Compliance Operations Manager

Job Introduction

here’s never been a more exciting time to be part of the nuclear sector. New opportunities are being created all the time. At NNL, you’ll be in the ideal place to capitalise on this momentum, face new challenges and develop a long, successful and meaningful career. 

We’re an organisation that’s here to experiment and push the limits of what’s possible. So, if you’re keen to excel in your chosen field, this is the place to do it. Because at NNL, anything is possible.

The role of Infrastructure and Compliance (IC) Operations Manager is a challenging role, that requires a flexible approach and enabling mindset to support delivery in a complex environment, whilst ensuring compliance with a broad range of Nuclear and Industrial Safety requirements.  The role holder will be accountable for the overall safety envelope of the facility, including nuclear, conventional, industrial, radiological, security and environmental aspects. The Compliance accountability is delivered through managing implementation and application of site and NNL standards, policies, processes and procedures. The role will involve leading the relatively new DAP team in setting out an ambitious and continual improving direction, facilitating team growth through support; the setting of stretching objectives and adoption of best practices from across the industry.  Sound communication skills are required to influence and coach internal stakeholders in ensuring the bigger picture compliance perspectives are understood by the facility.  The role also requires a forward looking approach to anticipate longer term needs of customers and stakeholders of the Preston Facility.

Role Responsibility

Main Responsibilities of the Compliance Operations manager is to:

• Ensure facility wide operational activities are in compliance with site and NNL standards, policies, processes and procedures and facility safety case through implementation of systems, processes and assurance activities;
• Development and growth of the operational compliance team to ensure current and future business needs are supported and succession needs anticipated;
• Effective and deployment of the compliance team resources through proportionate risk management strategies;
• Engagement with facility stakeholders to ensure compliance perspectives and delivery needs are understood and appropriately acted upon; 
• Deriving and operating against robust integrated plans that capture facility OKRs, continual improvement activities from compliance and delivery perspectives and requirements of the Preston facility customers.
• Process owner for facility wide operations permissioning, work authorisation and command and control arrangements.
• Ensuring fit for purpose and continually improving compliance systems and processes to support the effectiveness and efficiency of Preston operations

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Criteria for Compliance Operations Manager:

• Experience in a similar role (high hazard environment) with experience of command and control and EHSS&Q activities
• Demonstrable experience in taking on responsibility, and using initiative, to prioritise work effectively under pressure.
• Excellent problem-solving skills at an operational level
• Excellent demonstrable experience of dealing with stakeholders at all levels to resolve conflict.
• Drive, determination, confidence, enthusiasm and a willingness to propose alternatives to established approaches.
• Commitment to continuous improvement; willing to proactively make suggestions on potential developments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; excellent organisational skills; be able to multitask and re-prioritise to meet changing needs and project deadlines in a team environment.
• Holding a 2.1 honours degree in a scientific discipline
• Ability to achieve SC Clearance

Desirable Criteria for Compliance Operations Manager:

• Proven background in application and implementation of policies and facility wide processes in a high hazard industry
• Experience of interfacing with regulatory inspectors (e.g. ONR / EA)
• A working understanding of Site licence conditions and principles of approach for licensee arrangements (SAPs etc)
• EHS qualification holder
• Knowledge of safety case derivation principles and practical application/implementation experience

About the Company

Grounded in robust science and decades of experience, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the authoritative voice in the UK and beyond for technological development within the nuclear power sector.

Our unparalleled understanding of the science, challenges and opportunities makes us an unrivalled authority and partner in the field, providing experts, technologies, and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.

Harnessing potential technologies and translating them into to industry-ready solutions means our pioneering approach spearheads international improvement and technological progress.

We work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with our integrated micro drilling technology, or as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems for spacecraft, based on radioactive materials

NNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where NNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging.

Recruitment Agency Notice

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List (PSL) for the provision of recruitment services. Only agencies on our PSL may provide CVs and only when the role is released to them by our recruitment team. We will not accept unsolicited CVs from suppliers not currently on our PSL. We explicitly reserve the right to add candidate details from unsolicited CVs from non-PSL agencies into our own candidate database and to pursue/hire such candidate(s) without any obligation, financial or otherwise, to the agency concerned.

National Nuclear Laboratory