The Department of Energy is looking for someone within the agency to run the Office of Nuclear Energy’s spent nuclear fuel programs, according to an internal job listing obtained last week by RadWaste Monitor.
According to the posting, DOE is hiring a 120-day detail for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste disposition (NE-8). There is the possibility of serving more than 120 days, according to the notice, dated March 24. The agency is reviewing candidates that already have a GS-15 pay grade or that complete the SES Candidate Development Program, the listing said.
As of Friday, the opening had not been made publicly available on USAJobs, the federal government’s job board.
Federal law requires SES development programs to last a minimum of 12 months, including 80 hours of training and a four month “developmental assignment.” Individuals who do not hold career civil service positions can only participate in the development scheme via a specialized “Schedule B” appointment. Candidates serving under those conditions cannot be “used to fill an agency’s regular positions on a continuing basis,” according to federal regulations.
DOE’s internal search for NE-8 candidates follows complaints from an unidentified agency employee who on Feb. 2 requested that the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) inspector general investigate alleged “substantial irregularities” in the hiring process for Sam Brinton, who had previously been selected as NE-8. The unidentified DOE employee complained that “undue political influence and preferences were applied” at DOE to select Brinton for the position.
The office of OPM’s inspector general has not said if it is investigating the matter or whether it would do so.
As of Friday, Brinton still works as legislative affairs director at nuclear services company Deep Isolation, according to their LinkedIn page. Kim Petry is DOE’s acting NE-8.
Meanwhile, the White House’s pick to lead the Office of Nuclear Energy, Kathryn Huff, is still under consideration by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Huff testified before the upper chamber’s energy panel March 16. A committee spokesperson declined to say when Huff’s nomination would be put to a vote.
