Co-ordinator, SCCORS (Scottish Council Committee on Radioactive Substances)

Are you passionate about delivering the best outcomes for communities and the environment?

Are you experienced in policy and strategy development and in engagement with Government, industry or other important stakeholders?

The civil nuclear sector in Scotland is large and growing. While Scotland retains a policy of no new nuclear power stations, nuclear decommissioning sites, from Chapelcross in Dumfries and Galloway to Dounreay in the Highlands, employ thousands of staff and contribute significantly to the Scottish economy. The Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor (AGR) at Hunterston is now being defueled while Torness will close in the coming years. The Scottish Government is working to develop and deliver its strategy on the management of the most hazardous forms of radioactive waste.

The cleanup of Scotland’s nuclear legacy will take decades to complete and must be done in a way that protects both people and the environment. Likewise, there is a need to deliver the best economic, social and environmental outcomes for the communities that host nuclear sites and for Scotland as a whole.

The Scottish Council Committee on Radioactive Substances (SCCORS) is the voice of Scottish local authorities on nuclear issues. Many Scottish councils are members, and we engage with the Scottish Government and Parliament, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), regulators and others to represent our members interests and build their capacity.

In recognition of the growing need for local government involvement in nuclear decommissioning and waste management, SCCORS is seeking to appoint a Co-ordinator to support and expand our work.

The role will involve representing SCCORS to the Scottish Government, nuclear industry and others; organising regular meetings for our members; work planning; responding to consultations and drafting policy briefings; and working with our members to support their local engagement. The post holder will show excellent interpersonal skills, be highly organised, have a good attention to detail, political awareness and be able to work autonomously when required. This position will require a can-do attitude, juggling competing demands, learning on the job with ability to work in a fast-paced environment. 

Funding for this post is provided by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and the role is supported by Nuleaf, the sister organisation to SCCORS covering England and Wales.The postholder will report to the Convenor of SCCORS and be line managed by the Executive Director of Nuleaf.

Your role and responsibilities

This role is primarily to support the work of SCCORS. You will be responsible for a range of tasks including:

·      Building a detailed understanding of the nuclear sector/radioactive waste issues in Scotland and internationally and how it impacts on member local authorities.

·      Undertaking research on aspects of nuclear legacy management, including the clean-up of nuclear sites, nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management, in order to inform the development of SCCORS policy and advice to member authorities.

·      Building strong and effective relationships with the Scottish Government and Parliament, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Nuclear Restoration Services, Nuclear Waste Services and regulators. Representing SCCORS in relevant meetings with these and other organisations.

·      Organising regular (2 or 3 times per year) meetings for SCCORS members and preparing meeting papers and other information materials.

·      Drafting documents on behalf of SCCORS members including responses to consultations, policy and guidance papers and advice notes.

·      Developing relationships with member authorities, including provision of advice on specific local issues.

 You will also support the work of Nuleaf one day per week. Nuleaf is the equivalent local government organisation for England and Wales and this work will involve similar tasks as for SCCORS. There is also potential to host joint SCCORS/Nuleaf events when requested by the members of both organisations.

This is a three day per week role with the salary being pro rata based on the pay scale given. This post will be initially be for one year at which point it will be subject to review and potential extension. The role is envisaged as being home based, ideally within Scotland. It offers the potential for secondment, and in this case it would be possible to continue to work from the offices of your current employer.

You will need

-An ability to formulate clear and concise reports and presentations, analysing complex technical information and reporting it clearly to a wider audience.

-Experience of working in a political environment and with technical experts.

-Experience of working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders and partners to develop shared solutions to complex problems.

-Excellent communication skills with an ability to represent SCCORS effectively within a range of government and industry fora.

-An ability to work independently at home, to plan ahead and prioritise to meet deadlines and provide reliable project support.

-Use of creative thinking and problem solving to develop research and advice.

 It would be desirable, but not essential, to have knowledge and understanding of policy and practice in nuclear decommissioning, waste management and local government both at a UK level and internationally. A broader understanding of UK and devolved energy policy and of wider agendas such as sustainable development, social value and net zero carbon would also be of benefit.

A degree level qualification in a relevant subject is desirable.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

We will offer you

The ability to work in an enthusiastic and supportive team, influencing policy and strategy as it affects the many communities across the country that are impacted on by nuclear sites. Work patterns are flexible and can be designed around other commitments you have. You will receive support in learning more about the sector and about the work of local government in this important area. You will also be able to access a wide range of learning and development support.

Travel and workplace requirements

Infrequent Travel - We positively encourage the use of technology to communicate, but on occasions, there will be a requirement for you to travel to locations away from your contractual base, using reasonable and suitable means available to you. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability to meet the travel requirements of this role, please speak with the contact detailed below. Most travel is likely to be within Scotland but there may be opportunities to engage in meetings elsewhere in the UK or internationally.

Remote - This role can support hybrid working, a broadly even balance between working from home and working from an office/community setting. However, the expectation is that work will be on an entirely remote basis at home. Please speak with the contact detailed below if you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements.

How to apply

Please submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) along with a covering letter of no more than 2 sides of A4 that sets out your relevant experience for this role. Applications should be sent to Philip Matthews, Executive Director, Nuleaf via this website.

Closing date: Sunday the 27th October at 11.59pm.