Senior Assurance Lead Job at St James’s WCH PS a minute Full Time NEW

Job Description

Help strengthen assurance at the heart of nuclear regulation

How do you provide independent assurance and trusted insight in an organisation responsible for protecting society from some of the UK’s most significant safety and security risks?

At the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), that challenge sits at the heart of our assurance work — and we’re looking for a Senior Assurance Lead to help drive it forward.

This is a unique opportunity to play a visible role in strengthening governance, risk management and internal controls across one of the UK’s most important regulators. Working across regulatory and corporate functions, you’ll help provide confidence that ONR is operating effectively, transparently and in line with its public mission.

The role combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. You’ll lead end-to-end assurance and audit engagements, provide insight and challenge to senior leaders, and contribute directly to organisational improvement in a complex, high-hazard regulatory environment.

The role

As a Senior Assurance Lead, you’ll lead and deliver risk-based internal assurance reviews across ONR’s regulatory and corporate activities.

You’ll provide independent, objective assurance on governance, risk management and internal control effectiveness, helping senior stakeholders make informed decisions and strengthen organisational performance. Acting as both a trusted advisor and constructive challenger, you’ll work closely with colleagues across the organisation to identify risks, improve systems and promote accountability.

This is a varied role where no two reviews are the same. You’ll lead assurance assignments from planning through to reporting and follow-up, ensuring recommendations are practical, proportionate and focused on continuous improvement.

You’ll also contribute to developing assurance methodologies and supporting a strong culture of risk awareness and learning across ONR.

Why this role matters

At ONR, our work protects society by securing safe nuclear operations across the UK. Strong governance, effective risk management and robust assurance are critical to maintaining public confidence and supporting informed decision-making.

In this role, you’ll have direct exposure to complex strategic, operational and regulatory risks, working across a broad range of organisational priorities. Your work will help strengthen organisational resilience, improve accountability and support ONR in delivering its mission effectively.

You’ll also have the opportunity to influence senior leaders and contribute to meaningful organisational improvement in an environment where assurance work has real impact.

About you

You’re an experienced internal audit or assurance professional who enjoys analysing complex issues, influencing stakeholders and driving improvement.

You’ll bring

• Experience delivering internal audit or assurance reviews within complex organisations
• Strong understanding of governance, risk management and internal control frameworks
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound risk-based judgements
• Confidence engaging with and constructively challenging senior stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise reports
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to deadlines

Experience working within regulated or high-complexity environments would be advantageous.

A relevant professional qualification (or working towards one), such as CIA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or CISA, would support your application.

Why join ONR?

ONR’s values are supportive, open-minded, fair and accountable, and we genuinely invest in our people. You’ll benefit from flexible, hybrid working from our offices in Bootle, Cheltenham or London, alongside a strong focus on wellbeing, inclusion and professional development.

You’ll work with experienced and committed colleagues across the organisation, gaining exposure to a wide range of strategic and operational challenges in a highly respected public body.

This is an opportunity to build your career in a purpose-driven environment where your work contributes directly to protecting society and supporting safe nuclear operations across the UK.

Apply now

If you’re looking for a role where you can influence senior decision-making, strengthen organisational assurance and make a meaningful public impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Closing date: 29 June 2026