Senior Strategic Advisor (Secondment)

Job Introduction

Job Description for Senior Strategic Advisor (Secondment):

There’s never been a more exciting time to be part of the nuclear sector. The Nuclear Innovation and Research Office (NIRO) is operated by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). Our role is to provide independent strategic advice and guidance to Government across a range of nuclear and energy-related activities. Our purpose is to enhance the deployment of a safe, secure, sustainable, economic and reliable civil nuclear life cycle through high quality, informed and independent advice to Government.  We do this through building strong relationships with Government, Industry, Regulators and Academia and may represent the interests of Government nationally and internationally, as required. NIRO is made up of NNL, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Industry secondees who have the knowledge and experience to achieve this aim. 

Our Secondment program, offers individuals the opportunity to take a break in their regular career trajectory to expand their horizons within the Nuclear industry.  It is invaluable to the learning process and enables individuals to form new connections across industry, and Government whilst building upon your expertise without a long term commitment.

Role Responsibility

Main Responsibilities for Senior Strategic Advisor (Secondment):

Accountable to Director of NIRO for providing strategic advice to the department of BEIS. As Senior Strategic Advisor, you’ll support the development and management of a function providing high quality independent objective advice to Government on the implications and strategic justification of policy change and the scope and content of potential Government interventions. You will maintain and develop strong and effective relationships with Government officials, and contribute to the development of business justification for any interventions relating to the development of UK nuclear capability. You will also be involved in facilitating and the work of the Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory Board (NIRAB) which is charged with providing independent advice to Government. 

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Criteria for Senior Strategic Advisor (Secondment):

• To succeed, you will need the gravitas and credibility to develop and nurture a trusting relationship with key Government officials and other senior stakeholders, supporting them and your colleagues in interpreting and prioritising Government Nuclear Energy Programme recommendations.
• You’ll provide high quality independent and objective support to Government in justifying the action necessary to support policy objectives (including, where appropriate, supporting the preparation of business cases for investment). With an up-to-date understanding of the domestic and international nuclear landscape including in areas of the workforce, supply chains and skills impacted by governments' nuclear and wider policy initiatives, you’ll provide insights – including deliverability and challenges – for Government to progress key initiatives.
• You should be able to think strategically and have experience of working constructively and effectively with Government and policy makers, and the ability to engage and work with customers at a senior level.
• You will have proven experience of providing first rate strategic analysis within either the commercial or government sector, including writing, analysing and evaluating policy assessments or business cases.
• Knowledge of workforce planning would be an asset.
• Excellent communication skills are important, as is the ability to tailor messages to a variety business cases to justify investment.
• Thought leadership will be a key ingredient in moving the nuclear sector forward. As such NIRO roles will be filled from individuals that have a broad range of backgrounds enabling a diversity of thought across the department.
• Ability to obtain BPSS level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment and criminal record checks). 

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