Principal Technical Advisor - Radiochemist

OUTSOURCE Consulting Services, Inc.•Aiken, SC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Seeking a Principal Technical Advisor - Radiochemist to support our federal government client in Aiken, SC. Application Deadline: Friday, 02/06/2026 at 12:00 noon EST. Requirements: The Contractor will perform the following duties: Provide leadership, oversight, and expert guidance to resolve unusually complex technical, organizational, and strategic issues having division, site, or industry-wide implications. Establish technical programs necessary to support state-of-the-art capabilities within assigned organizational and programmatic areas, plan for and integrate applicable emerging technologies. Provide key leadership role in technical decision-making process. This position functions in support of, and with few exceptions, reports to a level 2 manager or higher. Establish cost-effective technical solutions to issues generated by frequently changing requirements; define and conduct technical investigations where appropriate. Develop "leading edge" methods and technologies to effectively mitigate undesirable programmatic and operational issues or deficiencies. Provide expert technical guidance and leadership on problem resolution by assessing atypical, unusually complex issues, and situations impacting future roles of the organization and/or program operations (e.g., site policies, major process reengineering, strategic planning, organizational development). Typical assignments are most often broad, and program oriented in nature; assignments require extended periods of time often involving several months to years, although smaller and less complex issues are handled and occasionally require less time. Provide expert leadership of multi-disciplinary team(s) engaged in highly visible/business sensitive, project-type work involving extremely complex problems, and/or key budget, schedule, or regulatory compliance issues, for example. May involve engaging consultants and other outside experts. Define scope of new project-type work and changing technical program requirements. Work independently to ensure adherence to technical policies and guidelines; consult with cognizant management and staff on corrective action plans. Represent assigned organization and technical issues to both internal and external customers; manage related correspondence. Interact with DOE-SR, DOE-HQ, and other external organizations on substantive matters involving assigned technical issues. Interact with oversight panels and boards as appropriate in areas of technical expertise. Propose strategic business goals and milestones involving technical issues for which incumbent has expertise, and against which organizational and operational performance will be measured; participate in related strategic initiatives. Develop strategic plans for major new program areas and for resolving technical issues. Remain intellectually current of job-related emerging technologies, and serve as communications source for advanced technical theories, principles, and concepts. Manage special projects involving multiple divisions, departments, or other organizations. Utilize self-initiative and delegated authority to draw on the required resources and expertise to solve complex organizational and programmatic problems within the framework of a team environment with limited direction. Provide input and participate in programmatic improvement initiatives in support of mission goals. Provide technical and operational input on such items as Authorization Bases Documents, technical reports, and program-level procedures. Also, provide technical input to Training, Procedures, and other such support organizations, as appropriate. Additional Duties: Method development, troubleshooting and improvements in radiochemistry and radiobioassay techniques including fecal fusion techniques for radiobioassay method in order to reduce method turnaround times. Other examples are the radiochemistry specific methods (Ra-226/228/I’129) for water samples. Mentoring and technical development of scientists in the field of radiochemistry Work Hours: Up to a 40-hour work week is scheduled. The client utilizes various work schedules, including 5/8s (8 hour/day; five days per week), 4/10’s (10 hours/day; four days per week), and 9/80’s (9 hours/day, five days on week AA and four days on week BB. Work week excludes the client holidays. Each workday has 30-minute lunch. Overtime will be expected at times to meet deliverables and will be utilized at the discretion of the Manager. The anticipated schedule is Mon-Thurs, 6:45 am to 5:15 pm EST. Travel: Travel to the site maybe required for onsite work with EBL Technical Staff. Area Security Access: Candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE “Q” security clearance. An active DOE clearance is not initially required to perform assigned duties. After award, the selected candidate will be notified when to apply for a clearance based on specific work assignments.

Requirements

Radiobioassay and environmental laboratory expertise in radiochemical separation techniques including ion separation column technologies
Expertise in new method development and improvements in radiochemical separation processes and quality improvements with peer journal examples
Radiobiassay laboratory experience in method development techniques
Radiological detection and measurements experience
Experience in data review, validation and quality control of radiological datasets
Leadership skills in mentoring other technical staff for development of technical skills
Specialized knowledge required varies with the technical assignment
Advanced knowledge of such subjects as analytical chemistry, radiochemistry, non-destructive examination techniques, reactor physics, statistics, or plant operations are typical areas in which the incumbent will need to demonstrate a high level of proficiency
Knowledge in other areas likely to benefit the incumbent, include experimental design, and project management.
Extensive hands-on experience with computers and various types of software, a knowledge of the administrative systems, and previous assignments in facility operations and maintenance, engineering, or business-type functions, such as finance, operational and/or program/project planning/scheduling, information resources, or procurement operations, for example, are highly desirable.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE "Q" security clearance
Bachelor's degree in physical science (e.g., chemistry, physics, biology) or engineering (chemical, nuclear, electrical, mechanical) field with 15 to 20 years’ experience preferably in nuclear related assignments, including direct operations management; some assignments in this job family require a major in statistics, math, or computer sciences, along with substantial practical experience.
An advanced degree, to the Master's or PhD/Doctorate level is preferable and would proportionally reduce the years of experience required.

Nice To Haves

Substantive management experience in these or related fields is preferred.
PhD in radiochemistry preferred
Candidates who have possessed an active DOE Clearance (L or Q) within the past 2 years

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, oversight, and expert guidance to resolve unusually complex technical, organizational, and strategic issues having division, site, or industry-wide implications.
Establish technical programs necessary to support state-of-the-art capabilities within assigned organizational and programmatic areas, plan for and integrate applicable emerging technologies.
Provide key leadership role in technical decision-making process.
Establish cost-effective technical solutions to issues generated by frequently changing requirements; define and conduct technical investigations where appropriate.
Develop "leading edge" methods and technologies to effectively mitigate undesirable programmatic and operational issues or deficiencies.
Provide expert technical guidance and leadership on problem resolution by assessing atypical, unusually complex issues, and situations impacting future roles of the organization and/or program operations (e.g., site policies, major process reengineering, strategic planning, organizational development).
Provide expert leadership of multi-disciplinary team(s) engaged in highly visible/business sensitive, project-type work involving extremely complex problems, and/or key budget, schedule, or regulatory compliance issues, for example.
Define scope of new project-type work and changing technical program requirements.
Work independently to ensure adherence to technical policies and guidelines; consult with cognizant management and staff on corrective action plans.
Represent assigned organization and technical issues to both internal and external customers; manage related correspondence.
Interact with DOE-SR, DOE-HQ, and other external organizations on substantive matters involving assigned technical issues.
Interact with oversight panels and boards as appropriate in areas of technical expertise.
Propose strategic business goals and milestones involving technical issues for which incumbent has expertise, and against which organizational and operational performance will be measured; participate in related strategic initiatives.
Develop strategic plans for major new program areas and for resolving technical issues.
Remain intellectually current of job-related emerging technologies, and serve as communications source for advanced technical theories, principles, and concepts.
Manage special projects involving multiple divisions, departments, or other organizations.
Utilize self-initiative and delegated authority to draw on the required resources and expertise to solve complex organizational and programmatic problems within the framework of a team environment with limited direction.
Provide input and participate in programmatic improvement initiatives in support of mission goals.
Provide technical and operational input on such items as Authorization Bases Documents, technical reports, and program-level procedures.
Provide technical input to Training, Procedures, and other such support organizations, as appropriate.
Method development, troubleshooting and improvements in radiochemistry and radiobioassay techniques including fecal fusion techniques for radiobioassay method in order to reduce method turnaround times.
Mentoring and technical development of scientists in the field of radiochemistry