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Deputy Director, Division of Engineering

Nuclear Regulatory Commission
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organization Location: Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Supervising Executive: Christian Araguas , Director, Division of Engineering 

Area of Consideration:  All Sources - Public 

Salary:  This is a Tier 3 (NRC Pay Group C) SES position

Financial Disclosure:  This position is subject to Public Financial Disclosure Reporting requirements and NRC prohibited securities ownership restrictions

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
10/10/2024 to 11/11/2024
Salary
$180,000 to - $204,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Rockville, MD
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Yes, as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Expenses with interview and/or relocation may be paid.
Appointment type
Permanent - Full-Time Permanent.
Work schedule
Full-time - This is a Senior Executive Service (SES) Position
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
Yes - This position is subject to Public Financial Disclosure Reporting requirements and NRC prohibited securities ownership restrictions
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
RES/DE-2025-0001
Control number
813513000

Duties

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As the Deputy Director, Division of Engineering, you will assist the Division Director in in providing programmatic leadership and direction in the planning, developing, and management of comprehensive safety research programs and standards development to support the NRC strategic goals in the design, construction, and operation of current and advanced nuclear power plants and other facilities regulated by the NRC; coordinating research activities with the program offices, as appropriate, on areas that include material characteristics, aging, natural hazards, homeland security, and engineering aspects of these facilities; and resolves technical, security, and safety issues, including those designated as generic issues (GIs), related to engineering and material issues.

You will provide leadership and direction to subordinate supervisors and professional staff responsible for:

  • Planning, developing, and managing comprehensive safety research programs and standards development to support the NRC strategic goals in the design, construction, and operation of current and advanced nuclear power plants and other facilities regulated by the NRC.
  • Coordinating research activities with the program offices, as appropriate, on areas that include material characteristics, aging, natural hazards, homeland security, and engineering aspects of these facilities. Resolves technical, security, and safety issues, including those designated as generic issues (GIs), related to engineering and material issues.
  • Lead agency responsibility for coordinating NRC codes and standards activities as these relate to federal law and interaction with writing organizations, including activities relating to the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law [PL] 104-113) and OMB circular A119, “Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires.
  • This is a Drug Testing position.

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

You must have substantial supervisory or leadership experience which demonstrates the ability to successfully carry out the roles and responsibilities described above, typically evidenced by experience in progressively more responsible supervisory or leadership positions. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) listed below. Applicants who do not meet or do not demonstrate possession of the ECQs and PTQs in their application will be eliminated from further consideration. Abbreviated responses to the ECQs and PTQ’s, such as "significant experience" or "see resume" do not provide enough information and will not be considered. ECQ’s and PTQ’s must be submitted in the space provided. You will not be considered for this position if you leave any of the ECQs or PTQ’s unanswered.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs):

Applicants must submit online written statements (narrative or bullet format acceptable) describing accomplishments that would satisfy the ECQs. You must address each ECQ separately and are required to respond to all ECQs. Note: Current career SES members, former career SES members eligible for reinstatement, and SES Candidate Development graduates (with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Review Board (QRB) certification) are encouraged, but not required, to address the ECQs to be considered. Use the following approach to describe your accomplishments:

Challenge-Context-Action-Result (CCAR) Model

Use one to two examples of relevant experience for each ECQ. The number of examples is not as important as ensuring that your experience matches the ECQ criteria.

Challenge - Describe a specific problem or goal.

Context - Describe the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to address a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale).

Action - Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge.

Result - Give specific examples of measures/outcomes that had some impact on the organization. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.

Each accomplishment should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services you managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues you addressed; and the results of your actions. You should use action-oriented leadership words to describe your experience and accomplishments (e.g., Led the development and implementation of….) and quantify your experience wherever possible to demonstrate your accomplishments (e.g., number of employees supervised; size of budget managed; amount of money saved, etc.). Abbreviated responses to the ECQs, such as "significant experience" or "see resume" do not provide enough information and will not be considered. ECQ’s must be submitted in the space provided. You will not be considered for this position if you leave any of the ECQs unanswered.

You must provide the names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of responsible individuals who can verify the information provided for each ECQ.

Additional information on the ECQs is available at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp. Example ECQ statements are available at http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf.

Executive Core Qualifications:

ECQ 1 - Leading Change: The ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision

ECQ 2 - Leading People: The ability to lead people toward meeting the organization’s vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building

ECQ 3 - Results Driven:   The ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility

ECQ 4 - Business Acumen: The ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management

ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions: The ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (PTQs)

All applicants must submit online written statements (narrative or bullet format acceptable) of accomplishments that would satisfy the following PTQs. You must address each PTQ separately. Abbreviated responses to the PTQs, such as "significant experience" or "see resume" do not provide enough information and will not be considered. PTQ’s must be submitted in the space provided. You will not be considered for this position if you leave any of the PTQ’s unanswered.

All applicants must submit online written statements (narrative or bullet format acceptable) of accomplishments that would satisfy the following PTQs. You must address each PTQ separately. in the space provided. 

PTQ 1: Broad knowledge and understanding of scientific and engineering disciplines and their relationship to specific technological issues, problems and applications associated with nuclear facilities and nuclear materials.

PTQ2: Broad knowledge and understanding of national nuclear policy, the regulatory program and process, and the regulated industry, including understanding of current technical and security issues and their implications.

PTQ 3: Broad knowledge of nuclear safety standards, regulations, codes and guides and their implementation sufficient to direct and manage a comprehensive nuclear regulatory research program and recommend regulatory actions to resolve ongoing and potential safety issues for nuclear power plants and other facilities based on research results.

Education

General Engineering Series, 801:

  • Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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 professional 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.

General Physical Science Series, 1301:

  • 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, Maryland. In general, executive employees are expected to be in the office at least 6 days per pay period.  Telework schedules are approved, on a case-by-case basis. If selected, telework will be determined in accordance with Agency policy. 

  • When NRC determines that, in the absence of such an incentive, it will be difficult to fill the position with a suitable candidate, NRC may offer a relocation incentive to a current Federal employee who is required to geographically move.
  • Veteran’s Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service
  • Salary for Senior Executive Service positions vary depending on qualifications and the responsibilities of the position
  • Selected candidate will be subject to a one-year probationary period in the Senior Executive Service unless required probationary period has been served
  • This position is subject to Public Financial Disclosure Reporting requirements and NRC prohibited securities ownership restrictions. Selected candidate is required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278) within 30 days after appointment
  • The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please notify the Disability Program Coordinator at (301) 287-0712. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
  • Selected candidate 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.
  • 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 section 145(b) waiver under the Atomic Energy Act. To be eligible for a 145 (b) waiver you need favorable education verification, and 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.
  • The NRC is a zero-tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use. The individual selected for this position will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing unless currently in a NRC position subject to random drug testing AND will be subject to random drug testing upon appointment to the NRC.

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 on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education as they relate to the qualifications for this position. Your application will be evaluated by a rating/ranking panel, and highly qualified candidates may be invited to participate in an interview and undergo reference checks. The NRC Executive Resources Board (ERB) will review results and make recommendations to the selecting official and appointing authority.

Unless you have been already certified by an OPM QRB in the past, your ECQs must be certified by a QRB before appointment can occur.


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