Band 4 Nuclear Associate – Human Factors

The Opportunity
As the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, our mission is vital to the nation’s safety and security. We protect society by ensuring safe and secure 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 develop new skills and experiences and ultimately to lead and shape our society’s future use of nuclear technology., Principle Responsibilities
As a Nuclear Associate inspector your job will be varied, and you are likely to undertake a variety of tasks across the sector, either supporting or supported by, experienced inspectors. This varies from regulating the construction of new nuclear build to the decommissioning of legacy facilities. As a Nuclear Associate you will have opportunities to support planned and reactive inspections, assessments of safety submissions research projects, international work and the development of technical guidance.
Our Human Factors inspectors need to understand the human contribution to risk at nuclear facilities and the way in which individual, team and organisational performance can impact upon safe and secure operations. A key part of the role involves influencing duty holders to appropriately consider the role of the human in their operations, both positive and negative, and ensuring robust measures are implemented to deliver reliable human performance.
The work of the Human Factors Group is extremely varied and dynamic as we work collaboratively with other regulators, academics and with multi-disciplinary teams across ONR. Our inspectors rotate between roles, enabling them to develop cross industry experience and providing new and varied challenges.
As a Nuclear Associate we will actively support your development, with tailored coaching and mentoring from experienced inspectors to enable you to develop the skills, knowledge, attributes and experience to become an effective regulator. This will cover; legal, regulatory and behavioural competences as well as enabling you to build and extend your technical Human Factors expertise. An extensive suite of training will be available to you including a structured programme on relevant aspects of the law and how we regulate this. As a Nuclear Associate, you will also have the opportunity to take up placements within industry to further develop your practical experience.
ONR will provide you with the opportunity to develop new skills and experiences at a pace driven by you, and as your competencies develop to progress to Band 3E (salary range £57,779 to £65,680) and ultimately Band 3 (salary £80,670 to £96,883).
Line Management Responsibilities
+ None at this level, however, there could be an opportunity to manage staff in the future as you develop greater skills and experience.
Work with Us
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-minded, fair and accountable’ 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.
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must hold or can achieve and retain National Security Vetting clearance at SC level.

Person specification
Person Specification
Inclusion
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We will consider reasonable adjustments to ensure the recruitment process is inclusive and barrier-free. Please contact ONR.Human-Resources@onr.gov.uk or Francesca.fay@onr.gov.uk to discuss further.
We will also offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the guaranteed interview scheme.
We recognise we have a role to play in helping those leaving the Armed Forces and have a Veterans guaranteed interview scheme. We offer an interview to Veterans who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the scheme. Please see eligibility criteria below.
+ served for at least one year in His Majesty's Armed Forces (as a Regular or Reserve).
+ be in transition from, or ceased to be a member of, His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
+ not already be employed by ONR., This advert will remain open until we have filled the advertised role. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any time.
Your application should include:
+ CV to include a full record of your education and professional qualifications and a full employment history;
+ A suitability statement (maximum of 800 words) highlighting how you meet the “essential skills and experience” required for the role, which will be used at shortlisting in conjunction with your CV;
+ Where applicable highlight if you have any experience under ‘desirable skills and experience’ within the application form.
Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions based on evidence you provide. If you are shortlisted you will be invited to a technical/competency-based interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

+ A relevant degree level qualification (for example, B.Sc./M.Sc. in Human Factors or Psychology) or the ability to demonstrate performance and experience at an equivalent professional level);
+ Graduate membership of the Chartered Institute for Ergonomics and Human Factors or the British Psychological Society, or a commitment to a training programme towards full professional membership.
Essential Skills / Experience
We would like you to have experience of applying Human Factors in the nuclear sector or an alternative high hazard industry sector. However, we recognise that Nuclear Associates will still be developing the breadth and depth of their experience and will be looking for a candidate who enjoys learning and is proactive in driving forward their development.
The key skills and experience required for the role include;
+ An understanding of how individual, team and organisational factors can positively and negatively impact safe and secure operations.
+ An understanding of how the human contribution to risk is identified and managed in the nuclear, high-hazard or highly-regulated industries;
+ It would be beneficial to have some experience of using engineering and safety analyses to inform the targeting work of human factors activities based on risk.
+ Good communication and influencing skills with the ability to work collaboratively and flexibly with stakeholders, showing appropriate interpersonal sensitivity, and self-awareness.
+ The ability and confidence to make sound judgements, with support from experienced Inspectors, on the significance of Human Factors Issues as they relate to overall risks and influence effective performance improvement.
A developing technical knowledge and some experience applying some of the following human factors topics;
+ Human Factors integration;
+ Human Reliability Assessment;
+ Allocation of function;
+ User interface & workplace design;
+ Procedure specification, design and presentation;
+ Training and competence.
Desirable Skills
Some knowledge and experience of the following topics would be advantageous but is not essential;
+ Workload, fatigue, shift systems;
+ Staffing levels;
+ Treatment of Human Factors in operational experience feedback systems;
+ Communication systems;
+ Environmental ergonomics (including noise, thermal, light, access issues etc.).

Alongside your salary of £36,628, Office for Nuclear Regulation contributes £10,611 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A civil service pension, This post may be undertaken from ONR’s Bootle or Cheltenham office locations. You may be eligible for a relocation package up to £15,000.
This post requires some travel including overnight stays predominantly across the United Kingdom and occasionally abroad. Longer term placements may also be required to develop the practical experience required to deliver the role effectively.
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 some time in the office on a regular basis, recognising that some work is better done face to face. Managers will collaborate 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.