Process Operator

Job Introduction

Job Description for Process Operator: 

NNL is where you’ll experiment to help solve global challenges. As part of our Waste Management & Decommissioning capability, your work will impact the lives of generations. By finding new ways to avoid, reduce, store and treat nuclear waste, and drive down the cost of decommissioning, you’ll help to deliver cleaner energy and influence our nation’s energy future. You’ll face new challenges every day, working in unique locations on ground-breaking projects. Whichever area you specialise in this is a place to do great science for a good cause.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Waste and Residue Processing team based at NNL’s Preston Laboratory. The team develops and implements bespoke treatment and processing solutions for a range of complex wastes and residues, predominantly from the front-end of the fuel cycle. The team works across a Pilot Plant processing facility as well as numerous laboratories.

The successful candidate will join a team of Process Operators directly supporting Pilot Plant operations. As a Process Operator you will be expected to operate a wide range of equipment and bespoke processing modules to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of designated work packages to time, and cost.
The management team will ensure the successful candidate receives the necessary training, development, and experience; to allow them to run/oversee multiple operations simultaneously, comfortably adapt to change in process, and work under varying levels of supervision.

Main Responsibilities

Main Responsibilities for Process Operator: 

• To undertake training to achieve competence in all Pilot Plant operations / processes (batch production chemical plant)
• To undertake training to achieve competence in all laboratory techniques directly supporting Pilot Plant
• To carry out Pilot Plant operations as requested by Pilot Plant Operations Team Leader
• To carry out laboratory operations as requested by Pilot Plant Operation Team Leader
• To carry out operations safely in a high hazard environment, as stipulated under permissioning documentation
• To utilise human performance tools to enhance operational safety
• To contribute towards continuous improvement activities and EHSS&Q objectives as directed by plant management
• To be trained in the use of FLT, overhead crane, and monitoring equipment
• To carry out plant wide positive compliance checks
• Future potential to be trained as mechanical fitter supporting plant corrective maintenance

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Criteria for Process Operator: 

• Operational experience, preferably on a chemical plant / high hazard environment
• Willingness and aptitude to undertake training to become competent in a wide range of processing modules
• Ability to build effective working relationships within a small team and across different business areas 
• Demonstrable positive attitude towards achieving high levels of safety and quality
• Attention to detail and questioning attitude
• Enthusiastic and flexible approach to work
• Excellent organisational skills
• Able to work in active area
• Good communication skills
• Intermediate level of computer literacy
• Trained or prepared to be trained in a variety of PPE (such as PVC suits / respirators)
• British citizen as defined in the British Nationality Act 1981 (British Nationality Act 1981 (legislation.gov.uk)).  Please note if you hold a dual nationality, of which one nationality is British, you may still be considered but this is dependent on your dual nationality.
• 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).

Desirable Criteria for Process Operator: 

• Experience of working on a nuclear or highly regulated site would be an advantage
• Working knowledge of criticality control, nuclear material accountancy, and radiological safety 
• FLT license
• Overhead crane operator
• NVQ level 3 in chemical process operations or equivalent

About The Company

Grounded in robust science and decades of experience, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the authoritative voice in the UK and beyond for technological development within the nuclear power sector.

Our unparalleled understanding of the science, challenges and opportunities makes us an unrivalled authority and partner in the field, providing experts, technologies, and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.

Harnessing potential technologies and translating them into to industry-ready solutions means our pioneering approach spearheads international improvement and technological progress.

We work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with our integrated micro drilling technology, or as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems for spacecraft, based on radioactive materials

NNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where NNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures. 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.

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.