Program Manager - Reactor (f/m/d)
On-siteDarmstadt, Hesse, Germany or Darmstadt, Indiana, United States
Job Summary
Plan and track reactor department projects, translating strategic goals into tasks, schedules, and milestones for long-horizon programs like the fusion island wall design. Track budget and personnel capacity to ensure efficient resource allocation while maintaining project plans in Jira, Jira Big Picture, and Confluence. Own risk and change management by maintaining risk registers and driving mitigation planning in a safety-critical environment. Serve as the central point of contact for interfacing with program management, finance, suppliers, and regulatory bodies, ensuring adherence to radiation safety protocols and nuclear regulatory requirements. Coordinate appointments, meetings, and safety reviews, including follow-up on decisions and action items.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree or higher in nuclear engineering, physics, or a related field
- PhD
- Deep experience in R&D and engineering-heavy project management and coordination
- experience within experimental physics or nuclear energy research environments
- Strong communication, administrative, and personal time-management skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and German
- broad, cross-functional skill set
- Ability to present complex scientific content clearly, precisely, and in a manner tailored to the target audience—including non-technical stakeholders and regulatory bodies
- Familiarity with Jira, Jira Big Picture, and Confluence (or similar tools)
- Demonstrated ability to manage high-stakes, safety-critical programs with rigorous risk and change management practices
- Tracking cost, schedule, and scope performance (Earned Value Management – EVM)
- Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) creation and control
- Agile/hybrid methodologies where relevant (e.g., for R&D phases)
- Familiarity with nuclear safety case development and safety justification processes
- Understanding of Plant lifecycle: concept → FEED → detailed design → procurement → construction → commissioning
Desired Qualifications
- Successes built around breakthroughs
- Specialization in fusion-relevant disciplines
- Direct experience working in or managing programs within controlled environments, including radiation-controlled areas
- Familiarity with nuclear regulatory frameworks or licensing processes (or a radiation protection regulator)
- IPMA or PMI certification
- familiarity with agile and hybrid project management methods
- Experience interfacing with government funding bodies or public research programs
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.