Bootle, Cheltenham, London
Job Summary
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 Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is looking for a senior policy advisor to provide strategic policy advice, insight and guidance to ensure we have a fit for purpose regulatory policy framework as an effective and efficient regulator, holding the industry to account on behalf of the public.
About The Role
This is a fast-paced and dynamic role, ideal for someone who enjoys variety, thrives on challenge, and is excited by the opportunity to work on a complex strategic portfolio. This role requires a proactive adaptable individual with the knowledge and skills to lead provision of policy advice within ONR and externally with government and other regulators. The person engaged will work as an integral member of the ONR Strategy and Corporate Affairs Directorate reporting to ONR’s Head of Policy.
Job Description
Principal responsibilities
The Successful Candidate Will Need To Combine a High Level Of Regulatory Or Similar Technical Policy Expertise With Excellent Stakeholder Engagement And Communication Skills. Specifically, The Individual Will:
- Providing robust policy advice and guidance across ONR’s Regulatory Directorate to deliver government policy, including stakeholder and parliamentary engagement where necessary.
- Providing interpretation on internal and external policy matters of strategic importance, including horizon scanning, to inform ONR’s planning assumptions, prioritisation and engagement activities.
- Identify and advise on changes to legislation or government policy and regulatory reform, leading on ONRs responses to relevant consultations
- Regular engagement with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ministry of Defence on nuclear and other departments and regulators as appropriate
- Oversee voluntary and statutory reporting in line with government regulatory policy
- Produce briefing and papers for ONRs Board and senior team as required.
- Work closely with the other ONR Policy Business Partners and undertake any other reasonable task to support the policy team as requested.
- Role model ONR’s values of Supportive, Fair, Open Minded, and Accountable and in a manner which promotes diversity and inclusion.
Line Management Responsibilities
- None currently, however, at this level there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.
Location / Travel
This post may be undertaken from a base at any one of ONR’s office locations (Bootle, Cheltenham or London).
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.
Line Management Responsibilities
- None currently, however, at this level there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.
Location / Travel
This post may be undertaken from a base at any one of ONR’s office locations (Bootle, Cheltenham or London).
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.
Person specification
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.
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. Please contact
[email protected] or
[email protected] 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.
Essential Job-related Expertise
- Substantive, exceptional policy competency with the ability to provide strategic analysis of complex policy issues and implement pragmatic solutions.
- Proven excellent team working and coordination skills and proven ability in building strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- A willingness to work within diverse and multidisciplinary teams using your exceptional experience to lead policy development and delivery.
- Excellent drafting skills, with a proven track record of briefing senior leaders and managers in written and oral communications. Presenting complex issues clearly.
- Sound political judgment and be a flexible and agile thinker who is able to gain the confidence of senior staff up to an including Board members. Highly organised and able to manage a broad portfolio of activities whilst delivering high quality work at pace.
Desirable Experience
- Familiarity with or understanding of the key issues within the nuclear industry and of regulatory bodies.
- Excellent knowledge of UK parliamentary and government processes
- Experience of developing and implementing regulatory policy
- presentation techniques.
Alongside your salary of £61,222, Office for Nuclear Regulation contributes £17,736 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
Selection process details
For Further Information
For more information about this vacancy please contact
Sarah Brown.
Email – [email protected]
How To Apply
The
closing date for receipt of applications is
11/08/2025 2025 at 11:45pm
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 and any experience you may have from the ‘Desirable experience’. This will be used at shortlisting in conjunction with your CV.
Your ability and skills will be assessed at an in-depth interview if you are invited to the next stage of the recruitment process. An initial sift of applications is made against the above criteria and failure to address any or all will affect your application. We will offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the role.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
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)
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
https://www.onr.org.uk/complaints-concerns-whistleblowing.htm
https://jobs.onr.org.uk/vacancy/band-2-policy-business-partner-590961.html#hs_show_apply_popup=true
