Office for Nuclear Regulation
Band 3 Nuclear Protective Security 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.
Job Purpose
The Office for Nuclear Regulation regulates all aspects of security for civil nuclear materials and sensitive nuclear information in the United Kingdom. We regulate against our outcome-focussed Security Assessment Principles in accordance with the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003. ONR also supports the development and improvement of good practice for nuclear security, both domestically and internationally.
About The Role
Protective Security inspectors regulate security across the civil nuclear industry, to ensure dutyholders are compliant with relevant legislation and that operations are safe and secure. Inspectors achieve this through a mix of compliance inspections and assessment of security plans and arrangements, to ensure dutyholders manage the risk of theft and sabotage adequately. The role covers all aspects of physical security, personnel security and nuclear transport security.
The Role Requires:
- Good knowledge, and extensive experience, of security risk management, covering the application of physical security and other elements of protective security.
- A solid understanding of current and emerging security threats.
- Personal conduct and demeanour, which reinforces the utmost level of professional competence.
- Highly effective analytical skills derived from extensive training in security topics and developed in the nuclear industry or other industry where effective security risk management is critical.
- The ability to critically analyse large volumes of highly technical data, to make informed and timely nuclear regulatory judgements, proportionate to the risks.
- Highly articulate verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical matters to a non-expert audience.
- A highly effective ability to influence senior representatives of dutyholders, to implement improvements and change, without the need to exercise enforcement powers.
- An ability and willingness, to work collaboratively, but be equally comfortable applying sound professional judgement to make challenging decisions on own.
Principal Responsibilities
- Working in a team of nuclear inspectors to deliver effective and efficient regulation across the UK’s civil nuclear industry.
- Undertaking the assessment of dutyholder security plans and arrangements to ensure they are capable of adequately managing security risks.
- Undertaking compliance inspections of dutyholder arrangements and facilities, to ensure risks are being effectively managed and that dutyholders are meeting their legal obligations.
- Engagement with senior stakeholders across the nuclear industry.
- Identification of trends and intelligence of operational significance.
Job Description
Essential Skills/Job Related Expertise
It Is Expected That Some Time Will Be Needed For Successful Candidates To Develop a Full Understanding Of ONR’s Regulatory Framework And Underpinning Policies And Guidance. Training To Develop Knowledge And Experience In Specific Nuclear Regulatory Topics Will Be Given Through The ONR Academy’s Band 3 Development Programme And On The Job Training. However, Successful Candidates Will Already Have:
- Evidence of significant experience as a protective security practitioner;
- Security risk management experience in a management or assurance role in the nuclear or other high hazard industry;
- A solid understanding of current and emerging security threats;
- An expert level of knowledge of physical protection systems and a strong working knowledge of at least two of the following:
- personnel security
- policing and guarding
- emergency preparedness and response
- Demonstrable experience of managing projects through sound planning, prioritisation, and timely delivery of work to a very high standard;
- Highly articulate verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical matters to a non-expert audience; and
- Confidence in the use of modern Microsoft based IT tools and applications.
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Line Management Responsibilities
None currently, however, there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.
Location / Travel
This post may be undertaken from the closest ONR office (Bootle, Cheltenham, or London).
You may be eligible for relocation package up to £15,000.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 time in the office on a regular basis, recognising that some work is better done face to face. Managers will work 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.
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-mindedness, fairness and accountability’ 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
Developed Vetting (DV) is required for this post and those candidates who pass the selection process will need to hold DV clearance before an offer of employment is made. Details of the DV clearance process can be found here. Retaining DV clearance is a condition of employment.
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. If you require reasonable adjustments as part of your application, please contact ONR HR as soon as possible, preferably before the vacancy closes, by emailing ONR.Human-Resources@onr.gov.uk/ or Stephanie.Glen@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.
Person specification
We Expect Our Nuclear Security Inspectors To Have:
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- A good honours degree, accredited Level 6 qualification or equivalent in a security subject appropriate to the role; and
- Hold membership of a relevant professional institution (e.g. the Security Institute), or the ability to demonstrate performance and/or experience at an equivalent professional level.
Other Requirements
A full UK licence to drive motor cars is required for this role, which will involve regular travel throughout the UK and some international travel.
Additional Guidance
Please note that while we value experience in the nuclear industry, applications from those without practitioner experience in protective security will be rejected at the sift stage.
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
How To Apply
Please submit your application through the recruitment portal.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 4th September 2026 at 11:45
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.
Throughout our shortlisting process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria (and the desirable if applicable).
Please note that an in-person interview at Bootle will be required for this role, and the need to demonstrate security risk management competence through a verbal briefing and short written report.
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.
Important guidance when providing CV’s – please upload text-based CVs with no graphics or pictures to ensure the anonymisation function works correctly.
Please note - if whilst completing your application, you use special characters such as (‘; “- _ *) within your examples, Hi
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