Nuclear Material Control & Accountability (MC&A) Specialist

Idaho National Laboratory•Idaho Falls, ID

About The Position

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring Nuclear Material Control and Accountability (MC&A) Specialists to support nuclear energy operations by maintaining the precision and integrity of nuclear material control and accountability. The position supports Department of Energy directives and the security and efficiency of operations. Specialists represent the Safeguards department in implementing DOE Orders, interpret and apply program requirements, and oversee safeguards requirements for nuclear material shipments, receipts, inventories, and transfers. The role includes reconciling and reporting nuclear material accounting activities to the national accounting database; assessing INL inventory accuracy against the National Nuclear Material Management and Safeguards System; reviewing and maintaining facility and department documentation; and overseeing Material Balance Area (MBA) Custodians, access controls, and material surveillance. Specialists also investigate discrepancies, develop corrective actions and lessons learned, assess requests for material adjustments, train personnel, and manage the Tamper Indicating Device program. This is a multi-level position, with placement at Level 2 or Level 3 based on the depth and breadth of the candidate’s 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 pre-employment and periodic drug testing. Candidates 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; an advanced degree in the same fields; or 8 years of directly relevant work experience in lieu of a degree.
Level 3: Bachelor's degree in a scientific field or accounting and 5 years of relevant work experience; an advanced degree in the same fields and 2 years of relevant work experience; or 11 years of directly relevant work experience in lieu of a degree.
Relevant experience includes work in Nuclear Operations, accounting, RadCon, or as an MBA Custodian.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for the clearance.
Must be able to maintain Rad Worker II and Respirator qualifications.

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.
Manage execution of safeguards requirements for nuclear material shipments and receipts at INL facilities.
Coordinate, schedule, and direct nuclear material physical inventories.
Observe nuclear material transfers and associated activities within Material Balance Areas (MBAs).
Reconcile and report accounting activities to the national accounting database.
Analyze and assess the accuracy of INL nuclear material inventory against the National Nuclear Material Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS).
Contribute to the department documentation program, including reviewing and updating procedures.
Provide Facility Operations management with an annual assessment of MBA Custodian performance.
Provide oversight and develop solutions for unique MBA problems involving waste determinations, shipments, receipts, material adjustments, and inventory reconciliations.
Advise Operations and Safeguards management on issues that may affect nuclear material receipts or shipments.
Facilitate preparation and execution of shipper/receiver agreements at the site.
Evaluate and authorize nuclear material shipments and receipts in LANMAS, coordinating with other DOE sites, universities, or other countries.
Oversee and approve all internal nuclear material transfers at INL and verify that material will not exceed MBA values.
Oversee MBA Custodian access controls and material surveillance requirements according to Safeguards category level.
Investigate MBA discrepancies; determine and pursue required actions, write reports, create corrective actions, and provide lessons learned.
Assess the accuracy and methodology of requests for nuclear material adjustments of special nuclear material items and evaluate requests against DOE requirements.
Review, approve, and implement facility documents associated with MC&A.
Oversee MBAs, train all MBA Custodians across INL organizations, guide the establishment of MBAs, and appoint or release MBA Custodians.
Define criteria for assessing pass/fail performance of MBA Custodians across INL.
Assess implementation of corrective actions related to prior improvement opportunities or discrepancies.
Complete Basic Instructor Training (BIT) and train Safeguards and INL Nuclear Operations personnel.
Manage the Tamper Indicating Device (TID) program, including acquisition, disposition, training witnesses on application and removal, and managing purchasing and budgeting to ensure DOE specifications are met.