Internal Regulator – Environment Health and Safety

Job Introduction

Job Description for Internal Regulator – Environment Health and Safety:

There’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.

To lead the independent assurance of Environment, Health and Safety across NNL and to provide assurance to the NNL Board and Executive Leadership Team on NNL’s level of compliance with EH&S statutory requirements / policy and / or compliance with nuclear site licence conditions and regulatory requirements.. This assurance will be based on extensive and thorough knowledge and experience of regulatory requirements and NNL’s operations. This will be done by carrying out 3rd line oversight of the 1st and 2nd line assurance activities implemented by NNL and will include critical evaluation, robust well-underpinned challenge, scrutiny and appraisal of the efficiency and effectiveness of any processes, projects, operations or functions through a programmed regime of interventions, along with communication of the outcome of this work at the Board, Executive and senior leadership levels of NNL. Additionally, it will enable strategic and tactical decision making on future improvements and strategies within the EH&S and / or nuclear safety topic area in order to protect NNL’s mission and vision.

A Sellafield base is preferred and there is the opportunity for hybrid working. The successful candidate will be required to have a regular presence on NNL nuclear and other high hazard facilities (Sellafield, Preston and Workington) as part of the pan NNL role in order to carry out assurance work.

Role Responsibility

Main Responsibilities for Internal Regulator – Environment Health and Safety:

• Providing underpinned assurance to the NNL Board and Executive Leadership Team on NNL’s level of compliance with EH&S legislative requirements / policy and / or nuclear site licence conditions and regulatory requirements.
• Communication of the outputs of this assurance at the highest levels in NNL in order to create impactful change, uphold high standards and drive for improvements in line with NNL’s ambitions as a credible nuclear operator and risk appetite.
• Developing strategy and standards, policy and procedures for how assurance in respect of the topic is carried out within NNL, based on best practice nationally and internationally. 
• Taking clear, timely action through the issuing of notices of concern, compelling advice or sanction in situations where there is a significant shortfall or potential for a breach of compliance with legislation.
• Preparation, communication, implementation and review of the assurance programme ensuring that it meets best practice of internal assurance and regulation within the nuclear industry.
• Provision of strategic advice to NNL operations and projects based on extensive and thorough knowledge and experience of regulatory requirements and current regulatory approach.
• Maintaining strategic relationships with the external regulator (Office for Nuclear Regulation – ONR; HSE; EA) and external stakeholders (site licensee representatives and internal regulators). 
• Providing concurrence with key company decisions within the EH&S and / or nuclear topic area.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Criteria for Internal Regulator – Environment Health and Safety:

• Graduate or equivalent in scientific / engineering discipline. The candidate should be a member of a professional institution relevant to the role. IOSH Chartered Membership or equivalent is desirable.
• EH&S credibility. Sufficient experience that would command respect and recognition at the highest internal levels as well as in the wider industry / external.
• Experience of working in a high hazard industry in a number of highly responsible operational roles. This can include, but is not limited to, safety management, operational management, compliance management with demonstrable experience of working in this environment.
• Extensive knowledge of legislative requirements deriving from high hazard operations – e.g. safety cases in high hazard industry.
• Experience of successfully influencing senior stakeholders.
• Ability to obtain SC level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial and criminal record checks plus 5 years’ worth of UK residency).

Desirable Criteria for Internal Regulator – Environment Health and Safety:

• Previous experience of working as either an external or internal regulator.
• A recognised environmental qualification.
• Member of a professional institution or working towards membership.
• Experience of applying risk management principles to assurance.
• Knowledge of nuclear safety case derivation and implementation requirements / site licence conditions.

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