Federal Position Descriptions
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Chairman

Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Responsibility
Management Scope

NRC’s proposed fiscal 2017 budget is $982.3 million, including 3,525 full-time equivalents (including those in the Office of the Inspector General). The NRC is headed by five commissioners appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for five-year terms. The president also designates one of the commissioners to be the chairman and official spokesperson of the commission.4 That person oversees a staff of up to 18 in the Office of the Chairman. The chairman also oversees directly the NRC’s Office of Public Affairs and the Office of Congressional Affairs.5

Primary Responsibilities

• Serves as the spokesperson for the NRC
• Leads interactions with congressional oversight committee
• Represents the agency internationally, carrying out activities that include signing bilateral commitments and ensuring continuing relations with international partners and in international agreements
• Manages all functions pertaining to an emergency involving NRC-licensed or regulated materials and facilities6

• Ensures the safety and security of existing nuclear reactors and radioactive materials

• Implements a predictable safety review process for license applications

• Ensures the agency conducts thorough environmental reviews

• Promotes strong enforcement and accountability7

• Manages the agency’s personnel and administrative issues

Strategic Goals and Priorities
The agency's priority and goal is to ensure public safety and health, protect the environment and provide for the common defense in civilian nuclear matters. The agency is responsible for overseeing civilian nuclear facilities, nuclear materials and nuclear waste disposal and transportation.
Requirements

• Subject matter expertise in nuclear energy, given that much of the decision-making is on issues of a highly technical nature
• Legal expertise (a plus)
• Willingness to travel frequently, domestically and internationally

Competencies

• Ability to work across partisan lines, given that the agency is nonpartisan
• Ability to communicate with all stakeholders — industry, public interest groups, local and state governments (a plus)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, given the need to communicate at the international level to media, NRC employees and members of Congress
• Management expertise (preferred)

Past Appointments
  • Stephen G. Burns (2015 to present) – Head of Legal Affairs of the Nuclear Energy Agency, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; General Counsel, Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Executive Assistant to Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission8
  • Allison M. Macfarlane (2012 to 2014) – Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University; member, Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future; Research Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology9
  • Gregory Jaczko (2009 to 2013) – Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission10; Appropriations Director and Science Policy Advisor, Senate; Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University11
AGENCY

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Mission: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses and regulates the nation's civilian use of radioactive materials to protect public health and safety, promote common defense and security, and protect the environment.2

COMPENSATION

Level II $179,700 (5 U.S.C. § 5313)3
The NRC chairman, unlike heads of other independent commissions, is equivalent in rank to a deputy secretary in the executive branch.

REPORTS TO

The NRC is an independent agency, and commissioners serve at the pleasure of the president.

SENATE COMMITTEE

Environment and Public Works

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Footnote
  1. Plum book
  2. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc.html
  3. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  4. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/organization/commfuncdesc.html
  5. 2016 plum book
  6. http://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0529/ML052980187.pdf
  7. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/organization/commission/former-commissioners/jaczko.html
  8. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/organization/commission/burns.html
  9. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/organization/commission/former-commissioners/macfarlane.html
  10. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-jaczko-4844145b
  11. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/organization/commission/former-commissioners/jaczko.html
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