Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Executive Director

Arlington, Virginia Full time

Executive Director

Department: Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Location(s): Arlington, Virginia

Salary Range: $151661 - $209600 Per Year

Job Summary: The Executive Director serves as the Board's Chief Operating Officer, overseeing and coordinating all technical and administrative activities in accordance with Board plans, policies, and directives from the Administration. The Executive Director reports to the Chair of the NWTRB, maintains close contact with other Board members, and provides guidance on resource management and the planning of technical activities.

Major Duties:

  • Duties include but are not limited to the following: Consistent with the enabling legislation of the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB or Board), the Executive Director (ED) directs and coordinates all technical and administrative activities of the agency that are undertaken in response to overall policies developed and approved by the members of the NWTRB. The incumbent has full responsibility for managing the Board's activities and the Board staff, which operate with a high degree of independence in a collaborative work environment. More specifically, the incumbent reports directly to, and is supervised by, the Chair of the NWTRB. In that reporting capacity, the ED is responsible on a day-to-day basis for managing the Board's technical activities, developing budgets, planning and managing Board meetings and fact-finding trips throughout the year, and implementing all dimensions of the Board's strategic plan. The incumbent maintains close contact with the members of the Board and liaises with members and subcommittees of Congress and their staffs, Department of Energy officials in the Secretary's office and other offices related to the management and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, as well as the Office of Management and Budget, other federal agencies and other external stakeholders.

Qualifications: In order to qualify for the Executive Director position, you must meet the following Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications: Executive Core Qualifications: Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ). Current or former SES members must submit an SF-50 and/or QRB Certification of ECQs to show current or former service in the SES. OPM's Guide to the Senior Executive Services Qualifications provides detailed information on the ECQs. ECQ 1 - COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDING. Demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the Rule of Law, and commitment to serve the American people. ECQ 2 - DRIVING EFFICIENCY. Demonstrated ability to strategically and sufficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. ECQ 3 - MERIT AND COMPETENCE. Demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 4 - LEADING PEOPLE. Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals; To drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. ECQ 5 - ACHIEVING RESULTS. Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to state goals from superiors. -AND- Mandatory Technical Qualifications: All applicants must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ). MTQ 1: Broad technical knowledge of and several years of applicable experience in a field of engineering or science. Such knowledge and experience are required to understand the Board's technical review activities and their results. MTQ 2: Broad knowledge of technical and policy issues related to the disposal of commercial spent fuel and high-level waste to effectively plan and implement any Board-approved activities. Ability to foster and maintain a collaborative and productive work environment without creating bureaucracy. MTQ 3: Ability to independently and objectively evaluate DOE activities related to the management of commercial spent fuel and high-level waste, to think strategically, and to understand the technical and non-technical implications of the Board's activities and its conclusions and recommendations for DOE specifically and for the management of nuclear waste in general. MTQ 4: Broad knowledge and understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other Federal agencies, especially the Office of Management and Budget; state and local governments; and international organizations. Broad knowledge of Congress and its organization and operation. Broad knowledge and understanding of other public and private organizations (e.g., National Academy of Sciences) that are involved in radioactive waste management. Broad knowledge of budgeting processes. Note: Applicants who have completed the SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and have had their ECQs certified by OPM must provide a copy of their certificate as part of their application. Candidates must still satisfy the MTQs of the position. Applicants must submit the ECQs and MTQs in separate documents: one addressing each of the five ECQs (by number), if applicable, and another addressing each of the four MTQs (by number). Refer to the "How You Will Be Evaluated" and "Required Documents" sections for details. We recommend that you emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required of the position and to the extent your application demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the Executive Director position. Please be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess.

How to Apply: To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/18/2026. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application." Click here for USAJobs Help with "How to create an application" To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12891281 Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS. Select documents you want included in this application. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed. Select if you want to include your demographic information. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site." Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown. Upload any missing required documents or optional documents. Review and Submit Application. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job. Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-18