Access Authorization Specialist

Energy Northwest • Richland, WA

1d • $80,704 - $139,124

About The Position

This position requires demonstrated technical expertise to ensure compliance with the Access Authorization requirements of 10CFR 73.55, 10CFR 73.56, 10CFR 73.57, 10CFR Part 26, Reg. Guide 5.66, NEI 03-01. Duties include: obtaining and reviewing data to certify Unescorted Access Authorization (UAA)/grant Unescorted Access (UA) to Columbia Generating Station.

Requirements

• Access Authorization Specialist III Requires a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience in Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Regulated Unescorted Access Authorization or Unescorted Access (UAA/UA) Program. OR Requires an AA degree and at least seven years of experience in Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Regulated Unescorted Access Authorization or Unescorted Access (UAA/UA) Program. OR Requires a high school diploma or GED and at least nine years of experience in Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Regulated Unescorted Access Authorization or Unescorted Access (UAA/UA) Program
• Access Authorization Specialist II Requires a high school diploma or GED and at least six years of experience in a regulated environment with a focus on security, operations, and/or quality assurance.

Responsibilities

• Perform access authorization functions requiring application of background investigation including: Independent assessments.
• Performing off-site QA assessments as a knowledgeable and practiced Reviewing Official (RO).
• Demonstrated knowledge for: conducting reinvestigations, NRC Fingerprint submissions, behavioral observation program validation, hand geometry enrollment, first and second reviewer for unescorted access application validation, denial recommendation to Access Control leadership
• Make independent decisions.
• Inform Access Control leadership as an Access Authorization Subject Matter Expert (SME) that affect leadership technical and regulatory program compliance outcomes.
• Review and assess fingerprint submissions that are returned and approve results.
• Maintain unescorted access requirements established for critical group members.
• Perform as Reviewing Official (RO) when assigned by Access Control leadership.
• Provide technical expertise to the organization in the processing, documentation and completion of background investigations.
• Fingerprint applicants and ensure legibility in accordance with FBI standards.
• Administer psychological evaluations and interface with consultants to interpret results and schedule follow-up interviews.
• Review, evaluate and interpret investigative data to ensure compliance with requirements prior to authorizing unescorted access.
• Assist the Emergency Services Support Manager and the Access Authorization Program Manager in preparing documentation for access denial revocation.
• Responsible for approving and issuing photo identification badges for unescorted access to Columbia Generating Station and all Energy Northwest facilities.
• Maintain a database for assigned badges in accordance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirements and perform weekly audit of the Badge Assignment Report.
• Responsible for enrollment of individuals into the hand geometry system to ensure entry into the Protected Area of Columbia Generating Station and validate authorization of personnel.
• Provide training to applicants on the proper use of the system.
• Act as the Access Authorization point of contact (POC) for all Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Inspectors/ Contractors requesting unescorted access.
• Monitor, follow-up and maintain accurate documentation of all reported arrests/legal actions to ensure full compliance of the legal action reporting requirement. This will include documenting court actions, scheduling and determining the requirement for Substance Abuse Evaluation and monitoring completion of any treatment programs ordered.
• Schedule and complete reinvestigations for all employees/contractors who hold Unescorted Access (UA) in accordance with NEI 03-01. Schedule and complete psychological reassessments. NEI 03-01 requires that all individuals holding UA undergo a reinvestigation every 5 years, 3 years for critical group members.
• Maintain the Personnel Access Data System (PADS). Validate entries and act as the point of contact for all unescorted access transfer of information as requested by other nuclear utilities. Review issues and make appropriate determinations concerning sensitive/derogatory information that appears in PADS and make unescorted access authorization recommendations.
• Perform daily audit of UA termination submittal requests to ensure termination dates are reflected accurately.
• Perform daily audits of badges placed on hold and ensure affected individual’s supervision completes follow through of all requirements associated with continued unescorted access.
• Perform a monthly audit of randomly selected files to assure accurate information was uploaded to the PADS database.
• Perform daily audits of terminations daily to ensure termination dates are reflected accurately.
• Implement and maintain the monthly Behavior Observation Program (BOP)/Revalidation Report. Responsible for coordinating and consulting with responsible Fitness For Duty (FFD)/BOP Supervisors to ensure the accuracy of data for each organization is in compliance with regulatory requirements and procedures.
• Monitor and maintain the 30 day Protected Area entry requirement. Update the database daily for those individuals placed on hold. Review recertification form to Behavior Observation Program compliance, and coordinate reactivation of Unescorted Access.
• Review, evaluate and make recommendations for revisions to Access Authorization procedures and instructions. Develop, modify and maintain databases to meet Access Authorization requirements.
• Determine appropriateness for placing badges on administrative hold for badge activity, or releasing administrative hold functions in conjunction with established procedures or guidance for Access Control leadership.
• Lead investigations of specific events, occurrences or conditions as required by Energy Northwest Access Control leadership. Responsible for receiving and preserving the “chain of custody” of evidence confiscated during such investigations. Presents investigative results to responsible management, makes recommendations for corrective action and performs monitoring to ensure that corrective actions are received and filed.
• Participate in self-assessments, NEI Vendor Audits, NRC Inspections and QA Audits.
• Participate in Security Force on Force (FOF) drills and graded exercises, Participate as an Outage HIT member, and as an Emergency Response Organization (ERO) team member.
• Provide technical support to the FFD Program, as required, to implement FFD testing in accordance with 10CFR Part 26.

Benefits

• Energy Northwest (EN) provides a phenomenal benefits package. Washington State also has no state income tax, and the Tri-Cities provides a cost-of-living lower than the national average.
• EN offers substantial retirement benefits through three retirement programs including the Washington State Public Employees' Retirement System pension plan (PERS), a 401(k) savings plan with an employer match component, and a 457(b) savings plan.
• EN also offers multiple options for medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance coverage.
• Other voluntary benefits may include flexible spending accounts (FSAs), tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, childcare subsides, health reimbursement arrangement (HRA VEBA), health savings account (HSA), supplemental life insurances, credit monitoring/identity theft insurance, and more!
• Qualifying employees will typically start a personal time accrual rate of 160 hours per year and EN provides nine paid holidays throughout the Calander year; personal time accruals grow significantly at various service intervals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED