If you are looking for a career shaping the UK’s long-term commitment to nuclear energy generation and waste management, then consider joining the safety case team at Nuclear Waste Services. The team are responsible for developing and maintaining the Environmental, Safety, Security and Safeguards for the disposal of Nuclear Waste in the UK.
This is a unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of applied nuclear science, delivering a multidisciplinary work programme to ensure the safety of radioactive waste at the UK’s existing disposal facility, the Low Level Waste Repository site, and the UK’s proposed Geological Disposal Facility.
From building hydrogeological models of sites to identifying potential hazard management strategies and assessing their radiological consequences, from sitting with consignors to discuss their latest waste packages to running mathematical models to assess the impact of disposals, to demonstration and communication of this work programme to the regulators and wider stakeholder groups the variety and intrigue offered by this position is unparalleled in the nuclear industry.
The team.
You will be joining a team of scientific experts, with a wide range of backgrounds: engineering, chemistry, physics, geology, mathematics and working with some of the country’s leading repository scientists. In the Safety Case team you will have the opportunity to work across the disciplines and technical work areas and also work with colleagues across the wider business. Due to the longevity of the disposal programme, working in the Safety Case team will provide a varied, evolving and long-term career.
A career in the Safety Case team presents the opportunity to join a growing team whose role is to demonstrate the ongoing safety of radioactive waste disposals at the UK’s disposal facilities and ultimately support the NDA strategy for decommissioning at sites across the UK.
What might you be doing on a daily basis?
That is a good question, and no two days are the same! These are some of the things we cover (but not all on the same day!):
Mathematical modelling:
- Developing methodologies
- Developing models
- Overseeing contractors working on models
Underpinning science:
- Understanding how waste will evolve
- Climate change and implications
Hydrogeology
- Impact assessments:
- Long-term environmental impact assessments
- Operational impact assessments
Safety considerations:
- Transport safety
- Designing for nuclear security
- Assessment of criticality risk
- Providing human factors advice
- Assessment of Chemotoxic hazards
Support to design:
- Advice
- Requirements development
- Systems engineering
Additional Responsibilities
- Integration of technical arguments
- Derivation, implementation and management of safety cases on plant
- Scientific communication to the general public
- Liaison with the regulators
- Engagement with other nuclear operators on a national and international level
- Providing advice to wider business
- Managing contractors
- Assessments of requests to dispose of waste
Your curiosity, positivity and enthusiasm is as important as your academic qualifications and experience. Experienced candidates will have the opportunity to shape the work programme and be key to supporting our growing capability, while for those with less experience, a clear pathway exists to grow and develop within the team over the long-term. We will work with you to develop a training and mentoring programme, tailored to you’re needs and interests.
Are you self-motivated scientist or engineer, with an interest in technical complexity, scientific rigour, problem-solving and technical communication with an interest in embarking on an expertise-based technical career?
We have a growing, multidisciplinary programme of work and are looking to recruit more than one individual. If you are the right candidate, we will work with you to identify a role and set of objectives complimentary to your skillset. We’re looking for candidates with:
- Good (1st or 2:1) first degree in a scientific, engineering or mathematics discipline
- An interest in joining our team!
We would particularly welcome applications from those with prior experience in the following areas:
- Radiological / Nuclear Safety Assessment
- Environmental Assessment of long-term consequences / risk
- Radioactive waste disposal
- Assessment of nuclear security risks
- Exposure pathway modelling
- Human factors assessment within the nuclear industry
- External hazards assessment
- Assessment of consequences/ risk associated with nuclear packaging and transport
- Criticality assessment
- Dose and shielding assessment.
- Underground hazards
- Radiological protection to support design
- Chemotoxic hazards
We would also be interested in hearing from individuals who are looking to develop or begin a career in safety cases. Successful candidates would be supported with a personal development plan to enable a clear path for development, training and progression.
- On appointment to NWS you will receive 25.5 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and you can accrue up to 13 extra days leave
- Rewarding performance (annual bonus scheme)
- We offer a generous pension scheme through CNNP
- Learning and development support
- Payment of relevant annual professional subscriptions
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Financial advice assistance
- Flexible working
- Extended family-friendly policies
- Cycle to work scheme
- We welcome flexible and agile working practices
- Flexible working requests can be submitted from day 1 of employment