Band 3 Project Manager (Fixed Term Appointment up to February 2028) in Cheltenham

Background

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is responsible for all nuclear sector regulation across the UK. ONR’s mission is to provide efficient and effective regulation of the nuclear industry, holding it to account on behalf of the public.

ONR’s Programme Management Office (PMO) consists of a team of change professionals delivering portfolio, project and change management for a varied range of projects of change across the organisation.

As part of its 2025 strategy ONR is committed to being a modern and transparent regulator, delivering trusted outcomes and value. We are making substantial investments in new digital technologies and skills to enhance our regulatory processes and management of information.

Job Purpose

As part of its 2025 strategy ONR is committed to being a modern and transparent regulator, delivering trusted outcomes and value. We are making substantial investments in new digital technologies and skills to enhance our regulatory processes and management of information.

The role of the Project Manager is to manage a range of projects on a day-to-day basis. You will be responsible for driving and overseeing the delivery of projects to ensure that the objectives are clearly defined and achieved within agreed time, cost and quality constraints, that the change ‘lands’ positively, and anticipated benefits are realised.

As a Project Manager you will be solely responsible for moderate complexity projects of change as well as providing support to Senior Project Managers on more complex projects. You will also be expected to lead and / or contribute to various continuous improvement activity within the PMO.

You will work with a diverse group of stakeholders, including internal and external partners, so should be a strong communicator who can work in a team and on your own initiative while acting in the best interests of the organisation.

As a Project Manager, you may have line management responsibilities for junior members of the team.

Line Management Responsibilities

• None currently, however, at this level there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.

Principal Responsibilities

• Coordination and management of projects on a day-to-day basis, through the project lifecycle from initiation to closure, including the setting of project controls.
• Ensure effective change management activity and targeted interventions to ensure groups impacted are engaged, supported and upskilled as necessary to be able to adopt the change.
• Develop and draft project Business Cases, with input from specialists as necessary.
• Produce the range of key project documentation in line with ONR’s project management methodology (aligned to PRINCE2).
• Effectively and clearly set and communicate project expectations to project team members and other stakeholders.
• Working with stakeholders, build project schedules, and identify resource requirements.
• Identify, drive, track and measure benefits against the Business Case, ensuring a common understanding of project benefits.
• Identify key stakeholders and develop effective relationships, managing expectations and conflicting stakeholder requirements.
• Identify and monitor project risks and issues, including the use of agreed escalation routes as necessary.
• Develop mitigating actions in order to manage project risks and issues.
• Produce regular key reports communicating project status/progress for a range of audiences including Head of PMO, project sponsors and senior leaders.
• Ensure that projects have adequate governance in place.
• As appropriate, take an active role in the procurement and contract management of third-party services.
• Manage, motivate and support team members to create a high-performing environment.
• Lead and contribute to initiatives to ensure continuous improvement within the PMO.

Location / Travel

This role can be based at any of our ONR’s offices in Bootle, Cheltenham or London. However, there will be an expectation to attend our Bootle office weekly: if based at Cheltenham or London and may involve travel/overnight stays throughout the UK.

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 valueindividuals’ contributions , regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion, or belief. Ourvalues ‘supportive, open-minded, fair and accountable’ are central to this. Weinvest 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

These roles require base line checks (BPSS).

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 / or 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.

Qualifications

• Hold a practitioner level project management qualification e.g. PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM PMQ, AgilePM, or relevant equivalent.

Essential Job-Related Expertise

• A proven capability in leading projects of change that deliver key business and project outcomes.
• Good knowledge of processes, methods, tools and techniques used in the delivery of projects and the management of change.
• Ability to collect, analyse and understand effective performance and baseline information.
• Able to lead effective project teams.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence stakeholders.
• Proven written communication skills with specific experience of writing key project documentation such as Project Initiation Documents and Business Cases.
• All-round IT knowledge (familiarity with common Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams)

Desirable requirements

• Previous stakeholder management experience.
• Experience in the delivery of technical IT projects.
• Experience of a range of project management and related methodologies i.e. Agile, Lean Six Sigma etc.

For Further Information

For more information about this vacancy please contact Paula Wheeler

* -

\' - 07721 005430

How To apply

Please submit your application through the recruitment portal.

This advert will remain open until we have filled the advertised role. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any time.

Please submit your application through the recruitment portal.

• 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 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).

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 skills and experience. Please ensure that all information submitted is truthful and verifiable. This includes avoiding plagiarism and accurately attributing the work of others, including artificial intelligence generated content, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.

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Whilst these examples will appear on your application, this will not prevent it from being reviewed at the shortlisting stage.

ONR do welcome applicants who require sponsorship through the skilled worker route. Unfortunately, this particular role is only potentially open for the sponsorship if your circumstances fall within the ‘New Entrant’ criteria for skilled worker sponsorship. Skilled Worker visa: When you can be paid less - GOV.UK ( please review this information to check the eligibility requirements. If you have any questions, please contact .