Office for Nuclear Regulation
Band 3 Cyber Security and Operational Resilience Inspector
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Bootle, Cheltenham, London
Job Summary
ONR is not a Civil Service department, however, we are an arms length body of Department of Work and Pensions.
The Opportunity
As the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, our mission is vital to the nation’s safety and security. We protect society by securing safe 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 lead and shape our society’s future use of nuclear technology.
The Role
Effective cyber security is increasingly important as modern technology, and interconnected devices become a fundamental part of everyday life. It’s vital to protect the devices and services we access online and at work from harm.
Our Cyber Security and Operational Resilience specialism is responsible for ensuring the civil nuclear sector protects the sensitive nuclear information it holds and appropriately safeguards the systems essential to deliver key outputs and functions.
This Is Achieved Primarily Through
- Assessment of duty holders’ cyber security arrangements to provide confidence that risks are being adequately managed.
- Undertaking regulatory inspections with duty holders to ensure the effective implementation of technical cyber security controls to protect essential functions and the systems that support them (including information technology, operational technology, and sensitive nuclear information).
- Conducting inspections of facilities across the nuclear supply chain to ensure cyber security risks are effectively managed.
- Contributing to the development of regulatory policy and influencing the development of good practice both nationally and internationally.
- Liaison with other regulators (including those in security and safety disciplines) and various Government security and intelligence agencies, including the co-ordination of the sector’s response to high profile cyber security events and incidents.
- Representing ONR at security events and meetings, such as those organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Institute for Nuclear Security, European Nuclear Security Regulators’ Association, the UK Cyber Security Council, and those directly by the UK Nuclear industry.
Training to expand and deepen knowledge and experience in specific nuclear, cyber security, operational resilience, information assurance and regulatory topics will be given throughout the successful candidate’s career, however successful applicants will already have demonstrable experience in the field.
As experience of regulating nuclear security increases, inspectors are given the opportunity to progress and achieve promotion.
Job Description
Line Management Responsibilities
None currently, however, at this level there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future and to support graduate and apprentice staff through mentoring.
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.
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 Jessica.Normile-Curran@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.
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We recognise we have a role to play in helping those leaving the Armed Forces and also 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; and
- Not already be employed by ONR.
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must hold or achieve and retain National Security Vetting clearance at Developed Vetting (DV) level.
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.
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.
Person specification
Qualifications
We expect all Cyber Security & Operational Resilience Inspectors to:
- Hold a relevant qualification (for example, an NCSC certified master’s degree (e.g. MSc), or equivalent Level 6 qualification (e.g. CISSP) or higher in a Cyber Security or Information Security related discipline).
- Hold Full Professional Membership (e.g. MCIIS, MBCS) and/or Chartership of an appropriate professional body (e.g. ChCSP, CITP).
Applicants who feel they possess equivalent experience, qualifications and/or professional memberships are invited to apply, however must clearly evidence how their background and skills meet these expectations.
It should be noted that the market-based allowance attracted by this post is linked to ongoing professional development/ retention of essential qualifications detailed above.
Essential Skills And Experience
To be effective, the candidate will require a breadth and depth of expertise and skills in technical areas (such as cyber defence, detection, response, resilience and recovery); and a firm understanding of personnel/procedural areas (such as leadership and management, culture, and competence) related to information risk management and cyber security. This is likely to include:
- Extensive understanding of the principles, processes and challenges of information risk management and its practical application in a nuclear or high-hazard environment.
- Knowledge of current cyber threats and technical security vulnerabilities.
- Application of Government protective security procedures and making balanced judgements on adequacy.
- Understanding of the principles expected for operators of essential services/ critical national infrastructure sectors in respect to cyber resilience.
- Proficiency at managing security risks in a regulated environment.
- Leadership in the assessment of cyber security arrangements, including the conduct of audits, assurance activities and/or compliance inspections.
- Delivery of concise, accurate, high quality written reports to tight deadlines.
- Proven effective judgement and decision-making skills, including an understanding of strategic impact, gathering, and analysing relevant information, evaluating options, applying logical reasoning, and making effective and proportionate risk-based recommendations.
- Being open and communicative through the ability to demonstrate highly articulate verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical matters to a non-expert audience.
- Demonstrable strong influencing skills and an ability to persuade by working collaboratively and flexibly with all stakeholders, showing appropriate interpersonal sensitivity, self-awareness, and assertiveness.
- Evidence of managing projects through sound planning, prioritisation, and timely delivery of work to very high standards.
- Evidence of effective and professional behaviours throughout delivery of roles.
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Alongside your salary of £71,196, Office for Nuclear Regulation contributes £20,625 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
An annual leave allowance of 25 plus 8 days public holiday. There is also an entitlement to 1 privilege day. Your annual leave allowance will increase by 1 day each year up to a maximum of 30 days.
Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A civil service pension
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Further Information
For more information about this vacancy please contact the Head of Profession for Cyber Security and Operational Resilience, Paul Shanes
Email - paul.shanes@onr.gov.uk
How To Apply
Please submit your application through the recruitment portal.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 7th August 2026 at 23:45
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.
AI Tools & Platforms
During the application process applicants are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and tools to support them in writing their CVs, suitability statements, essential
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