Head of Risk

Job Introduction

Job Description for Head of Risk:

There’s never been a more exciting time to be part of the nuclear sector. New opportunities are being created all the time. At UKNNL, you’ll be in the ideal place to capitalise on this momentum, face new challenges and develop a long, successful and meaningful career. 

We’re an organisation that’s here to experiment and push the limits of what’s possible. So, if you’re keen to excel in your chosen field, this is the place to do it. Because at UKNNL, anything is possible.

As the Head of Risk, you will sit over the entirety of risk within UKNNL from project to enterprise. You will be responsible for ensuring that UKNNL has appropriate systems, processes and staff training to understand and manage risks across all operations.

You will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the overall Risk Management Strategy and Framework.

You will be the focal point to ensure that the Board has confidence that risks are identified, assessed against defined risk appetite, and appropriate controls and mitigations are put in place by risk owners.

Main Responsibilities for Head of Risk:

• To ensure competence within the business of risk management theory and application by providing tailored training.
• To own and drive the ERM Process across UKNNL.
• Attend senior management meetings and provide practical insight in relation to risks and controls.
• Contribute to high quality, timely updates to Risk Committees on key themes, trends, and horizon risks to support a range of risk management processes and decision making.
• Drive continuous improvements to our risk management processes to ensure they are fit for purpose and not an impediment to efficiency or effectiveness.
• Synthesise and analyse large quantities of data to create useful information and concise conclusions.
• Ensure all major programmes of work have embedded risk management in their project charters.
• Develop a Risk Management brand which successfully allows the function to interface and collaborate with other areas of the business.
• Produce monthly reports to the Risk and Assurance Committee (‘RAC’) as an attendee and for the Board (and Audit, Risk and 
• Assurance Committee – ‘ARAC’) where attendance will also be required in support of the Chief Nuclear Officer.
• Ensure that UKNNL has viable enterprise, site and functional business continuity plans that are subject to periodic testing.

Essential Criteria for Head of Risk:

• An internationally recognized certification in Risk Management such as (equivalents are acceptable):
  • IRM International Certificate / Diploma in Enterprise Risk Management.
  • NEBOSH IIRSM Certificate in Managing Risk.
• ICA Diploma in governance, Risk and Compliance.
• A Graduate level degree (preference for a STEM subject or equivalent professional qualification).
• Extensive experience in risk management including experience in a senior risk leadership role, preferably in a complex regulated environment.
• Be a strong confident leader, who clearly demonstrates drive, energy, dedication, and integrity, with a track record of delivery.
• Experience of having implemented (or re-certified) ISO 31000 – Risk Management and / or ISO 9001.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with your team as well as peers and other key stakeholders.
• Strong influencing, negotiating, team management and coaching skills.
• Understanding of regulatory framework and compliance requirements for a highly regulated industry (no requirement for specific nuclear experience).
• Experience in using modern risk management tools in an Integrated Management System – experience in implementing new systems and tools would be an advantage.
• Experience in making use of available data to make good decisions, and providing subjective insightful views backed by appropriate data.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills. Ability to present at senior management level and confidence to address the Board as required.
• Extremely high attention to detail and strong work ethic.
• Ability to obtain SC level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial and criminal record checks plus 5 years’ worth of UK residency).

Why join us?

UKNNL isn’t just a place where you can do career-defining work that makes a real-world impact. It’s also a place where you’ll feel appreciated and valued. We’re creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is free to be themselves and feel like they belong. We put your wellbeing first, we push you to reach your potential, and we do everything possible to help you feel safe, supported and inspired.

We also offer a range of employee benefits:

• Sector leading Family-Focused Policies: celebrate life events, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave and a week off for your marriage.
• UKNNL offers attractive pension plans. If you contribute 5%, UKNNL contributes 15%. Alternatively, if you choose not to contribute (0%), UKNNL will still contribute 10%.
• Annual Leave: Benefit from 25.5 days of leave, plus 4 extra days to be taken during Christmas shutdown, plus Bank Holidays.
• Reduced gym membership with discounts of up to 25% from 3,700 gym and leisure providers across the UK
• Company Bonus: Be rewarded for your contributions.
• Learning Opportunities: Enhance your skills through excellent development programmes.
• Employee Assistance: Access support for personal and professional challenges.
• Cycle to Work: Stay active and eco-friendly.
• Life Assurance: Ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
• Enhanced Sick Pay Benefits: Receive support during illness or injury.
• Access to ‘Mydiscounts’ which has a range of special offers and discounts from more than 200 suppliers, including medical insurance and dental insurance. 
• Health Care: Health savings plan which allows you to claim money back on visits to the dentist, optician and/or physiotherapist (limits apply).

About The Company

UKNNL is an incredible place to work. A place where people do things that have never been done before. A place where people push boundaries to further themselves, the business and society as a whole.

This is a place where personal and professional opportunities are limitless. If you want to change the world, if you want to tackle climate change, if you want to help advance medical science, if you want to help put things in space, if you want to answer the big questions, if you want to work with extraordinary materials, if you want to meet great people, learn new skills, challenge yourself, work flexibly, and build a long successful career with the power to make a real impact… you can do it all here.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

UKNNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where UKNNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures, providing reasonable adjustments as appropriate. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging and the ability to access to workplace in a way which works for you.

Recruitment Agency Notice

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List (PSL) for the provision of recruitment services. Only agencies on our PSL may provide CVs and only when the role is released to them by our recruitment team. We will not accept unsolicited CVs from suppliers not currently on our PSL. We explicitly reserve the right to add candidate details from unsolicited CVs from non-PSL agencies into our own candidate database and to pursue/hire such candidate(s) without any obligation, financial or otherwise, to the agency concerned.

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory