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Director for Office of Worker Protection and Nuclear Safety

Department of Energy
Department of Energy - Agency Wide
Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security

Summary

Senior leaders: This is your opportunity to make a national impact on safety and security.

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environment, Health, Safety, and Security is looking for a dynamic, innovative, seasoned executive to serve as the Director for the Office of Worker Protection and Nuclear Safety. In this role, you will lead the development of policies that protect our workers, the public, and the environment from nuclear and non-nuclear hazards.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 08/10/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 10, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$197,152 - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Senior Executive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
26-EHSS-00762-ES
Control number
877807600

Duties

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As the Director for the Office of Worker Protection and Nuclear Safety, you will hold a pivotal national security role, directing programs and policies that have a profound and lasting impact. You will:

  • Frame National Safety Strategy: Develop and direct the strategic vision for nuclear safety, worker protection, and quality assurance across the entire Department of Energy (DOE) enterprise.
  • Lead and Inspire Experts: Direct a premier organization of senior managers and technical experts, fostering a culture of excellence and ensuring the successful execution of critical safety programs.
  • Serve as a Top-Level Advisor: Act as the principal expert advisor to the highest levels of DOE and other federal agencies on complex engineering, nuclear safety, and worker health issues.
  • Drive Policy and Promulgate Rules: Lead the creation, coordination, and implementation of departmental rules, directives, and guidance that establish the safety expectations for all DOE nuclear and non-nuclear facilities.
  • Represent the Department at the Highest Levels: Serve as the primary spokesperson and liaison to Congress, the White House, international committees, and industry leaders on all matters of nuclear and non-nuclear safety.
  • Hold Restart and Exemption Authority: Make final recommendations on the startup or restart of nuclear facilities and provide executive-level recommendations for exemptions, equivalencies, and variances to core DOE safety rules and directives.
  • Direct National Accident Investigations: Manage the Departmental Accident Investigation Program, ensuring that incidents are expertly analyzed to drive organizational improvement and prevent future occurrences across the complex.
  • Steer Safety Research & Development: Lead the Department's nuclear safety research and development (R&D) activities and manage the Technical Standards Program, ensuring DOE remains at the forefront of safety science and engineering.
  • Champion Integrated Safety and Human Performance: Lead and implement cornerstone programs like Integrated Safety Management and Human Performance Improvement, embedding a proactive and continuously improving safety culture throughout the Department.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • This position requires physical presence during working hours, situational telework, if approved, will be kept to a minimum.
  • Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278 within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • A DOE "Q" security clearance and eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and Top Secret (TS) access are required. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents:

Qualifications

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume must clearly demonstrate that you possess the following technical qualifications.

TQ 1: The position requires expert knowledge of the concepts, principles, and methods of nuclear engineering, nuclear safety, worker safety and health, and quality principles, policies, procedures, programs, and regulations. This includes a deep understanding of complex nuclear and non-nuclear safety concepts, hazard and accident analysis, and nuclear facility design.

TQ 2: Must possess expert knowledge of the techniques, systems, and methodologies required for the oversight of nuclear facilities and operations. This includes practical and thorough knowledge of environmental, safety, and health laws, Executive Orders, and directives necessary to govern and manage nuclear and worker safety across nationwide facilities.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. There are five ECQs:

  • ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
  • ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
  • ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
  • ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
  • ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.
Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement, Nuclear Engineering series require a bachelor's or higher degree in engineering, or a combination of education and experience.

For information regarding the educational requirements, please refer to: all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.

**An official transcript will be required if you are selected.**

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Additional information

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx)

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Department of Energy - Agency Wide

At the heart of the Department of Energy's mission is the Office of Environment, Health, Safety, and Security (EHSS)-a dynamic organization dedicated to protecting our nation's most critical assets: our people, our communities, and our environment. EHSS is the central force driving the safety culture across the DOE enterprise, providing the strategic framework, expert guidance, and corporate leadership necessary to enable groundbreaking scientific and national security missions to be accomplished safely and securely.

Agency contact information

Marianela Gascon
Email
marianela.gascon@hq.doe.gov
Address
Office of Environment, Health, Safety, and Security
Department of Energy
Human Capital Shared Service Center
1000 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20585
US

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https://www.energy.gov/

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