Band 3 Chemical Engineering Nuclear Safety Inspector

Job Purpose

As the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, our mission is vital to the nation’s safety and security. We protect society by securing safe operations at nuclear facilities across our nation.

This is an exciting role critical to the decarbonisation of the UK’s economy; our national defence; and the decommissioning of our nuclear legacy. A career with ONR will provide you with opportunity to lead and shape our society’s future use of nuclear technology.

As an inspector your job will be varied, and you are likely to undertake a range of roles across the sector; from regulating the construction of new nuclear build to the decommissioning of legacy facilities. Some inspectors concentrate on undertaking planned and reactive inspections on site, while others will assess safety submissions or manage discrete intervention projects. Additionally, there may be opportunities to conduct investigations, manage research projects and mentor and develop the next generation of inspectors.

As part of a team of chemical engineering specialist inspectors, you will be considering the process and chemical engineering issues and hazard associated with the design, construction, operations and decommissioning of a wide range of nuclear facilities. This will include civilian and defence facilities involved in:

• Fuel enrichment and fuel production
• Reactor design and operation
• Decommissioning
• Waste treatment
• Long-term storage and disposal of waste and spent fuel

You will be required to make expert judgements on optioneering, unit operations, operational parameters and set points, as well as radioactive, radiolytic and chemical hazards and interactions. Detailed knowledge of spent fuel and nuclear material treatment processes, including reprocessing and the conditioning of spent fuels and wastes for disposal, would be desirable.

None currently, however, there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.

This post may be undertaken from the closest ONR office (Bootle, Cheltenham, or London).

You may be eligible for relocation package up to £15,000. This post requires some travel including overnight stays predominantly across the United Kingdom and occasionally abroad. 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.

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.

Our colleagues are from all walks of life with varied personal experiences and career journeys into ONR. We want the best people for our roles. As an inclusive employer we value individuals’ contributions, regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion, or belief. Our values ‘supportive, open-mindedness, fairness and accountability’ are central to this. We invest in our people to build capability, resilience, and promote wellbeing in our great teams, underpinned by our inherent focus on inclusion and excellence.

The successful candidate must hold or can achieve and retain National Security Vetting clearance at SC level.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We will consider…