Nuclear Specialist

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 117,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

NRDC is seeking a Nuclear Specialist to conduct technical and policy analysis on nuclear energy, safety, and waste issues. Based in Washington, this limited term 2-year position will inform NRDC's engagement with federal and state regulators, policymakers, and stakeholders.

The role emphasizes translating complex science into policy-relevant conclusions and contributing to NRDC blogs and resources. The ideal candidate will have advanced degrees in nuclear science or policy experience, strong

Qualifications

• PhD in nuclear engineering or nuclear physics, or MS in nuclear engineering, nuclear physics, or related scientific field with policy experience.
• 4–7 years of related experience in nuclear technical analysis, research, or policy; environmental policy advocacy preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct technical analysis of reactor safety, radiation protection, and radiological consequence issues.
• Prepare comments, filings, and technical materials for NRC licensing actions and rulemakings.
• Analyze nuclear waste management, dry cask storage, and decommissioning funding.
• Use MACCS/HYSPLIT, RESRAD and related modeling tools for safety analyses.
• Advise policymakers on nuclear energy policy and NRDC engagement in state and federal processes.
• Synthesize developments to inform NRDC's engagements across agencies and states.

Education

PhD in nuclear engineering

MS in nuclear engineering or nuclear physics

Related field with policy experience

Tools

MACCS/HYSPLIT

RESRAD

Job description

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world's most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America's foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, London, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).

Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org.

NRDC is seeking a Nuclear Specialist to work with our Science and Climate & Energy teams in our Washington D.C. office. This is a limited term 2 year position.

Position Summary

To support NRDC's advocacy, the Nuclear Specialist will conduct technical and policy analysis on nuclear energy issues including those related to complex reactor safety, radiation protection, and nuclear waste. Working within the Policy Analysis division in the Science Office and the Power division in Climate & Energy Department, the Nuclear Specialist will be a core staff member at NRDC for the institution's engagement on nuclear power in the context of climate change. While NRDC prioritizes clean energy solutions including wind, solar, storage, efficiency and transmission, we recognize that nuclear power is zero-carbon generation and support its use in the right circumstances taking into account safety, community acceptance, and environmental impacts. The Specialist will contribute analysis and comments to federal and state regulatory proceedings, advise policymakers, and monitor nuclear developments to inform NRDC's engagement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct technical analysis of nuclear reactor safety, radiation protection, and radiological consequence issues, such as source term characterization, atmospheric dispersion modeling, and dose methodology, producing defensible findings that can withstand scrutiny from regulators, courts, and public review.
• Prepare and review comments, filings, and technical materials for federal and state regulatory proceedings, including Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing actions, license transfers, and rulemakings.
• Analyze nuclear waste and spent fuel management issues, including decommissioning funding assurance, dry cask and spent fuel storage, and the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste.
• Execute nuclear safety and radiological modeling tools such as MACCS/HYSPLIT, RESRAD and related modeling software.
• Advise state and Congressional policymakers on nuclear energy policy, such as NRDC's participation in state task forces and responses to requests for information on advanced nuclear technologies.
• Monitor, assess, and synthesize ongoing nuclear developments related to energy and data centers and beyond, regulatory changes, and news to advise NRDC's engagement across federal agencies and states.
• Engage with stakeholders, coalition partners, and external experts to develop and advance NRDC's positions in nuclear proceedings.
• Develop user-friendly, tailored resources such as analyses, factsheets, presentations, and blogs to communicate nuclear policy and technical findings to NRDC advocates and the public.
• Serve as project lead on nuclear analysis requests, working directly with NRDC advocates, litigators, scientists, and external partners.
• Synthesize technical information and communicate findings clearly to non-expert audiences, including through written products such as NRDC blogs.
• Participate in internal and external meetings and activities of the Science Office as required.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position's responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience

• A PhD in nuclear engineering or nuclear physics; or an MS in nuclear engineering, nuclear physics, or a related scientific field combined with relevant policy experience
• 4-7 years of related experience in nuclear technical analysis, research, or policy, with experience in environmental policy and advocacy preferred.
• And/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills, Abilities, Competencies

• Familiarity with core nuclear technical domains, such as nuclear reactor safety, radiation protection and health physics, nuclear waste and spent fuel management, and nuclear nonproliferation.
• Understanding of NRC regulatory processes, including reactor licensing, license transfers, rulemakings, and decommissioning, preferred.
• Ability to analyze technical methodologies such as source term characterization, atmospheric dispersion, and radiological dose calculation, and to translate them into policy-relevant conclusions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to translate complex technical information for non-expert audiences.
• Ability to work independently and on quick timelines, managing multiple workstreams from kickoff to end-product design.
• Ability to work collaboratively in teams toward shared outcomes.
• Working understanding of key energy and environmental policies preferred.
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S.-based offices, approximately < 20% annually.
• Commitment to NRDC's mission, values, and DEI principles.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Benefits and Compensation

• We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment.
• Salary range is $117,000 to $130,000.
• Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience.
• Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer.

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are expected to work in person at least 8 days per month, either by working from an NRDC office and/or conducting in-person donor meetings.

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.