially be quicker to deploy and less expensive to build than traditional nuclear power plants because they are smaller, have factory based modular manufacturing and more flexible deployment options. In June 2025, Great British Energy - Nuclear announced that Rolls-Royce SMR had been selected as the preferred bidder to build the UK’s first SMRs, following a technology selection process that began in 2023.
Great British Energy - Nuclear is aiming to deliver fast, based on a supportive and collaborative culture which values equality and diversity and creates an inclusive workplace.
As Assurance and Approvals Manager, you will play a pivotal role in helping GBE-N’s programmes and projects navigate complex assurance and approval requirements.
You will advise teams on the correct approval route through GBE-N, its Board, DESNZ and wider government, ensuring requirements are identified early and built into delivery plans. You will provide clear, trusted advice and constructive challenge to senior leaders, programme teams and proposal owners, ensuring that the required evidence, assurance and approvals are identified early and integrated into delivery plans.
Reporting to the Head of Programme Governance and Assurance, you will work across organisational boundaries, providing clear advice and constructive challenge to senior stakeholders and delivery teams.
Accountabilities & Responsibilities:
- Develop and lead approval strategies for GBE-N’s complex and strategically significant programmes, projects, business cases, procurements and major investment decisions.
- Determine and advise on approval routes, interpreting delegated authorities, government controls, risk, complexity and strategic significance to establish the appropriate route through GBE-N, its Board, DESNZ, HM Treasury, Cabinet Office and NISTA.
- Support the integrated assurance and approval plans for assigned proposals, aligning decision points, evidence requirements, project lifecycle gates, functional assurance and independent review activity.
- Provide clear, trusted advice and constructive challenge where the planned route, evidence, assurance or timetable is insufficient to support an informed decision.
- Support the planning and coordination of assurance activity, including developing review scopes, Terms of Reference, lines of enquiry, evidence requirements, review teams and delivery timetables.
- Assess approval readiness, ensuring submissions are complete, supported by the required evidence and assurance, and provide decision-makers with a transparent account of material risks, findings, limitations and conditions.
- Act as a senior interface with government stakeholders, building effective relationships with DESNZ, HM Treasury, NISTA and Cabinet Office to clarify expectations and resolve complex assurance or approval matters.
- Oversee assurance recommendations and approval conditions, ensuring actions are clearly owned, objectively evidenced and escalated where they could affect a material decision or delivery milestone.
- Provide strategic insight to senior leadership on the forward pipeline of approvals, assurance outcomes, emerging risks and matters requiring intervention.
- Promote continuous improvement in GBE-N’s assurance and approval capability, using lessons learned and recurring issues to improve processes, guidance and organisational understanding.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience required:
- Proven experience leading assurance, approvals, business-case or investment decision activity within a complex, highly regulated or government environment.
- Good knowledge of government approvals, delegated authority, business cases, major-project assurance and public-sector decision-making.
- Demonstrable experience developing assurance and approval strategies for complex, high-value or novel proposals.
- Strong professional judgement, with the ability to interpret ambiguous requirements and recommend credible, proportionate routes forward.
- Experience working with and influencing SROs, senior executives, delivery leaders and government stakeholders without relying on direct authority.
- Ability to provide constructive challenge and support teams where proposals are not sufficiently mature, evidenced or ready for decision.
- Good understanding of HM Treasury, DESNZ, Cabinet Office and NISTA requirements.
- Effective analytical, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
Qualifications
- A degree in project management, business administration or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- Professional Project management qualification e.g. Association for Project Management (APM) Project Management Qualification (PMQ) is desirable.
We recognise that candidates may not meet every requirement listed. If your experience is not an exact match but you believe you have the skills, knowledge and potential to succeed in the role, we encourage you to apply.
Please complete our short application form to apply for this role. If shortlisted, one of our Talent Attraction Leads will be in touch to discuss the position in more detail. Good luck with your application!
At GBE-N, we are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We value diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, including underrepresented groups. If you require any support or adjustments to help you with your application, please contact us at recruitment@greatbritishnuclear.uk, and we will be happy to provide assistance.