Sr. Health Physicist Instructor Job in Chattanooga, TN

Vacancy No. DE-12945157-26-BG Department Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Salary $125,776.00 to $163,514.00 Grade 14 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/27/2026 Close Date 5/22/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Chattanooga, TN


Summary

This position is located in Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO), Human Resources Learning & Development (HRLD).
The supervisor is Latonya Kyles.
This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.
This position is subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

Special authorities

Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens may apply.

Duties

The successful candidate will perform the full range of Senior Health Physicist duties.

Such duties include but are not limited to:

  • Coordinates the development and implementation of specialized technical training, as assigned, to provide NRC staff and Agreement State personnel with the level of knowledge of specialized technical training topics needed to perform their individual job assignments. This coordination requires front end analysis, development/review of course materials (objectives, lesson plans,examinations, etc.), monitoring of course presentations and making recommendations for course improvement.
  • Provides specialized technical training in health physics topics relate to nuclear reactors, fuel cycle, high and low level radioactive waste activities and the broad range of licensed activities involving radioactive material including medical and industrial applications, environmental monitoring, decommissioning, and the transportation of radioactive material.
  • Manages the Technical Training Center's (TTC) radiation safety program as the Radiation Safety Officer or Alternate Radiation Safety Officer.
  • Completes the HRLD formal staff qualification process in areas as assigned. Attains and maintains proficiency in the use of Agency information resources including document management and retrieval systems, web-based systems, and other IT systems.
  • Reviews technical and regulatory information to maintain currency with NRC policies and procedures and industry technical and operational information. Evaluates current information, reviews recommendations regarding updates to assigned training programs, and updates the programs as appropriate.
  • Evaluates training standards and programs developed by other government agencies, international agencies, and commercial fi rms for possible utilization in the technical training curriculum and updates assigned programs as appropriate.
  • Identifies best and/or alternate sources of instruction from among Government sources, consultants, contractors, and universities. Analyzes course offerings and/or proposals to determine costs and benefits to the NRC.
  • Prepares needs analysis and recommends training strategies, plans, and programs. Integrates training program development with analyses of instruction to produce sound training programs and improve overall NRC performance.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

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.

Selectees may be required to serve a trial period to assess their overall fitness and qualifications for continued employment. The trial period for new employees is two years. New employees who are preference eligible veterans serve a one-year trial period.

All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Conditions of Employment:

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

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at 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 experience working with radiological safety programs associated with the use of byproduct, source, or special nuclear materials, in areas of medical, industrial, reactors, fuel cycle, or decommissioning with an emphasis on NRC licensing or inspection, radiation safety, and experience with the development and implementation of training programs.


The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

  1. Extensive knowledge of the principles, theories and practices in the fi elds of radiation safety, physics, chemistry and life sciences, and specialized knowledge of the uses and applications of byproduct, source, special nuclear materials related to materials, fuel cycle and power reactor health physics and related programs..
  2. Knowledge of the principles and practices and demonstrated experience in the implementation and maintenance of technical training programs including the Systematic Approach to Training (SAT)..
  3. Broad knowledge of NRC regulatory programs, licensing and inspection/enforcement techniques and standards..
  4. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing and ability to deal tactfully and professionally with all levels of personnel.
  5. Experience managing and coordinating projects including managing budgets, establishing schedules, developing milestones development, and identifying resources. Examples may include project management or experience as a Contract Officer's Representative.


A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate must be addressed in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria.

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

Education

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.
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 .

You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application. Transcript must include the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.


Selectees 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.

The NRC is a zero-tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use. Individuals selected for these positions will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing.

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 waiver 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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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.

When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements. Your application will be evaluated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job requirements. You must respond to all required application questions.

If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for possible interview and selection based upon the number of available vacancies to be filled in each office.

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 resume that directly relates to this position.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your application package to be complete. If you fail to provide any required documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

  • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, title, series, grade (if applicable); and 4) other qualifications. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. See below for Additional Resume Information.
  • Transcripts: You must submit an official or unofficial copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application, if the position has a positive education requirement. Failure to submit transcripts will result in loss of consideration. Diplomas do not provide the information needed for determining qualifications and will not be accepted in lieu of transcripts.

In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following eligibilities:
  • Current Federal Employees/Reinstatement Eligibles: You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify competitive status or reinstatement eligibility. This SF-50 should not be an award SF-50.
  • Veteran Preference Eligibles: You must submit DD-214 showing type of discharge/character of service (e.g. DD-214 Member 4 Copy); SF-15 Form; and related documentation such as a VA letter showing disability percentage. If currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment. You can find additional information about Veterans' Preference at http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.
  • Individuals with Disabilities: If you are applying under the Schedule A Hiring Authority, you must submit supporting documentation (i.e., Schedule A Letter). You may refer to the following link for additional information. USAJOBS Help Center - Individuals with disabilities.
  • Military Spouse: All military spouses must submit documentation verifying marriage to the service member (e.g., marriage certificate); AND
    • Current military orders (e.g., statement of service) to support active-duty service for more than 180 consecutive days; OR
    • If you are a spouse of a 100% disabled service member, documentation must include service member's DD-214 and 100% service disability (e.g., VA Letter); OR
    • If you are an un-remarried widow or widower of a service member killed while on active duty, documentation must include verification of service member's death while on active duty (e.g., DD-1300).
  • Peace Corps: You must submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility.
All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English.

Additional Resume Information:
Your resume is crucial in our evaluation of your qualifications. Resumes should clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Please limit your résumé to 2 pages. To ensure your resume contains all required information, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all the required information, and you organize it so we can associate the following information with each experience/position:
  • Job title
  • Name of employer
  • Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format
  • Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will pro-rate part-time employment in crediting experience.
  • Concise, results-focused language for job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable).
  • Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position).
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.) or other inappropriate material on your resume or cover letter. If your resume contains prohibited information as listed above, your application may be determined ineligible, and you will not receive consideration for this position. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter, links to social media such as LinkedIn, to determine your qualifications. Cover letters are optional.

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

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin an application. To be considered for this position, you must complete the online application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 05/22/2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. For a preview of the application questions, please see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12945157.

To begin your application, select the "Apply" button located on the right side of this screen. Follow the subsequent prompts to log in or register, submit all required documents, answer the questions, and complete the application process. You may either select your required documents within your USAJOBS profile to upload with your application or directly upload them during the application process. The following types of document types can be uploaded: .gif, jpg., .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, .doc, and .docx.

Important Considerations:

  • Paper Applications: Paper applications will not be accepted unless you can demonstrate hardship circumstances through the agency contact listed below.
  • Application Extensions: Requests for application extensions will not be granted.
  • Hardship Assistance: If you experience hardship applying online, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below for assistance. You must reach out during business hours before the announcement closing date and speak with someone who can provide support for your online submission.
  • The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the coordinator at (301) 415-5888 or TDD 240-482-3217. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Your complete application must include your resume, responses to all required vacancy questions, and any required documents that prove your eligibility to apply.

Agency contact information

Brent Gray
Email
Brentney.Gray@nrc.gov
Address
Human Resources Learning and Development Division
11545 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
US

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." You will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. We will review your resume, question responses, and transcript(s) (if appropriate) to ensure you meet the qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and may interview the best-qualified applicants. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability and/or security background investigation.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

If you are curious, inspired, or interested in bringing your energy to a committed team in a dynamic science, engineering, technical, or administrative career, consider the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). We are professionals dedicated to protecting people and the environment by safeguarding the use of nuclear materials in medicine, industry, and research.

NRC is an independent agency established to protect public health and safety as nuclear energy fuels electrical power and a variety of industrial, medical, and research applications. We come from varied educational and experiential backgrounds-the military, industry, and academia.

The NRC prides itself on creating a work environment rich in opportunity, leadership, training, teamwork and work life balance. Help guide our nation into the next generation of nuclear safety by completing your USAJOBs profile and reviewing our job announcements! Begin a challenging career with the NRC where you can be a part of a select group of professionals who protect people and the environment with the peaceful use of nuclear materials in medicine, industry and research.

Agency contact information

Brent Gray
Email
Brentney.Gray@nrc.gov
Address
Human Resources Learning and Development Division
11545 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
US

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