Clarification from the agency

NRC employees are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted from U.S. citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

The successful candidates will serve as attorneys under the Assistant General Counsel and Deputy Assistant General Counsel for RP, SE, or LECL in the Office of the General Counsel.  Selectees will be placed in one of these three divisions but may move to other OGC divisions as workload needs change over time.  Depending upon placement, duties will include providing representation in agency adjudications or before administrative tribunals or providing advice in non-adjudicatory contexts and advising and providing legal services related to:

• The licensing and regulation of nuclear power and non-power reactors, including issuance, renewal, and transfer of licenses, construction permits, early site permits, combined licenses, operating licenses, and manufacturing licenses; issuance of standard design approvals and design certification activities for new reactors; and reactor operator licensing.
• Cybersecurity, safeguards, and physical security of NRC-licensed facilities and materials; reactor and materials enforcement matters, and related agency adjudications.
• Contracts, bid protests and other procurement and contract disputes, monetary claims, grants, building and property management, budget, and fiscal matters (e.g., Anti-Deficiency Act).

The following are performed with a high degree of independence:

Reviews technical documents to determine their legal sufficiency; performs difficult original legal research; develops solutions to novel and complex legal issues; provides legal opinions and advice; and identifies and addresses policy matters, including consideration of relevant risks.

When serving as lead attorney, provides leadership and guidance to assigned back-up attorneys.  In this role, makes assignments to the back-up attorneys and provides comments and revisions to documents and other work products connected with assigned matters.

Depending upon assigned OGC division, provides advice and counsel in connection with the licensing and regulation of nuclear power and non-power reactor facilities, issuance of standard design approvals and design certification activities for new reactors, reactor operator licensing (RP); or security of nuclear facilities and materials, allegations of wrongdoing, investigations, and enforcement of agency requirements, (SE); or budget, fiscal policy, reimbursements, building and property management, use of appropriated funds for services and material, procurements and grants, contract administration issues, bid protests, and contract disputes (LECL).

When in an agency-internal litigation role (RP or SE), prepares and conducts difficult and complex cases before Atomic Safety and Licensing boards, Presiding Officers, and the Commission.  Prepares motions and briefs; obtains witnesses and develops their testimony; negotiates with petitioners, intervenors, licensees, applicants, attorneys, members of the public, and Federal and State and local agencies; conducts direct examination on highly technical-scientific subjects; and regularly makes persuasive arguments during oral hearings.

When in an external litigation role (LECL), prepares and conducts complex cases dealing with bid protests or contract disputes before administrative tribunals, e.g., General Accountability Office and Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.  Prepares motions, briefs, and pre-trial discovery; prepares witnesses, conducts direct and cross-examination, making persuasive arguments and prepares post hearing briefs.

Conditions of employment

• This is a Drug Testing position.
• Subject to OGE Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.
• Also subject to NRC's Prohibited Securities rule.
• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires.

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

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 includes experience that is defined as attorney or judicial work experience in a federal or state government legal office, federal or state judiciary, or the private practice of law, which provided the candidate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the work of these positions.

Examples of qualifying experience include but are not limited to: thorough knowledge and understanding of legal principles and laws such as the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Anti-deficiency Act, the Economy Act, or other statutes applicable to Federal or State regulatory agencies; legislative history and case law; and NRC or other regulatory agency rules, regulations, and policies.

Minimally qualified candidates will have multiple years of work experience, including substantial regulatory and statutory interpretation and/or litigation experience, in fields related to the work of OGC at the NRC or analogous work at Federal or State regulatory agencies or in the private sector; however, a preferred candidate would have experience in administrative law and environmental law, security and enforcement practice, or in contract and appropriations law, and would possess extensive litigation experience. Typically, at least one year of this experience should be comparable in complexity and responsibility to the kind of work normally assigned at the grade 13 or 14 levels in the Federal government, or equivalent.  An applicant should also possess the experience, poise, temperament, judgment, collegiality, and professional stature required to successfully perform the important duties and responsibilities of an attorney providing legal advice to the General Counsel (and the Deputy General Counsels and Associate General Counsel, if applicable), the Commission, and the NRC staff.  An applicant's resume should describe any prior experience with the adjudicatory process and litigation; procurement and tort claims; and/or enforcement activities.  A successful applicant should have excellent written and oral communication skills and have a demonstrated ability to make fair and impartial decisions in a timely manner.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Ability to interpret and analyze Federal laws, statutes, regulations, and cases as they relate to agency adjudicatory processes or external administrative hearing processes.
2. Ability to effectively identify, analyze, prepare detailed legal opinions, and resolve complex legal issues in various areas of law.
3. Ability to provide legal advice and support to the General Counsel, the Commission, and the Commission staff on all aspects of:
   1. reactor licensing and regulation for operating reactors, new reactors, advanced reactors, reactor license transfers, license renewal, design certification, reactor decommissioning, and research and test reactors;
   2. cybersecurity, safeguards, and physical security of NRC-licensed facilities and materials, allegations of wrongdoing, investigations, and enforcement of agency requirements; or
   3. financial matters, including claims, budget, fiscal policy, reimbursements, building and property management, and use of appropriated funds for services and materials.
4. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in-writing in connection with providing advice on enforcement activities and/or hearings on reactor litigation before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards, Presiding Officers, and the Commission, or in hearings before external tribunals such as the General Accountability Office or the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.

A description of how you possess these abilities should be included in your application package.

You must meet the qualifications for this position no later than 30 days after the date you submit your application and before placement in the position.

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.