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Summary

This position is located in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Division of Engineering and External Hazards (DEX), and External Hazards Branch (EXHB).


The supervisor is Christopher Cook, however Barbara Hayes will be the hiring manager, conducting interviews.

 This position IS subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.

This position IS subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/13/2026 to 01/21/2026
Salary
$156,451 to - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 15
Locations
Atlanta, GA
1 vacancy
Naperville, IL
1 vacancy
Rockville, MD
1 vacancy
King of Prussia, PA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—May be eligible for situational telework in accordance with Agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Travel expenses associated with interview and/or relocation expenses associated with job offer may be paid to the extent allowed by Federal Travel Regulations.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
L Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
Yes
Announcement number
NRR/DEX-2026-0002
Control number
854282000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All NRC Employees are encouraged to apply.

Duties

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The successful candidate will perform the full range of  Sr. Geologist duties.

Provides expert technical, programmatic, and project leadership in the area of geology to the agency. Serves as a Senior Geologist with special emphasis in applying geology to the safety review of nuclear power plant licensing activities including design certifications, early site permits, combined operating licenses, license renewals, material facilities, spent nuclear fuel transportation and storage licenses, decommissioning reviews, and other licensing actions. Manages the safety review process for siting, licensing, and decommissioning activities for reactor and material facilities. Takes a lead role in development of new regulations and guidance. Serves as a technical witness at public hearings representing the NRC in the area of geology.

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. Requires limited supervision to act within the framework of the functional statement.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • This is a Drug Testing position.
  • Must be able to meet/maintain security & suitability requirements.

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.

All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

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 knowledge of geology and the Commission’s policies and guidance related to siting of NRC-licensed facilities. A description of how you possess the specialized experience should be addressed in your resume, responses to the vacancy questions, and additional space provided for supplemental response.



The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the field of geology as related to site characterization relevant to siting nuclear facilities, particularly as it reflects developments that support innovative approaches and new technologies including characterization of geological faults for seismic source models used in probabilistic seismic hazard analyses.  (Example:  Describe work experience, education, and training which demonstrate your abilities and your knowledge related to site characterization relevant to siting nuclear facilities).

2. Demonstrated knowledge and experience evaluating geologic hazards, including instability due to karst conditions, volcanic hazards and surface deformation due to faulting.

(Example: Describe work experience, education, and training which demonstrate your abilities and your knowledge related to characterizing volcanic and other geologic hazards such as instability due to karst conditions and assessing the potential for surface deformation due to faulting).

3. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience applying NRC regulations, regulatory guides, American Nuclear Society (ANS) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) guidance, and other industry codes and standards applicable to geologic site characterization and hazard evaluation including familiarity with expert elicitation methods such as the Senior Seismic Hazard Analysis Committee (SSHAC) process, Research Information Letters, and other documented processes used by NRC staff with a focus on risk-informed and graded approaches that support innovations in safety reviews.

(Example: Describe specific experience, training, and accomplishments which demonstrate your knowledge of NRC safety related regulations, NRC related processes (e.g. SSHAC), industry standards, and NRC rules, regulations and guidance governing siting of nuclear facilities. 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 geology, seismology, and geotechnical (civil) engineering.

(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 geologic characterization and hazard evaluation.  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 geologic characterization and hazard information both orally and in writing on complex technical issues particularly for on contentious issues in front of independent bodies at NRC such as an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP) and the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS). Work assignments should demonstrate the ability to lead technical discussions represent the agency, develop resolutions of challenging technical issues, document and provide recommendations to management. Describe experience interacting with management, staff, technical advisory bodies and representatives of industry.

(Example: Describe the volume and complexity of specific experience as well as training, and accomplishments which demonstrate your ability to effectively communicate complex technical issues related to geologic characterization and hazards.  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.)

Education

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 are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of credibility of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency.  If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Basic Requirements:

  1. Degree: geology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography.

    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 may have been gained through geological field or laboratory work that provided a means of obtaining professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of geology and closely related sciences, e.g., geophysics, geochemistry, or hydrology. Such work generally must have involved making close observations, taking samples, handling various types of instruments and equipment, assembling geologic data from source materials, and analyzing and reporting findings orally and in writing. Experience that involved only one phase of geology work, e.g., collecting samples, would not be acceptable as providing the required professional knowledge of the theory and principles of geology. In some situations, professional scientific experience in other fields may be accepted in part as professional geological experience. Such experience must have been preceded by appropriate education in geology or by professional geological experience, and must have contributed directly and significantly to the applicant's professional geological competence. Examples include some positions in geophysics, mining engineering, soils science, physical oceanography, hydrology, climatology, biology, analytic or experimental chemistry, metallurgy, and comparable fields where the normal duties or results of investigations have been extended to the solution of geologic problems by the applicant. Ordinary functions of positions such as seismic, computer, petroleum or mining engineer, mine superintendent, or metallurgist generally are not considered professional geological experience. To receive credit for geological experience obtained in positions that are not full-time professional geological positions, the applicant is responsible for indicating clearly the actual time or percentage of time devoted to geologic duties within such positions, and for giving adequate descriptions of the geologic functions.

Additional information

The duty location of this position is Rockville, MD. This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with Agency policy.

Based on the staffing needs of the agency/area of consideration, additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.

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.

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.


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