Band 3 Nuclear Safety Inspector

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 Purpose**

Radiological protection in ONR is about ensuring that workers and members of the public are adequately protected from the risk posed by ionising radiation arising on the wide range of UK nuclear sites and during the transport of radioactive materials; risks that many in society care deeply about. Our team of experienced radiological protection specialists assess duty holders’ safety cases and risk assessments to ensure that plant is designed, constructed, operated, maintained, and decommissioned in such a way that exposure to ionising radiation is kept as low as reasonably practicable and within statutory dose limits.

Radiological protection specialists in ONR are also expected to support and, in due course, lead specialist assessment of duty holders’ arrangements against the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17), the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR19), and other legislation relevant to radiological protection.

In terms of protecting the public, our radiological protection specialists might well find a role in assessing the adequacy of on-site and off-site emergency arrangements as well as supporting ONR's own arrangements for responding to nuclear or radiological emergencies.

Extensive training will be provided on the legal and regulatory aspects of the role, along with opportunities to continue to develop the expand and deepen knowledge in the specialist area and on a range of nuclear technologies.

As experience of regulating nuclear safety increases, all inspectors are given the opportunity to progress and potentially achieve promotion.

Nuclear Inspectors are expected to be capable of undertaking a variety of roles, which for this particular vacancy may be considered as:

- Assessing technical safety cases.
- Influencing safety improvements.
- Developing strategic approaches to secure high standards in the industry.
- Managing nuclear research contracts.
- Inspecting sites.
- Enforcing the law.
- Investigating incidents.
- Participating in emergency exercises.

The role of a Nuclear Inspector is varied, and you are likely to undertake a range of duties during your career. Some Inspectors concentrate on undertaking planned and reactive inspections on site, while others will mainly assess safety submissions or manage discrete intervention projects. The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders internally and externally both verbally and in writing is an essential attribute.

The focus is on working as part of multi-disciplinary teams to ensure compliance with the law, assure the public and improve safety standards. When Inspectors find shortcomings in compliance, they initially provide advice but may take formal enforcement action if appropriate. The powers available to inspectors enable them to serve Enforcement Notices and ultimately initiate prosecutions. There is also a wide range of powers available under nuclear license conditions.

Our inspectors come from a variety of mainly nuclear or high-hazard backgrounds, and all demonstrate composure when working at pace whilst undertaking an exacting and rewarding job in the public sector.

Specific job-related expertise required alongside other technical and behavioural competencies for this specific discipline role are described below
- None currently at this level, however, there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.

**Location/Travel**

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

This post requires some travel including overnight stays predominantly across the United Kingdom and occasionally abroad.

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. Manager