Chemical Safety Lead

Nuclear Restoration Services; Thurso; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13.5% employer pension contribution

28 days annual leave + bank holiday

Company bonus scheme

Flexible working

Relocation assistance

Healthcare options

Job summary

NRS Dounreay is seeking a Chemical Safety Lead to provide technical leadership and specialist support to ensure COMAH, DSEAR and COSHH compliance at Dounreay. You will work with operations, regulators and stakeholders to develop robust management arrangements for hazardous substances and build chemical safety capability across the site.

This senior role offers the chance to influence safety standards within a complex decommissioning environment and contribute to ALARP demonstrations while

Qualifications

• Degree in Science, Engineering or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Significant experience in a COMAH/DSEAR regulated industrial environment.
• Strong knowledge of hazardous substance management, DSEAR implementation and safety assessment techniques such as HAZOP, HAZID, LOPA and Bowtie.
• Experience developing management arrangements, inventory controls and safe systems for dangerous substances.
• Proven ability to engage with regulators, lead compliance activities and provide expert technical guidance.
• Post specific physical capability assessment.
• Desirable: NEBOSH Certificate in Safety and Environment (or equivalent).
• Desirable: COMPEX EX14 Responsible Person qualification (or equivalent).
• Desirable: Experience of HAZMAT incident response and hazardous substance procurement processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead compliance with COMAH, DSEAR and COSHH regulations across the site.
• Provide specialist chemical safety advice and support to operational teams and stakeholders.
• Manage chemical safety processes, including inventory control, risk assessment and hazardous substance management.
• Engage with regulators and auditors, supporting compliance activities and ALARP demonstrations.
• Develop chemical safety capability through training, mentoring, incident learning and team leadership.

Skills

Hazardous substances mgmt

DSEAR implementation

HAZOP

HAZID

LOPA

Bowtie

Regulator engagement

Inventory controls

Safety systems

Education

Degree in Science/Engineering

NEBOSH Certificate in Safety and Environment

COMPEX EX14 Responsible Person qualification

Tools

COMPEX EX14 Responsible Person qualification

Job description

NRS Dounreay is looking to appoint a Chemical Safety Lead to provide technical leadership and specialist support to ensure COMAH, DSEAR and COSHH regulations compliance at Dounreay. Working within the Health and Safety function, the successful candidate will play a key role in implementing, managing and maintaining processes, developing the chemical safety capability, and supporting the safe delivery of Dounreay's decommissioning mission.

Are you an experienced chemical safety professional looking to influence safety standards within one of the UK's most complex industrial environments? Do you have the expertise to lead compliance, support operational teams, and drive continuous improvement in chemical safety?

NRS Dounreay is seeking a Chemical Safety Lead to play a leadership role in compliance with COMAH, DSEAR and COSHH regulations. This specialist role will be central to developing the chemical safety arrangements, building internal capability, and ensuring the safe management of hazardous substances across the site.

What will you be doing?

As the Chemical Safety Lead, you will provide expert advice on chemical safety, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and site standards. You will work closely with operational teams, regulators and stakeholders to develop and maintain robust management arrangements for hazardous substances.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Lead compliance with COMAH, DSEAR and COSHH regulations across the site.
• Provide specialist chemical safety advice and support to operational teams and stakeholders.
• Manage chemical safety processes, including inventory control, risk assessment and hazardous substance management.
• Engage with regulators and auditors, supporting compliance activities and ALARP demonstrations.
• Develop chemical safety capability through training, mentoring, incident learning and team leadership.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced chemical safety professional with strong technical knowledge, leadership qualities and the ability to influence stakeholders within a complex, high-hazard environment.

• Degree in Science, Engineering or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Significant experience in a COMAH/DSEAR regulated industrial environment.
• Strong knowledge of hazardous substance management, DSEAR implementation and safety assessment techniques such as HAZOP, HAZID, LOPA and Bowtie.
• Experience developing management arrangements, inventory controls and safe systems for dangerous substances.
• Proven ability to engage with regulators, lead compliance activities and provide expert technical guidance.
• Post specific physical capability analysis assessment

Desirable

• NEBOSH Certificate in Safety and Environment (or equivalent experience).
• COMPEX EX14 Responsible Person qualification (or equivalent).
• Experience of HAZMAT incident response and hazardous substance procurement processes.

Why Join NRS Dounreay?

• Be part of a nationally significant nuclear decommissioning programme
• Work within a highly skilled and supportive team
• Contribute to achieving Zero Harm and environmental restoration goals
• Opportunities for ongoing professional development and progression
• Benefits such as; 13.5% employer pension contribution, 28 days annual leave + bank holiday, Company bonus scheme, Flexible working, Relocation assistance, Excellent flexible benefits & healthcare options

We are looking to hold interviews week commencing TBC, however, please note that this vacancy may close earlier than the stated deadline should we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note: All successful candidates who do not already hold security clearance will need to provide proof of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, and employment/education history (typically covering the last 3–5 years) in line with NRS Baseline Security requirements. Some roles may also require full Security Clearance, which involves additional checks. For details, please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) guidance.