Senior Hydrologist Job in Rockville, MD

Vacancy No. NRR/DEX-2025-0001 Department Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Salary $167,603.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 15 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/27/2024 Close Date 1/20/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Rockville, MD


Summary

These positions are located in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), (DEX), External Hazards Branch (EXHB) Supervisor Barbara Hayes

These positions are in the Bargaining Unit with the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 208, and ARE subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting and security ownership restriction reporting requirements

Duties

Provides technical, programmatic, and project leadership in the area of hydrology to the agency. Serves as a Senior Hydrologist with special emphasis in applying hydrology to the safety review of nuclear power plant licensing activities under 10 CFR Parts 50 and 52. Leads development of new guidance and risk-informed approaches such as probabilistic flood hazard analysis, probabilistic risk assessments, graded approaches, and other innovations for the changing size and technologies of new reactor applications. Additionally leads NRC’s Dam Safety Program and supports the safety review process for siting, licensing, and decommissioning activities for reactor and material facilities. Serves as a technical witness at public hearings representing the NR in the area of hydrology.

As assigned, manages complex technical safety evaluations associated with new reactor applications, license renewal or amendment applications for operating nuclear power plants, and material facilities and decommissioning applications that may be highly complex or controversial.  Relies on the management directives, office instructions, rules, regulations, and procedures in carrying out assigned duties.  Ensures that NRC's strategic objectives of protecting public health and safety and the environment, promoting national security, and providing for regulatory actions that are effective, efficient, and open are considered in all efforts. 

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.

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-14) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.  

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the field of hydrology as related to site characterization relevant to siting nuclear facilities and hazard evaluations including the use of runoff and hydraulic models, and evaluation of local intense precipitation, riverine and dam failure related flooding, and coastal flood hazards.

(Example:  Describe work experience, education, and training which demonstrate your abilities, and your knowledge related to site characterization relevant to siting nuclear facilities and evaluation of external hydrologic hazards).

2. Demonstrated knowledge and experience relevant to interagency activities relevant to dams under the NRC’s regulatory authority consistent with the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety. 

(Example:  Describe work experience, education, and training which demonstrate your abilities, and your knowledge related to dam safety and related programs at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Us Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Interagency Committee on Dam Safety and on the National Dam Safety Review Board quarterly meetings.)

3. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with NRC regulations, regulatory guides, risk-informed approaches such as probabilistic flood hazard analysis, probabilistic risk assessments, graded approaches, and innovative approaches to reviewing the changing size and technology of new reactor applications.

(Example:  Describe specific experience, training, and accomplishments which demonstrate your knowledge of NRC safety related regulations, NRC related processes such as probabilistic approaches, weather and hydrology data sources related to both green and brownfield sites, and industry standards. Include several examples of such work and describe the complexity of the issue.)

4. Demonstrated ability to prioritize, plan, schedule, and manage complex technical projects involving interdisciplinary teamwork with technical experts in the fields of external hazards including contracted resources.

(Example:  Describe specific experience and accomplishments which demonstrate your ability prioritize, plan, schedule and manage complex technical projects involving interdisciplinary teams with expertise relevant to hydrologic characterization and hazard evaluation as well as experience as a Contracting Officer Representative.  Include several specific examples of projects performed and describe the complexity of the work, and your role in organizing and accomplishing the work, and the nature of the interdisciplinary interactions.)

5.Demonstrated ability and significant history presenting hydrologic characterization and hazard information both orally and in writing on complex technical issues. Work assignments demonstrate ability to lead technical discussions, represent the agency with external stakeholders develop resolution of challenging technical issues, document and provide recommendations to management. Describe experience interacting with management, staff, technical advisory bodies (e.g. NRC’s Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards) and representatives of industry (Example:  Describe volume and complexity of specific experience as well as training, and accomplishments which demonstrate your ability to effectively communicate complex technical issues related to hydrologic characterization and hazards and dam safety regulation as well as a high level representation on hydrologic and dam failure topics.  Describe your ability to prepare written documents such as safety evaluations, significant event briefings, or input to inspection related reports.  Provide several specific examples of both written and oral communication and describe the audience, the nature and complexity of the issue, and the outcome of such communication.)

Specialized Experience is defined as demonstrated knowledge of runoff and hydraulic models, evaluation of local intense precipitation, riverine and dam failure related flooding, coastal flood hazards, dam safety and inspections, and probabilistic approaches. 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

Basic Requirements:

  1. Degree: physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels.

    OR

  2. Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included performance of scientific functions related to the study of water resources, based on and requiring a professional knowledge of related sciences and the consistent application of basic scientific principles to the solution of theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. The following is illustrative of acceptable experience: field or laboratory work that would require application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geo-chemistry, geophysics, or civil engineering to making observations, taking samples, operating instruments, assembling data from source materials, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings orally and in writing. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience.

Applicants with related experience in hydrology gained through earlier Federal Government employment might have gained that experience in one or more occupational series. Such series include Soil Conservation, GS-457; Forestry, GS-460; Soil Science, GS-470; Civil Engineering, GS-810; Chemistry, GS-1320; Meteorology, GS-1340; and Geology, GS-1350. Comparable non-Federal experience may be given similar credit.

Additional information

In general, employees are expected to be in the office at a minimum of 4 days per pay period. Telework schedules, including full-time telework, 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. 

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.

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.  

Review our 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.

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

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/.

If you are applying for a position that requires a college degree, 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 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.

The NRC requires that applicants submit resumes built using the USAJOBS Resume Builder tool. The Resume Builder tool is activated upon selecting "Build New Resume" under the "Resumes" section of your USAJOBS account.

Resumes uploaded to your USAJOBS jobseeker account that have not been built using the USAJOBS Resume Builder tool WILL NOT be accepted and you WILL NOT be allowed to further advance through the NRC application process.

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

Erica M Mosley-Ferebee
Phone
301-415-1577
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
erica.mosley-ferebee@msn.com
Address
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Human Resources
Attn: Please Complete
Washington, District of Columbia 20555
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.” 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.

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. 


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