Band 3 Human Factors Nuclear Safety Inspector in Cheltenham

Job Purpose

As the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, our mission is to ensure safe nuclear for a secure and sustainable future. Our primary role is to ensure the highest standard of nuclear safety, civil nuclear security and safeguards, and conventional health and safety are maintained 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.

About The Role

Principle Responsibilities

As an inspector your job will be varied, and you are likely to undertake a range of roles across the sector; from assessing new reactor designs to regulating activities on construction, operational and decommissioning sites. Some inspectors concentrate on undertaking planned and reactive inspections at operational facilities, while others will assess submissions or manage discrete intervention projects. Additionally, there may be opportunities to conduct investigations, manage research projects and mentor and develop the next generation of inspectors.

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 requesting parties and duty holders to appropriately consider the role of the human in their operations, both positive and negative, to ensure robust measures are implemented which deliver reliable human performance. The work of the Human Factors Group is extremely varied and dynamic, typically working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams across ONR. We also work nationally and internationally with other regulators, academics and expert groups to drive understanding and advancements in our field.

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 a 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

The successful candidate must hold or can achieve and retain National Security Vetting clearance at SC level.

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.

Qualifications

We expect Human Factors inspectors to have:

• A relevant degree level qualification (for example, B.Sc. and or M.Sc. in Human Factors or Psychology) or the ability to demonstrate performance and experience at an equivalent applied professional level.
• Chartered membership of the Chartered Institute for Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF) or the British Psychological Society (BPS), or the ability to demonstrate performance and/or experience to meet associated entry requirements.

Essential Skills / Experience

• A good understanding of how the human contribution to risk is determined within the nuclear context.
• Knowledge of how individual, team and organisational factors can challenge safe and secure operations and techniques to improve human performance.
• Experience of assessing and/or producing Human Factors cases, plans and/or reports for the nuclear, high‑hazard or other highly regulated industry.
• The ability to draw on risk and engineering analyses to inform understanding of the human contribution to risk and to use this to target and prioritise work.
• Technical knowledge of and experience applying the following topics:
  • Human Factors Integration (HFI).
  • Functional analysis / Allocation of Function (AoF).
  • Task and human error analysis.
  • User interface & workplace design.
  • Procedure specification, design, and presentation.
  • Training and competence.
  • Qualitative and quantitative Human Reliability Assessment (HRA).
  • Strong communication and influencing skills with an ability to persuade by working collaboratively and flexibly with multi‑disciplinary teams and other stakeholders, showing appropriate interpersonal sensitivity, self‑awareness, and assertiveness.
  • An ability to make sound, evidence based and proportionate judgements, on the significance of human factors issues as they relate to risk.
  • A self‑starter who enjoys learning and is motivated to drive forward their learning and development.

Desirable Skills

Knowledge and experience of the following topics, and associated risk management strategies, would also be advantageous.

• Environmental ergonomics.
• Staffing concepts.
• Workload, fatigue and shift systems.
• Operational experience feedback systems.

• Human performance under challenging conditions (e.g. incidents and accidents).

We would ideally like you to have experience in the nuclear sector or an alternative high hazard industry sector. But don’t worry if you haven’t! We are happy to consider applicants with relevant skills and experience from non‑nuclear/non‑high hazard backgrounds who, if appointed, would undertake a structured nuclear training programme to reach Nuclear Safety / Security Inspector level (subject to alternative salary range whilst training).

For Further Information

For more information about this vacancy please contact Clive Tunley.

clive.tunley@onr.gov.uk

How To apply

Please submit your application through the recruitment portal.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 27th July 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 short‑listing in conjunction with your CV.
• Where applicable highlight if you have any experience under desirable skills and experience within the application form.

Throughout our short‑listing 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).

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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