NIRO Technical Advisor (Secondment - 24 months)
Job Description for NIRO Technical Advisor (Secondment - 24 months):
NIRO sits at the centre of the UK’s nuclear ecosystem — bringing together government, industry, regulators, academia and international partners to provide independent, authoritative advice that enables informed decision-making and long-term capability development.
We are looking for an exceptional Technical Specialist to help shape and oversee strategic programmes across the UK nuclear landscape.
This is an opportunity to combine technical expertise with programme delivery, stakeholder leadership and systems thinking. You will work on nationally important issues spanning innovation, technology deployment, capability development, policy, regulation and strategic delivery across civil, fusion and broader nuclear capability.
You will join a high-performing team that values curiosity, challenge, collaboration and evidence-based decision making to help inform government and drive forward nuclear policy.
Main Responsibilities for NIRO Technical Advisor (Secondment - 24 months):
- Provide trusted technical advice
- Deliver independent, evidence-based technical advice to support Government priorities and strategic decision making.
- Apply specialist nuclear science expertise to complex challenges across the nuclear lifecycle and emerging technologies.
- Translate technical analysis into practical recommendations for senior audiences.
- Oversee strategic programmes and projects
- Assess the technical credibility, maturity and deliverability of key nuclear programmes.
- Support the assessment of technical programmes across government, industry and research organisations.
- Drive pace, accountability and outcomes across technical workstreams.
- Build influence across the UK nuclear ecosystem
- Develop trusted relationships within DESNZ and NIRO.
- Facilitate technical workshops, steering groups and strategic forums.
- Represent NIRO externally in various technical forums.
- Generate insight and inform decisions
- Analyse complex technical and strategic information from multiple sources.
- Produce concise, high-quality briefings, reports and recommendations.
- Identify emerging risks, opportunities and future capability needs.
- Strengthen capability and ways of working
- Develop tools, frameworks, guidance and processes that improve NIRO’s delivery and impact.
- Support continuous improvement across NIRO technical activities.
- Contribute to knowledge sharing and organisational learning.
- Champion excellence and inclusion
- Create an environment that encourages challenge, innovation and diverse perspectives.
- Maintain professional credibility and invest in ongoing personal development.
Essential Criteria for NIRO Technical Advisor (Secondment - 24 months):
- Strong technical capability relevant to nuclear science, engineering, technology, policy or programme delivery.
- Experience of contributing to the delivery of programmes or complex work packages involving multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
- Ability to work with ambiguity to deliver tangible outcomes.
- Ability to obtain BPSS level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment and criminal record checks).
Desirable Criteria for NIRO Technical Advisor (Secondment - 24 months):
- Experience working in the UK nuclear sector, Government, regulators, academia or innovation environment.
- Knowledge of specific areas of the nuclear eco-system, for instance in advanced reactors, fuel cycle, waste, fusion, regulation or capability development.
Why join NIRO?
- Work on nationally significant challenges.
- Influence the future direction of UK nuclear programme delivery.
- Collaborate with leading experts across the sector.
- Develop your career at the intersection of science, strategy and delivery.
- Be part of an organisation that values integrity, curiosity and impact.
- Gain a deep understanding of how Government works.
If you want to apply your technical expertise to work that matters at national scale, we’d love to hear from you.