The Energy Department is accepting resumes for the job of managing the Hanford Site in Washington state, a post currently held by Brian Vance.
The agency on Tuesday formally invited expressions of interest for the job of overseeing both the Richland Operations Office and Office of River Protection (ORP) at Hanford, the sprawling complex that made plutonium for the military during the Manhattan Project and the Cold War.
Candidates for the job should send a resume to Julie Dock, executive consultant with the DOE Office of Corporate Executive Management, at [email protected].
One industry source said Wednesday that Vance has apparently been serving under a temporary post to this major position overseeing a combined budget of about $2 billion, and DOE seems to be looking to fill the job on a permanent basis. Energy Department officials could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday morning.
In October 2019, then-Energy Secretary Rick Perry told Congress the Hanford Site would go forward with a single manager, Vance, for both offices. Vance became manager of the Office of River Protection in October 2017 and then took over both offices on an acting basis in February 2019 with the retirement of Richland Operations Manager Doug Shoop.
Vance joined DOE in 2017 and previously worked in management positions with Westinghouse Electric and AREVA. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for 25 years.
The Office of River Protection has responsibility for management of 56 million gallons of liquid waste held in 177 underground tanks. The Richland Operations Office oversees contractors doing cleanup for the River Corridor and Central Plateau areas at Hanford.
The Energy Department has pledged to keep the two separate offices although they now report to one person.
The Energy Department noted that the incumbent Hanford manager is responsible for strategic plans, policy, overseeing Hanford radioactive waste tanks, managing staff, and other duties. The job posting is open to members of the career Senior Executive Service.
