Senior Technical Advisor for Risk Assessment and Analysis

Nuclear Regulatory Commission • Rockville, MD

3d

About The Position

This position is in the Division of Risk Assessment and Safety Systems (DRSS), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR). The successful candidate provides authoritative technical advice and assistance to the DRSS Director as a Senior Level Advisor on a broad range of technical, regulatory, and safety matters. The role serves as the agency’s senior authority on evaluating and resolving technical and regulatory issues concerning reliability and risk assessment in the design and operation of nuclear facilities.

The advisor provides senior management with guidance on complex nuclear safety issues; develops guidance and independently evaluates the NRC’s and industry’s use of risk assessment in regulatory matters; and conducts or leads studies and teams addressing significant technical issues. The position also coordinates resolution of safety-significant issues across the agency, manages key agency interactions with government and industry, and presents and defends NRC technical positions. The advisor represents the office at conferences and meetings and reviews regulations, policies, research, and agency documents for their effects on risk assessment and safety priorities. The role includes counseling management on the likely effects of regulatory and policy actions and recommending technical, priority, or resource changes to maintain focus on the most safety-significant issues.

The position requires at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower federal grade or equivalent: extensive knowledge of commercial nuclear facility design, construction, and operation; experience performing risk assessments of commercial nuclear facilities; and expertise using risk assessment techniques to evaluate safety issues involving facility designs and operations. An engineering degree or qualifying combination of engineering education and experience is required. Applicants must submit transcripts. Employment is subject to U.S. citizenship, drug testing, security and suitability requirements, and a one- or two-year trial period. Situational telework may be available under agency policy.

Requirements

• At least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.
• Extensive knowledge of the design, construction, and operation of commercial nuclear facilities.
• Experience performing risk assessments of commercial nuclear facilities and expertise using risk assessment techniques to evaluate safety issues involving nuclear facility designs and operations.
• Meet the engineering basic requirements through an acceptable engineering degree or a qualifying combination of education and experience, as specified in the announcement.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to meet and maintain security and suitability requirements; a transferable security clearance or a background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires.
• Successful completion of pre-appointment drug testing and compliance with the agency’s drug-use policy.
• Submit college or university transcripts with the application; foreign education must be supported by an acceptable equivalency evaluation.
• Demonstrate in the resume the specialized experience and qualifications relevant to the position.

Nice To Haves

• Recognized expert in the theories, principles, and practices of an engineering field related to commercial nuclear facility design, construction, and operation.
• Recognized expert with extensive experience performing risk assessments of commercial nuclear facilities and using risk assessment techniques to evaluate safety issues.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills and experience presenting complex technical or policy information to colleagues, peers, senior management, and representatives of other institutions, agencies, or organizations.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative technical advice and assistance to the DRSS Director on technical, regulatory, and safety matters.
• Serve as NRR’s senior technical expert for risk assessment and analysis.
• Advise senior management on complex safety issues involving the design and operation of nuclear facilities.
• Develop guidance and provide independent expert evaluations of the NRC’s and industry’s use of risk assessment in regulatory matters.
• Conduct independent risk assessment studies or lead teams resolving significant and complex technical issues involving nuclear facility design and operation.
• Independently pursue resolution of complex safety-significant issues requiring coordination and communication across the agency.
• Coordinate important agency interactions with government and industry concerning risk assessment, and present and defend NRC technical positions, concerns, objectives, and requirements.
• Represent the office at government, academic, and industry conferences, seminars, and meetings.
• Review proposed regulations, policies, reports, memoranda, and other agency documentation concerning or potentially affecting risk assessment, and provide comments, analysis, or recommendations.
• Counsel office and agency management on the likely effects of regulatory or policy actions related to risk assessment.
• Review NRC regulations, information notices, research studies, and other materials to identify potential significant impacts on the organization’s use and application of risk assessments.
• Consult with senior engineering management and staff, develop authoritative analyses and recommendations, and advise senior management on changes to technical activities, priorities, or resource allocations.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and life insurance plans.
• Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings and investment plan similar to a 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan).
• Annual vacation leave and paid sick leave.
• Family-friendly leave policies.
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• Transit benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior