Deputy Program Manager (ITER Control and Integrated Commissioning)

Deputy Program Manager (ITER Control and Integrated Commissioning)

ITER - International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor

Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France

Overview

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity at the heart of an ambitious fusion energy project?

Join us as a Deputy Program Manager where your goals will include:

• Provide strategic leadership for the overall management for ITER’s integrated control system architecture (CODAC), ensuring alignment with project objectives, safety standards, and operational readiness across the entire research infrastructure;
• Enabling achievement of the objectives of the Control and Integrated Commissioning Program (CIC) in terms of scope, cost and schedule including quality and performance, from design, procurement, assembly, installation of ITER control systems, and commissioning activities;
• Ensuring sufficient support in overseeing the project deliverables engineering, coordination, planning, and implementation, with a particular focus on Tokamak and plasma control and protection systems delivery and testing.

The Control and Integrated Commissioning Program (CIC), under the leadership of the ITER Construction Project Head is responsible for the definition and execution of the Tokamak integrated commissioning, through to the delivery of the overall supervision and control system, including the conventional, central interlock, nuclear safety and plasma control as well as the scientific data and computing centre for ITER.

Anticipating the readiness of the Tokamak commissioning, CIC program is also in charge of coordinating and supervising the plant systems’ commissioning and pre-operation, including the management of the operation from the main control room.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

• Defines and manages the CODAC architecture and implementation plan, including the leading and driving the definition of the ITER machine’s interlock, protection and operation strategy and its high-level control definition, in close collaboration with the program manager and technical units;
• Drives and monitors the delivery of the network and computer infrastructure required for the integrated control system;
• Manages the overall control system obsolescence mitigation strategy;
• Supports the Program Manager in exercising strategic vision and setting major priorities for the Program from an engineering perspective in close collaboration with the Engineering Services Department (ESD);
• Actively fosters integration between the Iter Organization (IO) and Members’ Domestic Agencies (DAs) in the spirit of “one project – one team”;
• Supports the Program Manager in leading the technical part of the scope which belongs to the program and its 5 projects, to achieve the construction of the ITER facility up to and including first plasma commissioning in accordance with the ITER Project Specifications and Requirements.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participates in the Preparation of the ITER integrated commissioning;
• Leads the system commissioning and operation of the integrated control system;
• Ensures the on-time delivery of the central control systems for conventional control, machine protection, nuclear and occupational safety;
• Provides guidance and expertise during the design of in-kind plant control systems to allow later integration in the central system;
• Maintains and improves all aspects of the integrated control system;
• Monitors and directs the delivery and operation of the scientific computing and data centre;
• Contributes to making sure that all the activities concerned are carried out in accordance with ITER Nuclear Safety, Environment Protection and the Occupational & Health Safety standards;
• Analyzes and alerts the Program Manager and responds to any issues that would jeopardize the on-time accomplishment of major construction schedule milestones, scope, or impact to quality and nuclear safety requirements, while implementing appropriate risk mitigation strategies for the project in a pragmatic and proactive manner.

Please note that job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, and the staff member may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above primary responsibilities.

Experience & Competencies

Essential:

• Extensive experience in the overall architecture, design, implementation, and commissioning of a nuclear fusion device CODAC (control command and data acquisition) system;
• Knowledge of magnetic confinement fusion devices and related machine protection systems;
• Technical project management in nuclear construction with multi-national collaboration, in-kind procurement, planning, measuring progress, managing risks and costs, and reporting on progress to manage programs or initiatives within the constraints of human and financial constraints;
• Inclusive leadership (maintaining a healthy working environment), with a high level of headship for motivating and developing staff.

Desirable:

• Creating an inclusive environment that promotes cross-functional analysis and effective decision making so that leaders are empowered to place decision making at the most appropriate level;
• Building strong partnerships and working collaboratively positively with all Project stakeholders, being force of proposal & solutions oriented to reach consensus applied to large nuclear, fusion, fission or highly technical projects in compliance with quality, safety, security and technical applicable standards;
• Coordinating and overseeing complex construction projects from design to operation phases while providing effective leadership in management structures in similar international or intergovernmental settings;
• High-level strategic negotiations and influencing abilities with multi-national internal and external partners, including the ability and willingness to solicit and consider varying inputs and opinions and make appropriate recommendations/tough decisions aligned with the ITER project’s objectives;
• Leading Quality Control (QC) within a heavily regulated nuclear environment would be beneficial;
• Driving a project culture that underpins and maintains safe and secure working conditions and enforces the highest standard of safe, healthy, and secure work practice;
• Ability to obtain and maintain French Security clearance only for specific Programs.

Qualifications

Essential:

• At least master’s degree or equivalent in Engineering, Control and/or nuclear physics;
• The required education degree(s) may be substituted by extensive professional experience involving similar work responsibilities and/or additional training certificates in relevant domains.