Health Physicist Job in Naperville, IL

Vacancy No. R-III/DRSS-2024-0009 Department Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Salary $115,439.00 to $150,075.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/19/2024 Close Date 10/17/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Naperville, IL


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

These positions are located in the Division of Radiological Safety and Security, Region III.  Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.

These positions require up to 40% travel. 

These positions are in the Bargaining Unit of the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 208. 

Selectees will be subject to Office of Government Ethics Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.

Duties

These positions may be filled in either Decommissioning, Reactor, ISFSI and Health Physics Branch; the Materials Licensing Branch; or the Materials Inspector Branch. 

The successful candidates may perform the full range of radiological and environmental protection licensing activities and/or serve as an inspector to plan, conduct, report and integrate findings associated with radiation protection inspections of active and/or decommissioning light-water reactor facilities, medical facilities, materials facilities using byproduct, source and/or special nuclear materials and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSI).  Such duties include, but are not limited to:

  1. Review license applications for all uses of byproduct, source and special nuclear material other than nuclear power production.
  2. Perform routine and complex inspections of operating and/or decommissioning reactor facilities, including ISFSI to observe and assure conformance to NRC rules and regulations.
  3. Perform routine planned and reactive inspections of materials licensees to ascertain conformity with design and other criteria, evaluate the adequacy of licensee controls and provisions for radiological and environmental safety.  
  4. Recommend enforcement action with regional management approval when inspection findings indicate a significant violation of the license or NRC rules and regulations
  5. Prepare inspection reports to document whether the facility is being operated safely, the licensee’s management control program is effective, and regulatory requirements are being met.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • This is a Drug Testing position.
  • Background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires.

You must meet the qualifications for these positions by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Qualifications

In addition to the basic education requirements, to qualify for these positions you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: experience that demonstrates specific knowledge in and recent experience with programs that require work with radiological safety programs associated with the use of byproduct, source or special nuclear materials, in areas of medical, industrial, academic and/or decommissioning (material use or reactor operations).   You should also have recent experience associated with a regulatory program focused on safety and the ability to present technical information orally and in writing.  A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be included in your resume.

To meet the level of experience for the GG-13 level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GG-12 level.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1.  Knowledge of the principles, theories and practices in the field of health physics and radiation safety, and in the implementation of programs associated with the use of byproduct, source or special nuclear materials in the areas of medical, industrial, academic, decommissioning (material use or reactor operations), or Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSIs).

2.  Demonstrated ability to perform evaluation and analysis of radiological health hazards, or remediation of either byproduct, source or special nuclear material.

3.  Demonstrated knowledge of NRC rules and regulations related to the radiation protection aspects in the licensing and inspection of byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials.

4.  Demonstrated ability to present technical information both orally and in writing.

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. The NRC encourages applicants to provide extensive job experience details in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy questions to provide additional information pertaining to specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria. 

PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.   

Education

Basic Requirements:

Degree: natural science or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in health physics, engineering, radiological science, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and/or calculus.

OR

Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or other education; or certification as a health physicist by the American Board of Health Physics, plus appropriate experience and other education that provided an understanding of sciences applicable to health physics comparable to that described above.

Additional information

The duty location of these positions is Naperville, Illinois. In general, employees are expected to be in the office 4 days per pay period. Telework schedules are approved, on a case-by-case basis. If selected, telework will be determined in accordance with Agency policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, if applicable. 

Individuals who are eligible for non-competitive appointment under an OPM special appointing authority may apply for consideration under a comparable NRC non-competitive appointing authority. Veterans, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/fedshirevets/

The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate.  Individuals with disabilities may contact the Selective Placement Coordinator for assistance with the application or hiring process via  Disability.Resource@nrc.gov.  Deaf applicants may contact the Disability Program Manager by calling the NRC videophone at 240-428-3217.

Selectee's will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.  False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

A transferable security clearance from another agency or a background investigation leading to a clearance is required for all new hires.  To begin work at the NRC without a security clearance, you must be granted a temporary waiver of the required clearance, referred to as a 145(b) waiver.  To be eligible for a 145(b) waiver you will need a favorable education verification, reference, credit, and criminal history checks.  If a wavier is granted, the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication is required for continued employment.  If you have resided outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, the agency may not be able to (1) grant the 145(b) waiver where the required investigation cannot be completed in a timely manner, or (2) achieve timely completion of the background investigation required for a security clearance.

The NRC is a zero tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use.  Individuals selected for this position will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing unless currently in a NRC position subject to random drug testing AND will be subject to random drug testing upon appointment to the NRC.
 

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal 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; 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

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume to determine your level of knowledge, skill and ability related to the job requirements. If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager. Please keep in mind your resume is of key importance 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.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

List of supplemental material that may be applicable:

If you are a 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/.
You must submit your College Transcripts.

All supplemental documents will now be collected electronically and should be submitted before the closing date of this vacancy announcement.  You have two 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

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

We strongly encourage you to complete your USAJOBS profile before you submit your application for this position.  

Please read the entire announcement. 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.

NOTE: Your complete application includes your resume and if necessary, documents which prove your eligibility to apply.

To ensure all of the essential information is in your resume, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS online Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position. If you fail to provide the required documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Job title
2. Name of employer
3. Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format
4. Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.
5. Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable).
6. Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position).

These positions have an education requirement, therefore you must submit your transcript OR list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses along with the course credits in your resume.

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.

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 the information provided in your resume. 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. 

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.

Agency contact information

Lindsey Spicer
Phone
630-829-9522
TDD
240-428-3217
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
Lindsey.Spicer@nrc.gov
Address
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2056 Westings Ave.
Region III - Human Resources
Naperville, Illinois 60563
United States
Learn more about this agency

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."


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.