Robotics Economist / Robonomicist
UKAEA Culham and UKAEA Cumbria, Culham and Cumbria, United Kingdom
Full-time
Department: RACE Operations
Salary: £53,017 to £56,555 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
Confirmed Grade: Level 6
Site Location: UKAEA Cumbria or UKAEA Culham

Company Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in strategically contributing to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow's fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid.

RACE, the UKAEA’s centre for Remote Applications in Challenging Environments and robotics, is a maturing business unit within UKAEA which delivers against UKAEA’s mission and goals. RACE is involved in all UKAEA’s major fusion projects and has a diverse portfolio of external engagement including international collaborations. Remote maintenance is a cost driver for fusion as it affects both the design/cost of the plant, the availability/cost of operations and the end-of-life costs including decommissioning and waste.

As we work towards our mission and goals, UKAEA has devised values that capture the spirit of how we work. These values include being: Innovative, Committed, Trusted and Collaborative.

Job Description

Who are we looking for?

As a Robonomicist you could potentially work across the NDA estate and UKAEA as well as adjacent sectors to determine the economic impact of robotics and AI versus human entry into decommissioning and other harsh environments.

What will you be responsible for?

In this role you will:

- provide expertise for the economic analysis of remote / robot deployments into harsh environments;
- provide expertise for hardware costs, labour costs, quantification of benefit, development of IRR models;
- be influential in the communication of economic benefits within the UKAEA, and to other Government departments and public bodies including HM Treasury;
- have a focus on delivery, be business minded and able and willing to work within numerous teams.

You will inform the development of business cases taking responsibility for the economic case with the standard 5 case model.

Additional information:

Located at either Culham or Cumbria with travel to Stakeholder sites across the UK as required.

Qualifications

Essential skills, experience and competence required

- Master’s degree in economics or equivalent qualification and experience.
- Advanced research skills with high attention to detail able to analyse data to create forecasts.
- Demonstrable experience working as an applied economist in addition to qualifications.
- Good quantitative skills with a high level of technical numeracy.
- Ability to engage over a wide range of technical areas.
- Ability to develop economic aspects of strategic business cases.
- Verbal and written communication skills able to communicate technical and complex information in a non-technical manner.
- Collaborative and adept at working as part of a team.
- Proven ability to work with initiative.
- Well organised and capable of managing to deadlines and priorities.

Desirable skills, experience and competence

- Experience in the areas of regulatory economics, development economics or industrial organisation.
- A good working knowledge of other areas of economics / commercial background.
- Experience working in regulated sectors.

Additional Information

What we offer

Our comprehensive benefits package includes a vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive, an Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, Flexible working options including family friendly policies, Emergency paid leave, Generous annual leave allowance (30.5 days) increased with length of service, wide range of career development opportunities, outstanding defined benefit pension scheme; Corporate bonus scheme and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly from individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities and women. The Executive Team with support from our ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting EDI and taking steps to increase the diversity of our people through reinforcing best practice in recruitment and selection, and revaluating approaches where it is clear we can remove barriers to success.

Please be advised that this vacancy is due to close on 01/12/2022. We may close earlier than this date if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.

Please note all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Disclosure Certificate application as part of their clearance - The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks will show the details of all current criminal convictions or will confirm that there are no such convictions.

Note for applicants who are applying for employment with UKAEA either from outside the United Kingdom or who have spent time outside the United Kingdom in the last five years. Please visit the UK Government website. If the country you are resident in or have resided in is not listed on this website or that the UK Government is not aware of how to obtain a criminal records check from that state then we are unable to process your application.