Nuclear Fuel Production, Sr Manager

X-Energy • Oak Ridge, TN

17h • Onsite

About The Position

This senior leadership role is accountable for directing all aspects of nuclear fuel production operations to achieve output on time, within budget, and to exacting technical, quality, and safety specifications. The Senior Manager oversees end‑to‑end production performance, including strategic planning, operational excellence, technical and process innovation, and sustained improvement in efficiency, yield, and cost. The role partners closely with engineering, quality, safety, maintenance, and supply chain leadership to drive integrated operational performance and regulatory compliance across the production organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in engineering, operations management, or related discipline preferred.
• Minimum of 10–12 years of manufacturing or production experience in nuclear or other highly regulated industries (chemical, aerospace, or pharmaceutical), including 5+ years in senior leadership positions with measurable operational results.
• Minimum of 4 years experience in the nuclear industry.
• Demonstrated success leading large, multi‑disciplinary teams in plant operations, production planning, or process improvement.
• Proven experience managing or supporting plant startup, commissioning, or equipment modernization efforts.
• Advanced expertise in production systems, quality and process control, Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, and safety programs.
• Strong proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and advanced analytics or performance reporting tools.
• Demonstrated ability to manage operational budgets, implement cost‑reduction initiatives, and improve production KPIs year over year.
• Commitment to fostering a nuclear safety culture and sustaining compliance with federal and state regulatory standards.
• Willingness to engage regularly in on‑site operations within an active production environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for plant operations, establishing objectives, performance standards, and resource plans to meet corporate production and delivery targets.
• Oversee production flow from material input to finished output, ensuring synchronization among production, quality, engineering, maintenance, procurement, and logistics to deliver nuclear fuel safely, on schedule, and within cost parameters.
• Lead performance management through monitoring key operational metrics (KPI dashboards covering yield, quality, downtime, and schedule adherence) to identify improvement opportunities and drive data‑based decisions.
• Serve as the operations liaison for Material Control & Accountability (MC&A) processes, ensuring inventory and nuclear material balance standards are met on required cycles.
• Advance a culture of continuous improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, and Conduct of Operations methodologies—standardizing best practices and embedding operational discipline.
• Direct production scheduling using ERP/MRP tools to optimize workforce and equipment utilization and resource planning across multiple time horizons (daily to annual).
• Drive technology adoption and automation in collaboration with Engineering, R&D, and IT to enhance process stability, safety, and efficiency.
• Reinforce nuclear safety culture and adherence to all Safety and Health programs, ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, and NRC requirements through visible leadership engagement and recurring staff training.
• Build and develop high‑performing teams by setting clear goals, coaching leaders and operators, evaluating performance, and creating advancement pathways to grow technical and leadership capability.
• Uphold rigorous quality assurance standards, ensuring procedural compliance, timely response to nonconformances, and integration of corrective/preventive actions into operations.
• Oversee staffing and scheduling strategies to balance workload, maintain operator qualifications, and reduce downtime and yield loss.
• Partner with the Plant Manager and Finance to develop capital and operational budgets, identify cost‑savings targets, and manage departmental financial performance.
• Sponsor continuous improvement projects, 5S initiatives, and process standardization programs to drive measurable improvements in efficiency, waste reduction, and throughput.
• Serve as a key stakeholder in SOP development and maintenance, ensuring alignment with regulatory and license requirements.
• Identify operational and technical risks; design and execute mitigation plans aligned with enterprise risk management frameworks.
• Provide recurring reports and executive updates communicating operational performance, progress toward goals, and strategic improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate across departments to sustain long-term production readiness, implement lifecycle equipment strategies, and ensure compliance with all plant license and permit conditions.
• Lead by example in professionalism, integrity, and accountability, setting the tone for a culture of safety, performance, and operational excellence.
• Maintain professional demeanor and behavior at all times in all forms of communication.
• Perform other duties as assigned by manager.

Benefits

• X Energy, LLC offers a robust benefits package that includes a 401K plan with an employer match, Medical/Dental /Vision Insurance, Life and Disability Insurance, Paid Time Off, and a Tuition Reimbursement/Professional Development policy that supports the continuing education of our employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees