About the job

Job summary

ONR is not a Civil Service department, however, we are an arms length body of Department of Work and Pensions.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation is the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, with the legal authority to regulate nuclear safety, security and conventional health and safety at 36 licensed nuclear sites in Great Britain (GB). This includes the existing fleet of operating reactors, fuel cycle facilities, waste management and decommissioning sites, as well as licensed defence sites, together with the regulation of the design and construction of new nuclear facilities.

ONR also regulates the transport of nuclear and radioactive materials by road, rail and

inland waterways, and as of January 2021 operates the UK’s State System of Accountancy for and Control of Nuclear Materials (SSAC) and a domestic safeguards regime.

As part of its 2025 strategy ONR is committed to being a modern and transparent regulator, delivering trusted outcomes and value. We are making substantial investments in new digital technologies and skills to enhance our regulatory processes and management of information

Job description

A vacancy has arisen in the Nuclear Internal Hazards and Site Safety specialism
regulating site health and safety. Working in close cooperation with colleagues 
across the full range of ONR's Divisions and core purposes (including nuclear 
safety, transport, safeguards, and security), this provides an opportunity to gain the 
broadest possible insight and to make valuable contributions to the work of ONR 
across its regulatory functions

Principal Responsibilities
The post holder will have a key role in delivering ONR's strategy and mission in the 
following areas of responsibility: 

Working within the ONR divisional structure, undertake the regulation of site health 
and safety at nuclear licensed and associated sites which fall to ONR, in accordance 
with ONR’s Regulatory Strategy and divisional intervention plans.

• Contribute to delivering ONR Divisions’ proactive inspection workplan, by 
leading and participating in multi-disciplinary interventions. 

• Provide specialist technical/regulatory advice to ONR Divisions on nuclear 
site health and safety topics.

• Undertake assessment of site health and safety arrangements and risk 
controls at ONR enforced nuclear sites. 

• Investigation of selected incidents and reported workplace concerns, liaising 
with other ONR inspectors as appropriate.

• Considering and recommending proportionate regulatory action to secure 
compliance with the law.

• Review and assess plans and designs for new nuclear construction, 
modifications to existing facilities or examining arrangements during 
decommissioning. 

• Liaising and collaborating with HSE and other statutory authorities as 
required on matters of mutual interest.

• Provide support and advice for other ONR inspectors and managers on site 
health and safety matters including investigation and enforcement matters 
where appropriate.

• Engage with licensees/duty holders at all levels, including corporately and 
maintain and improve links with industry groups/bodies, developing ONR's 
corporate knowledge of nuclear duty holders.

• Contribute to regulatory support work which ranges from maintenance of 
specialism governance arrangements including knowledge management to 
the development and maintenance of operational policy, operating 
instructions, processes, and procedures.

• Mentoring and support of colleagues, sharing and developing knowledge 
and skills within the specialism. 

Line Management Responsibilities
• None currently, however, at this level there could be an expectation to manage 
staff in the future.

Person specification

Location / Travel

This post may be undertaken from a base at any one of ONR’s office locations (Bootle, Cheltenham or London).

ONR operates hybrid working (working in the office and or at home) as part of our flexible working policy.  There is an expectation that everyone will spend time in the office on a regular basis, recognising that some work is better done face to face. Managers will work with their teams on what works best to meet individual, team, business and organisational needs to enable collaboration, as well as balancing personal choice and wellbeing.

The successful applicant requires a full driving licence which permits the holder to drive in the UK unless reasonable adjustments can be made under the Equality Act

2010.

This post requires some travel including overnight stays predominantly across the United Kingdom and occasionally abroad, again subject to COVID restrictions.

Security Clearance

Security Vetting clearance at SC level

ONR is committed to being an inclusive employer and we welcome and encourage applications from all applicants. We will make reasonable adjustments and adaptations to ensure the recruitment process is inclusive and barrier-free. For example, providing job descriptions in alternative formats, and providing communication support and accessible venues. If you would like to discuss how we can support you, please contact (ONR.Human-Resources@onr.gov.uk / 07766380271 / 07786541468 / 07786554172 / 07823741047) who will be able to provide further information and discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process. We will offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Applicants also have the choice to opt into our Guaranteed Interview Scheme when completing their application where we will offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

ONR recognises it has a role to play in helping those leaving the Armed Forces (veterans) and have introduced a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for veterans. This is part of a government initiative known as the ‘Great Place to Work for veterans. Veterans are officially defined as anyone who has served for at least one day in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve). All veterans who meet the minimum criteria for a role will be invited to interview and they have the choice to opt into this scheme when completing their application. To be eligible to apply for roles under the initiative, veterans must meet certain eligibility criteria below;

• have served for at least one year in Her Majesty's Armed Forces (as a Regular or Reserve)
• be in transition from, or ceased to be a member of, Her Majesty’s Armed Forces; and
• not already be employed by ONR

Essential Qualifications

We expect all Nuclear Site Health and Safety inspectors to have: 

• A good honours degree (or equivalent), preferably in a STEM subject and a 
postgraduate diploma or other specialist vocational qualification in occupational 
health and safety. 

• Chartered membership of a relevant professional institution, or the ability to 
demonstrate performance and/or experience at an equivalent professional 
level.

• A full driving license that permits you to drive in the UK. However, ONR is 
willing to consider any proposals put forward by disabled applicants that would 
allow them to do the job by any other means.

Essential Job-Related Expertise 
• Experience of leading or managing site health and safety in large civil 
engineering projects including the application of Construction (Design and 
Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM), or equivalent.

• The ability to assess unfamiliar scenarios by applying first principles derived 
from a sound technical background to identify appropriate and proportionate 
risk control measures.

• Experience of investigating a range of health and safety incidents to establish 
contributory factors and root causes. 

• Experience of complex health and safety management systems. 

• Experience of identifying capability requirements, within self and others 
needed to deliver future team objectives and support teams/individuals to 
succeed in delivering to meet those needs. 

• A proven track record of self-starting and working to a consistently high 
standard with minimal supervision. 

In addition to the technical experience, candidates should have: 
• Proven effective judgement and decision-making skills, applying logical 
reasoning, understanding strategic impact, and making effective and 
proportionate risk-based recommendations 

• Good team working and communication skills to help us achieve our 
objectives. 

• Demonstrable strong influencing skills and an ability to persuade by working 
collaboratively and flexibly with all stakeholders, showing appropriate 
interpersonal sensitivity, self-awareness, and assertiveness. 

• Proven experience of balancing challenging and conflicting priorities, with 
resilience to flex in order to meet business needs. 

• Evidence of effective and professional behaviours throughout delivery of roles. 

• Confidence in the use of modern Microsoft based IT tools and applications. 

This is a role at the heart of which is the ability to forge and maintain effective working 
relationships with large duty holders, other regulators, and staff in ONR's regulatory 
division and permissioning regime. 

Desirable Skills and Experience 

• Experience of applying the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 
2015 (COMAH)

• Experience in health & safety policy development. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,019, Office for Nuclear Regulation contributes £27 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Please submit your application through the recruitment portal on the ONR website directly by clicking onto the link above apply at advertisers site where you can also download full job description.

For further information about this vacancy please contact Diego Lisbona (Professional 
Lead – Nuclear Internal Hazards and Site Safety) - diego.lisbona@onr.gov.uk

A relocation package may be available. ONR offers occupational maternity pay, the provision of shared parental leave, and flexible working.

How to Apply

Please submit your application through the recruitment portal. 

This advert will remain open until we have filled the advertised role. We reserve the  right to withdraw this advert at any time.

Your application should include: 

• CV to include a full record of your education and professional qualifications and 
a full employment history 

• A suitability statement highlighting the ‘essential skills and experience’ (please 
provide specific evidence/examples where possible up to a maximum of 350 
words relating to each essential criteria) – you will be prompted to copy and 
paste your statement into our online portal 

• If you have any experience under ‘desirable skills and experience,’ please also 
highlight these within your statement

Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria for the role which  are detailed on the job description, if you are shortlisted you will be invited to a technical and competency-based interview. We will offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.