Summary
The incumbent serves as the Senior Professional Staff (Geoscientist/Geochemist). The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board offers unique opportunities to address complex environmental challenges of national and international importance while working on a team of professionals from a variety of scientific and technical disciplines.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Special authorities: Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above but defined in the federal hiring regulations.
Duties
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Geoscientist/Geochemist will:
- Maintain extensive knowledge of corrosion mechanisms; evolution of the geochemical environment that includes processes such as sorption and diffusion that impact the barrier performance of engineered and natural barriers; nuclear waste form degradation; radionuclide release and transport; and surface complexation and other mechanisms that impact the transport of radionuclides in different geologic media.
- Evaluate DOE activities related to monitored retrievable storage facilities and deep geologic repositories, including developing technical siting criteria, site characterization, performance assessments, and development and deployment of laboratory-based and field-based experiments investigating geochemical topics.
- Familiarity with laboratory and field experiments on radioactive material transport, numerical models for reactive transport, and coupled process models.
- Provides the Board with detailed information on developments in both the private and public sectors that can affect the direction of DOE's repository development program, and analyzes the technical, scientific, and regulatory effects of those developments.
- Provides authoritative technical advice and guidance to the Executive Director and to Board members on complex technical issues related to key decisions made by DOE. As requested by the Executive Director, the incumbent drafts correspondence and reports in response to inquiries from members of Congress and their staff, state and local governments, Federal agencies, Tribes, and the interested public.
- Ability to conduct technical or scientific investigations in areas of assigned responsibility, gather technical data, analyze the data, and write succinct reports based on the analysis.
- Maintain a current knowledge of DOE efforts to implement its spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste management program by attending DOE meetings, reviewing DOE documents, and interacting with DOE and contractor employees working in the program.
- Analyze DOE implementation plans and meet with appropriate DOE representatives to ascertain the status of DOE's implementation of approved Board recommendations.
- Interact with scientific groups and committees, other Federal agencies, Tribes or state and local governments to assist the Board in evaluating DOE activities and developing Board recommendations. When appropriate and as assigned by the Executive Director, the incumbent represents the Board at technical meetings, in meetings with interested groups, and in interactions with members of Congress and their staffs, and representatives of the Office of Management and Budget and the Government Accountability Office.
- Assist other professional staff members in executing their duties when assigned to do so.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
U.S. Citizenship Required.
May be required to complete background investigation and drug screening.
A one-year trial/probationary period may be required.
Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents).
Time-in-Grade: Current or former Federal employees applying under merit promotion considerations must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements for consideration.
Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
All qualification requirements for this position must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
This position is subject to the financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. Therefore, if selected you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment to this position. This information will be required annually.
Relocation expenses or relocation incentives as described in 5 U.S.C. 5753 may be authorized in accordance with applicable travel regulations, agency policy, and available funding.
Qualifications
- A comprehensive knowledge of the mission, functions, responsibilities, and objectives of the Board.
- Superior communication, synthesis, and writing skills, including the ability to accurately summarize Board deliberations and prepare draft reports based on those deliberations in a timely manner.
- Ability to analyze information from multiple disciplines and communicate the results of the analyses clearly and effectively in written reports and presentations to Board members, Congress, and Department of Energy senior management, as appropriate.
- Familiarity with programs of other agencies and the legislation affecting them, including the Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, and Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team, including Board members and staff, and to assist with reviews being performed by other staff members.
- The necessary skills to organize teams, manage meetings, and supervise the production of reports and other documents.
- Familiarity with the U.S. program, programs in other countries, and international organizations involved in managing and disposing of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
- Potential for effective participation in teams with respect to planning, coordinating, and executing projects.
- Relevant project experience may include participation on interdisciplinary teams, project management, and workshop coordination.
Education
Should possess an advanced degree (preferably a doctorate) in geoscience or geochemistry or a closely related field and at least eight years of professional experience.
Foreign Education: In order to demonstrate that education completed in other countries meets the qualification requirements, applicants must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs, and that such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. program. Otherwise, proof must be provided to show that full credit has been given for the courses at an accredited U.S. college or university.
For further information, visit: (https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/).
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
QUALITY RATING FACTORS:
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to job responsibilities and qualifications as stated:
THE FOLLOWING ARE HIGHLY DESIRABLE FOR CANDIDATES TO POSSES:
- Planning and Evaluating
- Technical Competence
- Oral Communication
- Writing
The panel of the Board's staff will initially evaluate each application on the basis of the resume, the written statement, the most recent performance appraisal (if the applicant is a current or former federal employee) and any other documents submitted by the applicant to support the application. The evaluation process may also include calling references provided by the applicants. Based on this initial evaluation of applications the panel will recommend which candidate or candidates should be interviewed by an interview board. The interview board may include the Chair, other board members, the Executive Director and members of the Board staff.
Candidates may be requested to provide additional documents and may also be required to demonstrate writing capabilities during the selection process. The Board may evaluate applications, identify one or more candidates to be interviewed, and extend one or more offer(s) of employment prior to the closing date for this job announcement.
Required Documents
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on TBD.
- Résumé which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicating hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
- A written statement presenting the applicant's key qualifications, experience and skills and discussing how these relate to the required and desirable qualifications.
- Current/Former Federal employees: Most recent Performance Appraisal.
- Current/Former Federal employees: Your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).
- Official Transcript.
- Incomplete applications may be rejected.
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
To apply for this position: Please submit your application by mail or email and reference announcement number in the email subject line and in your cover letter.
Applications by mail should be sent to:
Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
ATTN: Neysa M. Slater-Chandler, Director of Administration
2300 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 1300
Arlington, VA 22201-3367
703-235-4473
Applications by e-mail should be sent to resumes@nwtrb.gov and reference this Job Announcement number in the subject line.
Next steps
Please review the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section of this announcement.
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