Project Manager Job in Rockville, MD

Vacancy No. NRR/DANU-2025-0010 Department Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Salary $142,488.00 to $185,234.00 Grade 14 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 6/26/2025 Close Date 7/10/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Rockville, MD


Summary

This position is located in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities, Advanced Reactor Policy Branch (UARP).

The supervisor is Michael Wentzel. 

This position IS subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements & subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements

Duties

The successful candidate provides leadership and manages the processing and review of all matters associated with assigned projects and licensing actions. Serves as the headquarters focal point for oversight of assigned industry groups, owner's groups, or vendors. Utilizes and/or develops proposals for changes to management directives, office instructions, rules, regulations, and procedures in carrying out complex projects. Oversee the use and consideration of safety and security goals in all efforts. Provides senior-level technical and staff expertise in the areas of licensing actions, interfaces, and regulatory improvements.
Duties include but are not limited to:

Serves as project manager for one or multiple projects or liaison relationships involving licensees, one or more industry groups, owner groups, or vendors as well as agency stakeholders. Manages and resolves unusual and/or highly complex technical problems and regulatory/licensing issues that may include complicated and precedent-setting tasks. Intervenes as an NRC representative in matters of public and managerial interest to include those demonstrated by occasional public meetings, average ticketed correspondence, and occasional 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) questions. Maintains an awareness of the most up-to-date regulatory issues affecting assignments.

Manages, coordinates, and performs safety and environmental reviews of licensing actions. Determines requirements for additional information, studies, reviews and documentation. Coordinates the development of generic communications. Recommends agency action for licensing actions consistent with NRC policies and regulations, precedents, safety evaluations, environmental reports, and other documentation. Independently manages the resolution of unique, first-of-a-kind technical issues identified in the review.

Performs complex technical reviews within areas of expertise, to include those that are unprecedented. Independently develops, or with input from the technical staff, requests for additional information and coordinates with the industry group, owner's group, or vendor to ensure completeness. Prepares work requests and integrates technical inputs into a single safety evaluation. Ensures that actions are completed within prescribed time periods in accordance with office goals and objectives. Resolves inconsistencies and differences of opinion among NRC organizations and the industry group, owner's group, or vendor.

Prepares work requests and integrates technical inputs into a single safety evaluation. Ensures that actions are completed within prescribed time periods in accordance with office goals and objectives. Assists in the resolution of inconsistencies and differences of opinion among NRC technical organizations, NRR staff, licensees, and the industry group, owner's group, or vendor.

Performs a wide variety of project management administration duties: Processes submittals in accordance with office and division policy (e.g., Office Instruction LIC-500, “Processing Requests for Reviews of Topical Reports,” LIC-101, “License Amendment Review Procedures”, RNWL-100, “Application Review Process for License Renewal and Subsequent License Renewal”); supports acceptance reviews, screens licensee, industry group, owner's group, or vendor submittals for technical adequacy, assigns priority, enters tracking information in databases, and plans and schedules work activities based on program goals; develops and maintains review schedules for assignments by coordinating with the assigned NRC review personnel and with licensees, industry group, owner's group, or vendor staff, and keeps the status of the projects updated in appropriate databases. Ensures that actions are completed within prescribed time periods in accordance with office goals and objectives. Independently evaluates significant operational events related to assignments. Supports the staffing of the headquarters or regional incident response center as required in response to events.

Prepares safety evaluations, public notices, routine correspondence, etc., for final processing by administrative staff. In response to requests from licensees, industry groups, owner's groups, or vendors, manages, coordinates, and routinely performs safety reviews of applications for review and endorsement of Topical Reports, Task Interface Agreements, and changes to the technical specifications (TSs).

Prepares briefing packages for drop-in visits by senior management of licensees, industry group, owner's group, or vendor officials with Commissioners and senior NRC management and provides input to regional briefing packages for site visits by Commissioners and senior NRC management. Briefs Commissioners and senior management before these visits, as requested.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • This is a Drug Testing position.
  • Must be able to meet/maintain security & suitability requirements.

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

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GG-13) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as experience with the licensing, design, operation, regulation, or inspection of commercial power nuclear plants, related vendors, or other nuclear facilities.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Demonstrated knowledge of principles, theory, practices and/or rules and regulations in the field of engineering, science, nuclear and/or byproduct materials (nuclear facilities, such as, operating reactors, new reactors, advanced reactors, and/or fuel facilities, etc.) to identify, analyze, and develop conclusions regarding assessments of regulatory programs.

(Examples may include specific training, education, and work experience that demonstrate knowledge and skills in the areas of engineering, science, byproduct and/or nuclear facility regulation and demonstrated ability to identify safety or security issues and recommend sound regulatory approaches as they relate to regulatory programs or licensee activities or operations.).

2. Demonstrated ability to prioritize and perform independent evaluations and reviews of unique technical issues, programs, or problems which document program performance, set precedent, or establish policy.

(Examples may include specifics in describing the breadth and depth of their experience in the areas of independent reviews, licensing reviews, or development of safety, security, programmatic, and/or policy issues. Candidates should describe their experience in performing special, time-sensitive projects which resulted in high-quality products.)

3. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful approaches to problem solving and conflict resolution.

(Examples may include be specifics in describing their education, training, and experience which demonstrates their ability to prioritize, plan, schedule, manage, and resolve issues relative to complex projects. Candidates should describe specific experiences, including the audience where they represented their organization on complex issues to diverse groups with competing goals and the outcome of problem solving or conflict resolution efforts.)

4. Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships with managers, coworkers, professional committees, and Federal, State, and local government agencies. 

(Examples may include specific experience, training, and accomplishments that demonstrate the candidate’s communication skills. Candidates should describe in detail their ability to: (1) use formal and informal networks to build support for programs; (2) lead complex technical discussions and consolidate complex and diverse opinions into concise presentations; (3) work in a team or group atmosphere; (4) formulate balanced and well-founded recommendations; (5) establish effective work-relationships with colleagues, managers, and other government and industry officials of diverse backgrounds. Candidates should describe the kinds of oral and written presentations they have made within the Agency and outside the Agency, including published technical documents they have authored and presentations they have made to the public.)

A description of how you possess the specialized experience should be addressed in your resume, the vacancy questions, and in the additional space provided for your supplemental response.

Education

GG-0801 (General Engineering Series):

Basic Requirements:

  • Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. 

OR

Combination of education and experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

  1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
  2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
  3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
  4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)
  • GG-1301, (General Physical Science Series):

Basic requirements:

  • Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. 

OR

  • Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Additional information

The duty location of this position is (Rockville, MD). This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with Agency policy.

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 and responses to any vacancy questions 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.

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.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

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.   Additionally, you must also submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action).

NOTE: Your complete application includes your resume, your responses to any vacancy questions, 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 these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. 

All supplemental documents can 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.

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.

To ensure you are using the correct resume type when applying to our vacancies, please make sure that the resume you are using during the application process is listed with a format type of "USAJOBS Resume" and a source type of "Built with USAJOBS Resume Builder. Verifying this information on your USAJOBS resume before applying will ensure the successful submission of your application to the NRC job vacancy.

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 must answer any job specific vacancy questions. You will be rated based on your responses to any vacancy questions and especially 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. Abbreviated responses to the vacancy questions, such as “significant experience” or “see resume” do not provide enough information and should not be used. You will not be considered for this position if you leave any of the vacancy questions unanswered.
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

Natasha Thomas
Phone
301-415-7000
TDD
240-428-3217
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
Natasha.Thomas@nrc.gov
Website
https://www.nrc.gov
Address
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Human Resources
Attn: Natasha Thomas
Washington, District of Columbia 20555
United States

Next steps

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


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