Job Description

Commissioning Manager - ContractLocation: Berkshire
Industry: Nuclear / Defence Infrastructure

Role Overview
An opportunity is available for an experienced Commissioning Manager to support a major, high-security infrastructure programme within the nuclear defence sector. The role sits within a complex construction environment and will play a key part in bringing specialist plant, systems, and building services safely into operation.
This position offers exposure to a technically demanding project where robust commissioning governance, stakeholder coordination, and compliance with regulatory requirements are critical to success.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide guidance on safe systems of work relating to commissioning and testing activities.
• Take responsibility for the planning, coordination, and delivery of commissioning work packages within a large, multi-discipline programme.
• Ensure commissioning activities align with nuclear regulatory requirements, including recognised commissioning procedures and ONR Licence Condition 21.
• Support the development and implementation of the overall commissioning approach and strategy for the project.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and acceptance of supplier test plans, procedures, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate and manage commissioning and testing activities with equipment and system suppliers.
• Integrate commissioning activities, dependencies, and prerequisites into the master project schedule.
• Contribute to construction planning to enable a phased handover of systems in support of commissioning.
• Monitor and report progress against commissioning prerequisites and supplier delivery.
• Attend and witness Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) as required.
• Manage and resolve test failures and non-conformances, ensuring appropriate close-out.
• Capture and communicate lessons learned through formal reports and presentations.
• Coordinate supplier commissioning activities with parallel testing, installation, and completion works.
• Implement and manage commissioning stakeholder engagement plans.
• Ensure consistent application of approved procedures and safety controls across all commissioning activities.
• Produce and present regular commissioning status updates to key stakeholders.
• Manage changes impacting commissioning programmes, resources, and forecasts.
• Lead and chair commissioning-related reviews, including design, procedure, and change reviews.

• Extensive experience delivering commissioning activities for large, complex facilities, including leadership of commissioning teams.
• Demonstrable success working on major projects within defence or similarly regulated technical environments.
• Strong ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with clients, contractors, and suppliers.
• Sound understanding and practical application of commissioning principles and methodologies.
• Comfortable working independently while contributing effectively within a wider project team.
• Clear, confident communicator with strong organisational capability.
• Key behavioural attributes include leadership, adaptability, self-drive, collaborative working, and sound judgement.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Holds a full UK driving licence.

• Degree-educated or equivalent professional experience.

• Holds Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) clearance, or is prepared to undergo the necessary clearance process.