Deputy Director, Division of Risk Analysis

Summary Organization Location: Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Supervising Executive: Brian Smith, Director, Division of Risk Analysis 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 Responsibilities As Deputy Director, Division of Risk Analysis, you will assist the Division Director in planning, developing, and managing research programs needed to provide the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) with the ability to make reliable and technically sound regulatory decisions. These major duties are not an inclusive list. You will provide leadership and direction to subordinate supervisors and professional staff responsible for: Develops, recommends, plans, and manages research programs relating to probabilistic risk assessments (PRA), human factors, and human reliability analysis. Assesses U.S. operational safety data and reliability information to determine risk-significant insights and trends. Coordinates research activities with the program offices, as appropriate. Develops and uses PRA-based methodologies, models, and analysis techniques, as well as other risk assessment techniques, to determine overall risk. Develops guidance and regulatory tools for implementation of the Safety Goal Policy and PRA Policy Statements. Performs risk and reliability analyses and evaluations based on operating experience to assess industry and plant performance and identify plant outliers. Develops and manages data systems for the storage and retrieval of safety experience. Remains cognizant of operational and reliability data systems in the industry and the NRC, and serves as focal point for coordination of the NRC safety data collection programs with external stakeholders. Provides an NRC focal point for the Industry Reporting and Information System (IRIS) and oversees the use of IRIS data by NRC users. Develops risk-informed performance indicators and thresholds to provide support to the agency’s Reactor Oversight Program (ROP) and Industry Trends Program. Implements the Accident Sequence Precursor Program for operating nuclear power plants, including the production of periodic performance indicator and accident sequence precursor reports. Performs reliability studies for risk significant systems and equipment on operating nuclear power plants. Maintains staff capability by developing standardized plant risk models (SPAR) and a PRA Code to perform state-of-the-art operating experience risk analyses for both independent assessments and to assist other agency organizations in the assessment of licensee risk-related performance and safety issue risk implications. Performs a comprehensive review of operating experience and conducts in-depth analyses and evaluations of significant operating events and safety issues to determine root causes of these events. Manages Generic Issues (GIs) related to systems performance Manages and coordinates fire safety research, including testing and developing risk analysis models. Maintains broad technical expertise and provides consultation to NRC organizations in PRA-related areas. Implements corporate management strategies consistent with the Agency’s Strategic Plan. Develops and implements recruitment, development and retention strategies to achieve a high quality diverse workforce with the skills needed to accomplish program goals and objectives. Identifies critical skill and training needs of the organization and identifies and implements human capital strategies to close critical skill gaps. Staff recruitment, development and retention strategies promote workforce diversity and diversity management. Requests and utilizes financial resources effectively and efficiently to accomplish agency mission and goals. Ensures that staff performance is managed effectively and performance plans identify key performance priorities and appraisal results indicate meaningful distinctions are made in staff performance assessments. Assigns and directs work within the organization, evaluating staff and organizational effectiveness in accomplishing assigned tasks, and trouble-shooting problems that arise in accomplishing the goals and objectives of the organization. Develops and implements more efficient and streamlined methods and procedures to accomplish the goals and objectives of the organization. Requirements 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.