Nuclear Material Control & Accountability (MC&A) Specialist
About The Position
Idaho National Laboratory is hiring Nuclear Material Control and Accountability Specialists to support nuclear energy work by maintaining the precision and integrity of nuclear material control and accountability. The position represents the Safeguards department in implementing Department of Energy orders and directives, interprets and applies program requirements, and manages safeguards requirements for nuclear material shipments and receipts. It coordinates physical inventories and supports secure, efficient operations across INL facilities and Material Balance Areas (MBAs). The specialist oversees nuclear material transfers, inventory accounting and reporting, shipments and receipts, MBA custodian performance and access controls, and material surveillance. The role assesses INL inventory accuracy against the National Nuclear Material Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS), contributes to facility and department documentation, investigates discrepancies, and develops corrective actions and lessons learned. It also provides training and guidance to MBA Custodians and Safeguards personnel, supports shipper/receiver agreements, and manages the Tamper Indicating Device program. This is a multi-level position, placed at Level 2 or Level 3 according to the depth and breadth of proven experience and skills. The team works a 4x10 schedule at the Materials and Fuels Complex, with Fridays off. This is a testing-designated position requiring a pre-employment drug screen and periodic testing during employment. The employee must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, and maintain Rad Worker II and Respirator qualifications.
Requirements
- Level 2: Bachelor's degree in a scientific field or accounting and 2 years of relevant work experience; alternatively, an advanced degree in the same fields or 8 years of directly relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
- Level 3: Bachelor's degree in a scientific field or accounting and 5 years of relevant work experience; alternatively, an advanced degree in the same fields and 2 years of relevant work experience, or 11 years of directly relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
- Relevant experience must include work in Nuclear Operations, Accounting, Radiation Control (RadCon), or as an MBA Custodian.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
- Must be able to maintain Rad Worker II and Respirator qualifications.
- Must meet the physical requirements of the role, including occasionally lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds and having sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform essential functions.
Nice To Haves
- Nuclear Material Operations experience.
- Material Balance Area Custodian experience.
Responsibilities
- Represent the Safeguards department in implementing DOE orders and directives related to nuclear material control and accountability.
- Interpret and apply program requirements and manage safeguards requirements for shipments and receipts of nuclear material at INL facilities.
- Coordinate, schedule, and direct nuclear material physical inventories; observe transfers and related activities within MBAs; and reconcile and report accounting activities to the national accounting database.
- Analyze and assess INL nuclear material inventory accuracy against the National Nuclear Material Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS).
- Contribute to department documentation, including reviewing and updating procedures.
- Provide Facility Operations management with an annual assessment of MBA Custodian performance.
- Oversee and develop complex solutions for MBA issues involving waste determinations, shipments, receipts, material adjustments, and inventory reconciliations; advise Operations and Safeguards management on issues affecting material receipts or shipments; and facilitate shipper/receiver agreements.
- Evaluate and authorize nuclear material shipments and receipts in LANMAS and in coordination with other DOE sites, universities, or other countries.
- Oversee and approve internal nuclear material transfers at INL and verify that material will not exceed MBA values.
- Oversee MBA Custodian access controls and material surveillance requirements based on safeguards category levels, and investigate MBA discrepancies.
- Determine and pursue required actions, write reports, create corrective actions, and share lessons learned to improve performance.
- Assess requests for nuclear material adjustments of special nuclear material items, evaluate them against DOE requirements, and review, approve, and implement facility MC&A documents.
- Oversee MBAs, train MBA Custodians across INL organizations, guide MBA establishment, appoint and release MBA Custodians, define pass/fail assessment criteria, and assess corrective actions addressing prior improvement opportunities or discrepancies.
- Complete Basic Instructor Training and train other Safeguards and INL Nuclear Operations personnel.
- Manage the Tamper Indicating Device program, including acquisition, disposition, purchasing, budgeting, and training witnesses in device application and removal; ensure DOE specifications are met.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to 4.8% match for regular positions
- Paid time off (personal leave)
- Employee Education Program with tuition assistance for eligible positions
- Comprehensive relocation package
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
