Summary
Organization: Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
Supervisor: E. Roy Hawkens, Chief Administrative Judge
Disclosures: This position is subject to Public Financial Disclosure Reporting requirements and NRC prohibited securities ownership restrictions.
This is an Open Until Filled Vacancy Announcement. It will be used to fill positions as vacancies occur. Over the course of the
open period, applications will be reviewed and referred for positions as they become available.
Clarification from the agency
Open to public
Duties
Serves as a member of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP). Prehearing activities include examining pleadings and filings and preparing orders. Hearing activities include coordination of the hearing, scheduling the hearing, questioning or examining witnesses and evaluating their testimony, and assuring an accurate hearing record. Decision-related activities include studying the record, considering proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, researching precedents, and preparing written orders and decisions.
Secondarily, as requested by the Chief Administrative Judge of the Panel, and not inconsistent with his/her primary adjudicatory responsibilities, performs other assigned duties, including advising the Chief Administrative Judge and the Panel concerning regulatory, administrative, and procedural matters relating to the licensing process of the NRC.
The Panel is comprised of legally trained administrative judges (Legal Administrative Judges), as well as scientifically and technically trained administrative judges (Technical Administrative Judges). The ASLBP conducts hearings and makes decisions with respect to granting, suspending, revoking, or amending licenses authorized by the Atomic Energy Act, including those related to nuclear power plants, enrichment facilities, fabrication facilities, fuel cycle related facilities (including those for spent fuel storage), and facilities licensed to possess nuclear materials. Hearings usually are conducted by a three-member Board, typically consisting of one Legal Administrative Judge and two Technical Administrative Judges who have experience and expertise in fields related to issues before the Board. This assignment will be associated with expected hearings to include the licensing of new commercial nuclear power plants, license renewal of existing nuclear power plants, and power uprates of existing power plants. Both Legal and Technical Administrative Judges are appointed as members of the Panel by the Commission on the basis of recognized experience and achievement in their field. Candidates found well qualified will either be appointed directly or placed on a register from which future appointments may be made.
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship Required
- This is a Drug Testing position.
- Background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires.
Qualifications
Minimally qualified candidates will have at least 10 years of work experience, including substantial litigation experience in fields that apply directly to the adjudicatory work of the ASLBP; however, a preferred candidate would have experience in administrative law and environmental law, and would possess extensive litigation experience. Typically, at least one year of this experience should be comparable in complexity and responsibility to the kind of work normally assigned at the grade 15 level or higher in the Federal government, or equivalent. An applicant should also possess the experience, poise, temperament, judgment, collegiality, and professional stature required to perform successfully the important duties and responsibilities of a presiding Administrative Judge in proceedings that come before the ASLBP. An applicant's resume should describe any prior experience with the adjudicatory process and litigation (e.g., as counsel for a party). A successful applicant should have excellent written and oral communication skills and have a demonstrated ability to make fair and impartial decisions in a timely manner based on the record. Because the Panel works as a team, applicants should be accustomed to, and skilled at, working in a collegial environment.
The ideal candidate for this position will demonstrate:
1. Comprehensive knowledge and experience with trial/administrative hearing procedures and practices, including rules of evidence and witness examination, alternative dispute resolution techniques, and the use of computer and telecommunications technologies (e.g., electronic filing and database management, video conferencing), particularly as they may apply to licensing and enforcement proceedings regarding civilian nuclear facilities for which public hearings are required.
2. An ability to understand, interpret, and apply substantive law and ability to assimilate technical subject matter, define issues, and analyze, synthesize, and evaluate evidence.
3. An ability to make independent decisions in a timely, fair, and impartial manner.
4. An ability to communicate orally in a manner that is clear, concise, and understandable, and to elicit facts by examining expert and lay witnesses; a demonstrated ability to listen attentively and deal courteously, tactfully, firmly, and impartially with others in an adversarial or similar setting; and an ability to write clear, concise, comprehensive, and convincing decisions involving complex legal and technical issues in a timely manner.
5. The ability to establish effective work relationships with all levels of management, peers, and staff, and to achieve cooperation and consensus among parties engaged in joint or parallel efforts.
A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be addressed in your resume.
Education
You must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a J.D., LL.B., or equivalent degree, and you must be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.
Benefits
As an NRC employee you will enjoy excellent Federal Benefits, including: comprehensive health and life insurance plans; Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care; Long Term Care Insurance; Dental and Vision Insurance; retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan); annual (vacation) and paid sick leave; family friendly leave policies; 11 paid holidays per year; transit benefits. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees. https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits
When NRC determines that, in the absence of such incentives, it will be difficult to fill the position with a suitable candidate, NRC may offer recruitment incentives to eligible new appointees, or relocation incentives to current Federal employees who are required to move geographically. Generally, current Federal employees are not eligible for a recruitment incentive.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applications will be forwarded to a screening committee for the purpose of evaluating qualifications of the candidates that may be recommended to the Commission for appointment. In determining the degree to which candidates possess the required knowledge, skills, and abilities, the screening committee will consider breadth, recency, and length of experience in the field; education and training; professional stature; awards and commendations; past and current performance; and community or outside professional activities. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position.
Applicants MAY BE periodically referred to the screening committee both during the open period and for up to 90 days after the closing date of the vacancy. You may preview questions for this vacancy.
List of supplemental material that may be applicable:
All applicants are required to submit a writing sample, demonstrating communication skills, technical expertise, and analytic ability.
If you are an NRC employee you are required to submit your most recent Rating of Record (Performance Appraisal) or a statement saying that one is not available.
If you are a current/reinstatement eligible Federal employee with status (Tenure Group 1 or 2), you will be considered under our merit promotion procedures and must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify competitive status or reinstatement eligibility.
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) You can find additional information about Veterans' Preference at http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.
All supplemental documents will now be collected electronically and should be submitted before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. You have three choices for submitting your supplemental documents:
1. Use the "USAJoBs" feature to download documents from your USAJOBs portfolio; or
2. use the "Upload" feature to upload documents directly from your computer. The following types of documents can be uploaded: .gif, .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, and .doc; or
3. use the "Fax" feature to print the Fax Cover Sheet and fax it, along with your supplemental documents to 1-571-258-4052.
We strongly encourage you to read the entire announcement before you submit your application for this position.
Your application for this vacancy must be received online via the USAJOBS application system BEFORE 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online application, you will not be considered for this position.
Paper applications will not be accepted unless hardship circumstances can be demonstrated. Requests for extensions WILL NOT be granted. If applying online poses a hardship for you, the Human Resources Specialist listed on the announcement will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date. Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist during business hours BEFORE the closing date of the announcement and speak to someone who can provide assistance for your online submission.
You will be rated based on your the information provided in your resume and any infromation you provide in the aditional infromation section of the application. Breadth, recency, and length of experience in the field; training, awards, and commendations; past and current performance; and community or outside professional activities will be considered to determine your level of knowledge, skill or ability for this position. Abbreviated responses such as “significant experience” do not provide enough information and should not be used.
If you do not use USAJobs resume buildier and choose to upload a resume, please ensure you supply all needed infromation. USAJOBS supplies requirements for what to include in your resume at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/#help-article-share-menu
To begin the application process, select the "Apply On-line" button to the right on this screen. Then follow the prompts to login/register, submit all required supplemental documents, and complete the application process.
Next steps
You may check the status of your application at any time after the announcement closes by logging onto USAJoBs and selecting "Application Status."
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