The incumbent serves as the Senior Professional Staff (Geoscientist/Geochemist). The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board offers unique opportunities to address complex environmental challenges of national and international importance while working on a team of professionals from a variety of scientific and technical disciplines.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to the following: Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Geoscientist/Geochemist will: Maintain extensive knowledge of corrosion mechanisms; evolution of the geochemical environment that includes processes such as sorption and diffusion that impact the barrier performance of engineered and natural barriers; nuclear waste form degradation; radionuclide release and transport; and surface complexation and other mechanisms that impact the transport of radionuclides in different geologic media. Evaluate DOE activities related to monitored retrievable storage facilities and deep geologic repositories, including developing technical siting criteria, site characterization, performance assessments, and development and deployment of laboratory-based and field-based experiments investigating geochemical topics. Familiarity with laboratory and field experiments on radioactive material transport, numerical models for reactive transport, and coupled process models. Provides the Board with detailed information on developments in both the private and public sectors that can affect the direction of DOE's repository development program, and analyzes the technical, scientific, and regulatory effects of those developments. Provides authoritative technical advice and guidance to the Executive Director and to Board members on complex technical issues related to key decisions made by DOE. As requested by the Executive Director, the incumbent drafts correspondence and reports in response to inquiries from members of Congress and their staff, state and local governments, Federal agencies, Tribes, and the interested public. Ability to conduct technical or scientific investigations in areas of assigned responsibility, gather technical data, analyze the data, and write succinct reports based on the analysis. Maintain a current knowledge of DOE efforts to implement its spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste management program by attending DOE meetings, reviewing DOE documents, and interacting with DOE and contractor employees working in the program. Analyze DOE implementation plans and meet with appropriate DOE representatives to ascertain the status of DOE's implementation of approved Board recommendations. Interact with scientific groups and committees, other Federal agencies, Tribes or state and local governments to assist the Board in evaluating DOE activities and developing Board recommendations. When appropriate and as assigned by the Executive Director, the incumbent represents the Board at technical meetings, in meetings with interested groups, and in interactions with members of Congress and their staffs, and representatives of the Office of Management and Budget and the Government Accountability Office. Assist other professional staff members in executing their duties when assigned to do so.

Requirements

Qualifications

A comprehensive knowledge of the mission, functions, responsibilities, and objectives of the Board. Superior communication, synthesis, and writing skills, including the ability to accurately summarize Board deliberations and prepare draft reports based on those deliberations in a timely manner. Ability to analyze information from multiple disciplines and communicate the results of the analyses clearly and effectively in written reports and presentations to Board members, Congress, and Department of Energy senior management, as appropriate. Familiarity with programs of other agencies and the legislation affecting them, including the Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, and Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team, including Board members and staff, and to assist with reviews being performed by other staff members. The necessary skills to organize teams, manage meetings, and supervise the production of reports and other documents. Familiarity with the U.S. program, programs in other countries, and international organizations involved in managing and disposing of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Potential for effective participation in teams with respect to planning, coordinating, and executing projects. Relevant project experience may include participation on interdisciplinary teams, project management, and workshop coordination.

Education

Should possess an advanced degree (preferably a doctorate) in geoscience or geochemistry or a closely related field and at least eight years of professional experience.

Foreign Education: In order to demonstrate that education completed in other countries meets the qualification requirements, applicants must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs, and that such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. program. Otherwise, proof must be provided to show that full credit has been given for the courses at an accredited U.S. college or university.

For further information, visit: (https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/).

Contacts

• Address Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board 2300 Clarendon Blvd Suite 1300 Arlington, VA 22201-3367 US
• Name: Neysa Slater-Chandler
• Email: [email protected]