Operations Analyst with Security Clearance

Role

The Operations Analyst supports the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Nuclear Incident Response (NA-84) prepare for, respond to, and recover from nuclear and radiological incidents. This critical role involves contributing to NA-84’s operational readiness, supporting incident management efforts, and coordinating with interagency partners. The Operations Analyst will assist in the development and execution of operational plans, participate in exercises, and maintain situational awareness of relevant global events. This role is critical in enabling Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) to operate as a cohesive, unified DOE/NNSA incident response entity, ensuring unity of command, control, communication, and coordination during emergency responses. The officer will help integrate all DOE/NNSA radiological and nuclear emergency response functions under the NEST umbrella, including field-deployed and remote technical support for public health and safety, counter-WMD operations, and nuclear weapon accident response. In addition, this position serves as an on-call responder for NEST to support response operations when directed. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS * Operational Planning and Preparedness:

• Assist in the development, review, and refinement of NA-84 operational plans, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other foundational documents.
• Contribute to the identification of requirements for personnel, equipment, and resources necessary for effective incident response.
• Support the maintenance and readiness of NA-84’s operational capabilities, including deployable assets and communications systems.
• Develop operations plans (24 hours to 6 months) in support of NEST missions and exercises
• Incident Response Support:
• Provide direct operational support during real-world nuclear or radiological incidents, activations, and alerts.
• Assist in the establishment and management of an incident command structure or operational center.
• Facilitate information flow and coordination between NA-84 leadership, deployed teams, and external stakeholders.
• Assist NA-84 integrate NEST’s full spectrum of response functions, including nuclear forensics, event attribution, and consequence management, into future operations planning
• Contribute to the development of situation reports, operational summaries, and decision briefs.
• Coordination and Liaison:
• Serve as a point of contact for coordination with other NNSA offices, Department of Energy (DOE) elements, and interagency partners (e.g., FEMA, DoD, FBI, DHS, NRC) on operational matters.
• Participate in interagency working groups, committees, and planning sessions related to nuclear incident response.
• Foster collaborative relationships to enhance integrated response capabilities.
• Training and Exercises:
• Support the planning, development, and execution of interagency and internal NA-84 exercises (e.g., drills, tabletop exercises, full-scale exercises).
• Participate in post-exercise analysis and contribute to lessons learned documentation to inform continuous improvement.
• Identify and recommend training opportunities for NA-84 personnel to enhance operational readiness.
• Situational Awareness and Reporting:
• Monitor global events, intelligence, and open-source information relevant to nuclear and radiological security and safety.
• Prepare and disseminate timely operational updates and analyses to NA-84 leadership.
• Maintain awareness of current threats, vulnerabilities, and emerging trends in the nuclear incident response domain.
• Once trained and when required, serve on-call in a NEST response capacity typically for one week every two months with the ability to report to the Forrestal building within two hours of notification. Must be willing to support emergency response operations and incident management with an on-call requirement to include after hours, extended shifts, and weekends.
  
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS * Must hold an active DOE Q or Department of Defense (DoD) Top-Secret security clearance and the ability to obtain DOE IN Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.

• Positions requiring a security clearance may require the periodic successful completion of a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field (e.g., emergency management, national security, international relations, public administration, science/engineering).
• Minimum 5 years experience in operations, emergency management, national security, or a related field, preferably with experience in high-stress or time-sensitive environments.
• Demonstrated understanding of incident command system principles and application.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a dynamic environment, often under pressure.
• Proficiency with standard office software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite).
• Ability to travel domestically and potentially internationally, sometimes on short notice.
• Ongoing reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal substances will be conducted as a requirement for ongoing access to DOE sites. The candidate’s written consent to conduct such tests will be required as a condition of employment.
  
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS * Master’s degree in a relevant field.

• Experience with nuclear or radiological emergency response operations or planning.
• Knowledge of NNSA, DOE, and broader U.S. government incident response frameworks and capabilities.
• Experience in strategic planning, policy development, or program management.
• Familiarity with secure communication systems and classified networks.
  
  

LOCATION: This is a full-time onsite position in Washington, DC. SALARY: Salaries are determined based on several factors including external market data, internal equity, and the candidate’s related knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position. BENEFITS * Employer Paid, High Quality Employee Medical, Dental & Vision Care

• Low-Cost Family Health Care offered
• 11 Federal Holidays and 3 weeks’ vacation
• 401k with Generous Employer Match
• Cross-training opportunities
  
  

About MELE With over 300 employees and offices in Rockville, MD, Washington, DC, and Albuquerque, NM, MELE is a veteran and minority-owned government contractor empowering its customers with innovative solutions for more than three decades. MELE has team members located across the U.S. and has served more than a hundred countries across hundreds of project locations. The company offers technical, engineering, and programmatic support expertise to a host of U.S. federal and international agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, INTERPOL, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. MELE’s services include National Security and Intelligence, CBRNE Defense and Security, Facility Management and Engineering, Law Enforcement and Emergency Response Training, Technical, Analytica, and Program Management Support, and IT/Cybersecurity. MELE Associates, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. MELE Associates, Inc. is an E-Verify employer.