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Chief Nuclear Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

US Government Jobs

Mission Support Officer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$4.2K - $5.4K/mo

Job Opportunity Announcement This position is located in Office of the Chief Nuclear Reactor Inspector. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within the agency.

Radiant

Director of Regulatory Affairs

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$186K - $258K/yr

This role reports to our Chief Nuclear Officer and is based in Washington, DC. Responsibilities and Duties: * Provide licensing and regulatory leadership and strategic guidance to a high performing ...

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Chief Nuclear Officer information

See salary details

$41.5K

$151.2K

$269.5K

How much do chief nuclear officer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief nuclear officer in the United States is $151,203.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,500.00 and $185,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Chief Nuclear Officer vs Nuclear Safety Manager?

AspectChief Nuclear OfficerNuclear Safety Manager
CredentialsEngineering degrees, nuclear certifications, leadership experienceNuclear engineering or safety certifications, technical expertise
Work EnvironmentExecutive leadership in nuclear facilities, strategic planningOperational safety oversight, safety protocols implementation
Employer & Industry UsageUtilities, nuclear power plants, industry executivesNuclear facilities, safety departments, regulatory agencies

The Chief Nuclear Officer focuses on overall nuclear plant leadership, strategy, and compliance, while the Nuclear Safety Manager concentrates on safety protocols, risk management, and regulatory adherence. Both roles require nuclear expertise but differ in scope and responsibilities.

How does a Chief Nuclear Officer typically collaborate with regulatory agencies and internal teams to ensure compliance and safety?

A Chief Nuclear Officer (CNO) plays a central role in maintaining compliance with strict regulatory standards by working closely with both government agencies and internal departments. The CNO regularly communicates with bodies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to stay updated on regulations, oversee inspections, and address any compliance issues proactively. Within the organization, the CNO leads cross-functional teams—including operations, engineering, and safety personnel—to implement best practices, conduct safety drills, and review procedures to ensure continuous adherence to safety protocols. This collaborative approach helps foster a strong safety culture and ensures the facility operates within all legal and ethical parameters.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Chief Nuclear Officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Nuclear Officer, you need extensive experience in nuclear plant operations, a deep understanding of nuclear safety protocols, and typically a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with regulatory compliance systems, risk management tools, and relevant certifications such as a Senior Reactor Operator license are highly valued. Leadership, strategic decision-making, and effective communication are essential soft skills for guiding teams and ensuring a strong safety culture. These qualifications are critical for ensuring regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and the safe, reliable generation of nuclear power.

What is a Chief Nuclear Officer?

A Chief Nuclear Officer (CNO) is a senior executive responsible for overseeing all nuclear operations within an organization, typically in the energy or utility sector. The CNO ensures the safe, reliable, and regulatory-compliant operation of nuclear power plants or facilities. Their duties include managing nuclear safety programs, implementing regulatory requirements, leading emergency response initiatives, and fostering a safety-focused culture among staff. The CNO also communicates with government agencies, stakeholders, and the public about nuclear operations and safety performance.
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What job categories do people searching Chief Nuclear Officer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Chief Nuclear Officer jobs are:
Chief Nuclear Officer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chief Nuclear Officer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 93% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,203 per year, or $72.7 per hour.
Organizational Effectiveness Leader

Organizational Effectiveness Leader

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations

Atlanta, GA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Summary of Purpose:
The Organizational Effectiveness Leader works independently and influences the team's effectiveness by motivating and inspiring the workforce to identify the most important nuclear safety gaps. Provides a clear vision of the company's strategic direction and decisions are made appropriately in response to problems or issues. Implements clear, concise communication on a regular basis.
Essential Functions
  • Assists the Continuum Leader in the conduct of INPO continuum site visit teams and WANO-AC peer review teams composed of INPO/WANO and industry personnel to identify gaps to excellence and strengths
  • Assists the Continuum Leader to lead a team of functional areas Points of Contact to continuously view behaviors, interpret information, advance performance, and intervene to improve results, as necessary
  • Leads and/or participates in organizational effectiveness diagnostic visits and assistance activities
  • Evaluates and provides assistance to assigned stations in the areas of organizational effectiveness, nuclear safety culture, culture of continuous improvement and performance improvement. This includes analyzing plant data and conducting interviews and observations to identify improvement issues and their underlying causes
  • Builds a collaborative team, ensuring that industry peers and industry advisors are actively engaged, to fully leverage the collective knowledge and experience of team members
  • Writes & edits reports
  • Effectively communicates continuum site visit and peer review results to utility Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nuclear Officer
  • Interacts with all levels of INPO management and utility personnel
  • Engages in, and provides leadership for, various INPO initiatives and activities
  • Coaches and mentors internal and external peers
  • Performs other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Advanced knowledge of industry standards and best practices in leadership effectiveness, team effectiveness, and management model development and implementation
  • Advanced knowledge of industry standards and best practices in the performance improvement and operating experience programs
  • Advanced knowledge of independent oversight
  • Advanced knowledge of the nuclear plant continuum and peer review operations
  • Advanced knowledge of operational risk
  • Advanced knowledge of organizational and individual proficiency
  • Advanced ability to lead and manage people and teams
  • Advanced ability to observe, coach, and provide feedback to team members and all levels of the INPO organization
  • Advanced ability to think strategically, critically analyze, discern, and interpret various data elements and information sources
  • Advanced ability to communicate complex issues in simple, yet compelling messages to managers and executives who have a wide variety of experience
  • Demonstrated ability to achieve results and continuous improvement
  • Demonstrated management and leadership capability to: influence others, foster an inclusive environment, coordinate resources, communicates in a concise manner, provide feedback to improve individual and team performance and has the ability to discern importance of issues
  • Advanced ability to work and maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive/private information

Education, Licenses, and Certifications
Required
  • High School Diploma or GED
  • SRO certification or license or equivalent military certifications or experience

Preferred
  • Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, physical science or other related area
  • Navy nuclear training

Experience
Required
  • Six or more years of professional work experience
  • Four or more years of experience in the commercial nuclear power industry or commensurate military experience

Preferred
  • Cross qualified in 2 functional areas or previous applicable senior nuclear leadership experience

Additional Requirements
Work Context
  • Must be able to work prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
  • Must be able to work under minimal supervision
  • Must be able to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb, and crawl
  • Must be able to climb multiple flights of stairs, climb ladders, traverse scaffolding
  • Must be able to lift 25 pounds
  • Must be able to travel domestically or internationally by plane or car
  • Must have a US state or territory issued Real ID compliant driver's license or identification card

Behaviors and Assessments/Additional Requirements
  • All INPO employees are expected to abide by behavioral expectations as outlined in INPO's Core Values, Team Effectiveness Attributes, and Leadership Effectiveness Attributes
  • Employment is dependent upon successfully completing a pre-employment background check and drug and alcohol test
  • This position may require obtaining unescorted access status
  • This position requires direct or indirect access to certain export-controlled technology, for which INPO may be required to obtain an export license in accordance with applicable U.S. export control laws and regulations. If an export license is required, any offer of employment at INPO for this position is contingent upon receipt of the export license or authorization

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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