SSaudi Nuclear Energy

Confidential mandate

Head of Nuclear Safety & Safety Culture

The Head of Nuclear Safety and Safety Culture holds one of the most consequential and independent roles in a nuclear program. This individual establishes the program's independent nuclear safety function, embeds a WANO-aligned safety culture from the earliest phases of the program, and maintains the authority — and the obligation — to escalate safety concerns directly to program governance regardless of schedule or commercial pressure.

Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Seniority
Executive
Employment
Full-time
Work mode
On-site
The Head of Nuclear Safety and Safety Culture holds one of the most consequential and independent roles in a nuclear program. This individual establishes the program's independent nuclear safety function, embeds a WANO-aligned safety culture from the earliest phases of the program, and maintains the authority — and the obligation — to escalate safety concerns directly to program governance regardless of schedule or commercial pressure. This role reports independently of the program delivery chain on safety matters. That independence is not negotiable. It is the structural design of the role.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the independent nuclear safety function for the program, covering nuclear safety oversight, safety culture development, and operational safety governance • Develop and implement the program's nuclear safety management plan in alignment with IAEA safety standards and WANO principles • Lead nuclear safety culture assessment, monitoring, and improvement programs throughout the construction and pre-operational phases • Provide independent safety oversight of engineering, construction, and commissioning activities, with the authority to raise safety concerns at any level • Represent the program's safety function in interfaces with the NRRC, WANO, and international safety advisory bodies • Lead the program's corrective action program and operational experience review processes • Build and develop the nuclear safety team, including Saudi national professionals in safety culture leadership development

Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of nuclear safety experience, with senior leadership responsibility in a nuclear operating or new-build environment • Demonstrated experience establishing or leading an independent nuclear safety function • WANO peer review experience — as a reviewer, team leader, or host — strongly preferred • Deep knowledge of IAEA safety standards, nuclear safety culture principles, and INSAG guidance • Experience in the Gulf region or comparable international environments an advantage • Executive presence and the professional confidence to escalate safety concerns at any level of the organization • Willingness to be based in Riyadh on a full-time residential basis