Band 4 Nuclear Associate – Human Factors

at  Office for Nuclear Regulation

QUALIFICATIONS

We expect all Nuclear Associates to have:

• 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.).

Benefits

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

Things you need to know

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.

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

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