Summary This position is located in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES). The supervisor is Laurel Bauer. This position is Bargaining Unit with the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 208 This position IS subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position IS subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements. Responsibilities As a Senior Seismologist, you will serve as an NRC expert in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research responsible for the technical and programmatic functions associated with the conduct of research programs and development of technical positions for national standards, regulatory guides, rules, and regulations related to protection of nuclear power plants and fuel cycle facilities against earthquake hazards. Specific duties include but are not limited to: Develop and direct research programs in areas of seismology, strong earthquake ground motion, seismic hazard, tectonics, seismic site response, and structural dynamic analyses as applied to nuclear facility siting and analysis. Participate in the development of standards including coordinating and interfacing activities associated with industry codes and standards groups such as ANS. Provide thorough technical assessments of seismic hazard calculations, process strong earthquake ground motion records, study and analyze seismic source characterization models, conduct seismic site response analyses, review structural dynamic analyses, as applied to nuclear facility siting and protection against earthquake hazards. Provide studies and analyses of technical issues within the Branch's area of review, including analytical evaluations, data analytics, modeling and simulation to the senior technical staff and the branch chief relating to new and existing nuclear reactors’ seismic safety assessments. Develop plans and objectives for and directs highly complex analytic and experimental research programs to perform/support modeling and simulation, analytical evaluations, testing and evaluation, and data analytics related to siting and safe operation of nuclear facilities. Contribute to the development of regulatory guidance. Communicates research findings to management, the Commissioners, the Advisory Committee for Reactor Safeguards, and other relevant agency groups. Represents the agency in interactions with the public and the domestic and international technical communities. Mentors junior staff and assists in their professional development. Interpret and consolidate complex and diverse technical data, views and recommendations into concise technical bases and positions to be developed into an overall technical resolution. Lead the technical development and administrative processing of research programs, contracts and regulatory guides, standards, reports, regulations, and value/impact statements. Review and evaluate plans and proposals submitted by laboratories, universities, or other organizations for undertaking research efforts under contract and recommends program scope and awarding of contracts. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship Required This is a Drug Testing position. Background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires. 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 In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GG-14) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: 1. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the field of geophysics/seismology as related to nuclear power plant siting and seismic hazard estimates. Experience includes key specialized areas utilized by the branch: seismic source characterization; ground motion models; seismic site response calculations, and probabilistic seismic hazard assessments. 2. Demonstrated knowledge of NRC’s regulations, principles and procedures, regulatory guides, and/or industry codes and standards applicable to the safety of reactor systems, structures, and components. 3. Ability to prioritize, plan, schedule, and manage complex technical projects. 4. Ability to use interpersonal skills to interact effectively with peers, management, representatives of the industry and the scientific and technical community. Experience with using tact, diplomacy, and negotiation skills to develop and implement successful approaches to problem solving and conflict resolution. 5. Demonstrated ability to present technical information both orally and in writing to resolve technical issues, including writing documents or reports and making presentations at technical meetings, conferences, or symposia, nationally and/or internationally. Work assignments demonstrate ability to lead technical discussions, develop resolution of challenging technical issues, and provide recommendations to management. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as expert experience that demonstrates knowledge of the technical and programmatic functions associated with the conduct of research programs and development of technical positions for national standards, regulatory guides, rules, and regulations related to protection of nuclear power plants and fuel cycle facilities against earthquake hazards. Education Degree: that included at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.). or Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. More detailed information about these alternatives are described in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards Operating Manual which may be accessed at the following website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general- schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series. Additional Information The duty location of this position is Rockville, MD. In general, employees are expected to be in the office at a minimum of 4 days per pay period. Telework schedules, including full-time telework, are approved, on a case-by-case basis. If selected, telework will be determined in accordance with Agency policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, if applicable.