Branch Chief (GG-15)

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Division of Licensing Project I. The supervisor is Mahmoud (MJ) Jardaneh. This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position is subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Manages, supervises, and coordinates the Branch staff's execution of diverse activities by promoting staff utilization of appropriate Agency processes, including evolving risk-informed initiatives, and leading efforts to innovate and advance approaches that improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory activities and decisions Allocates resources within the Branch based on the workload and priorities. Ensures priorities are established using the relative importance of each activity to safety and security, and environmental aspects. Responsible for the day-to-day administrative operation of the Branch, including training, leadership, team building, motivation, development, and evaluation of Branch staff. Articulates expectations and provides periodic counseling and performance assessment to the Branch staff via formal means (e.g., elements and standards, mid-year performance reviews and annual performance appraisals) and informal means (e.g., staff meetings, and ongoing, progressive one-on-one interactions).

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 supervising or providing direction, guidance, or leadership to a technical or project organization, group and/or team, on policy or technical issues impacting regulated nuclear facilities. Experience participating in managing work processes and/or utilization of resources related to licensing and performance/data metrics. Experience collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to accomplish goals and objectives. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: Ability to direct, lead, and manage a diverse technical staff in mission-critical programs with competing deadlines, conflicting resource demands, and changing environments. Ability to communicate information, ideas, and advice in a clear, concise, and logical manner, both orally and in writing, with colleagues, subordinates, NRC management in headquarters or regions, ACRS, the Commission, members of the public, representatives of professional groups, other Federal or State agencies, and international regulatory counterparts. Ability to build and sustain coalitions across organizations. Knowledge of the applicable NRC rules, regulations, policies, practices, and procedures for governing implementation of the reactor oversight process (ROP) and nuclear reactor systems regulatory reviews through familiarity with codes and standards, regulatory guides, and practices. Knowledge and ability to apply effective decision making using available information and risk insights. Demonstrated expert knowledge of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) reactor oversight process (ROP) including risk significance determination as applied to operating, construction, and decommissioning commercial nuclear reactor power plant inspections, operations, maintenance, engineering, and plant support areas of performance. A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate must be addressed in your resume. The NRC encourages applicants to provide job experience details in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria. PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

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. Conditions of Employment: This is a Drug Testing position Must be able to meet and maintain security & suitability requirements.

Education

You must meet basic education and professional knowledge requirements that apply to Federal engineering and sciences positions for the grade levels to which you are applying. This knowledge is met by having a bachelor's or higher degree in a relevant professional engineering/science discipline from a school of engineering with at least one engineering curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) (or by documenting how you meet the minimum OPM qualification standards for the 0801 Occupational Series, 1301 General Physical Science Occupational Series, in addition to the specialized experience. Note: Engineering technology degrees are not generally qualifying unless supplemented by other evidence of the individual's professional knowledge (e.g., current P.E. license or EIT examination results, as discussed above). More detailed information about these alternatives for meeting the knowledge requirements for Federal professional engineering and sciences jobs is described in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards. Note: It is your responsibility to furnish documentation that verifies you meet the basic education and professional knowledge requirements; in the absence of such documentation, you would be rated not qualified. 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 have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

How you will be evaluated

When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements. Your application will be evaluated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job requirements. You must respond to all required application questions. If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for possible interview and selection based upon the number of available vacancies to be filled in each office. 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 concise resume that directly relates to this position.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin an application. To be considered for this position, you must complete the online application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 11/05/2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. For a preview of the application questions, please see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13101643. Your complete application must include your resume, responses to all required vacancy questions, and any required documents that prove your eligibility to apply. To begin your application, select the "Apply" button located on the right side of this screen. Follow the subsequent prompts to log in or register, submit all required documents, answer the questions, and complete the application process. You may either select your required documents within your USAJOBS profile to upload with your application or directly upload them during the application process. The following types of document types can be uploaded: .gif, jpg., .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, .doc, and .docx. Important Considerations: Paper Applications: Paper applications will not be accepted unless you can demonstrate hardship circumstances through the agency contact listed below. Application Extensions: Requests for application extensions will not be granted. Hardship Assistance: If you experience hardship applying online, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below for assistance. You must reach out during business hours before the announcement closing date and speak with someone who can provide support for your online submission. The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the coordinator at (301) 415-5888 or TDD 240-482-3217. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Other information

This position may be eligible for telework in accordance with agency policy. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.