Attorney

Summary

This position is located in Office of the General Counsel. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within the agency. Division and supervisory information will be determined at time of selection. This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position is subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Duties

Below are the major duties needed to perform the position.Depending on placement, duties will be performed with a high degree of independence and will include representation in agency adjudications or before administrative tribunals, providing advice in non-adjudicatory contexts, and advising and providing legal services related to: The licensing and regulation of nuclear materials, fuel cycle facilities, spent fuel storage and disposal, decommissioning activities for reactors and materials sites, and other related activities; New or amended NRC regulations, guidance, and policy statements for the NRC's reactors, materials, and fuel cycle, waste, and disposal programs; backfitting/issue finality; the NRC Agreement State Program, and Tribal policy; the annual fee rule, fee disputes and fee waivers; The licensing and regulation of nuclear power and non-power reactors, including issuance, renewal, and transfer of licenses, construction permits, early site permits, combined licenses, operating licenses, and manufacturing licenses; issuance of standard design approvals and standard design certifications and associated legal review activities for new reactors; and reactor operator licensing; and Cybersecurity, safeguards, and physical security of NRC-licensed facilities and materials; and reactor and materials enforcement matters, to include allegations of wrongdoing, investigations, and related agency adjudications. Reviews technical documents to determine their legal sufficiency; performs difficult original legal research; develops solutions to novel and complex legal issues; provides legal opinions and advice; and identifies and addresses policy matters, including consideration of relevant risks. When in a litigation role, prepares and conducts difficult and complex cases before Atomic Safety Licensing boards, Presiding Officers, and the Commission. Prepares motions and briefs; obtains witnesses and develops their testimony; negotiates with petitioners, intervenors, licensees, applicants, attorneys, members of the public, and Federal and State and local agencies; conducts direct examination on highly technical-scientific subjects; and makes persuasive arguments during oral hearings.

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: GG 13: includes experience that is defined as attorney or judicial work experience in a federal or state government legal office, federal or state judiciary, or the private practice of law, which provided the candidate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the work of these positions. Minimally qualified candidates will have multiple years of work experience, including substantial regulatory and statutory interpretation and/or litigation experience sufficient to perform with an adequate degree of independence or with assistance on complex and major assignments. GG 14: includes experience that is defined as attorney or judicial work experience in a federal or state government legal office, federal or state judiciary, or the private practice of law, which provided the candidate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the work of these positions. Minimally qualified candidates will have multiple years of work experience, including substantial regulatory and statutory interpretation and/or litigation experience sufficient to perform independently on complex and major assignments. Typically, at least one year of this work experience should be comparable in complexity and responsibility to the kind of work normally assigned at the grade 13 or 14 levels in the Federal government, or equivalent. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: Ability to provide legal advice and support to the General Counsel, the Commission, and the Commission staff on all aspects of: Licensing and regulation for materials, fuel cycle, spent fuel storage and disposal, fuel packaging and transportation, and decommissioning activities; New or amended NRC regulations, guidance, and policy statements for the NRC's reactors, materials, and fuel cycle, waste, and disposal programs; backfitting/issue finality; the NRC Agreement State Program, and Tribal policy; the annual fee rule, fee disputes and fee waivers; Reactor licensing and regulation for operating reactors, new reactors, advanced reactors, reactor license transfers, license renewal, design certification, reactor decommissioning, and research and test reactors; and/or Cybersecurity, safeguards, and physical security of NRC-licensed facilities and materials, allegations of wrongdoing, investigations, and enforcement of agency requirements Ability to effectively identify, interpret and analyze Federal laws, statutes, regulations, and cases as they relate to agency adjudicatory processes and complex legal issues in various areas of law. Excellent written and oral communication skills, particularly in connection with providing legal opinions and advice. Experience in administrative law, security and enforcement practice, regulatory practice, or environmental law, and possess litigation experience (civil, criminal, trial, and/or appellate) in one or more of those practice areas. 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. 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.

Education

You must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a J.D., LL.B., or equivalent degree, and you must be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. 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.