What are the responsibilities and job description for the Readiness Assurance Leader position at Pantex?
Location: Amarillo, TX (Pantex Plant)
Job Title: Readiness Assurance Leader
Career Level: Advisor
Organization: Readiness Assurance (50993954)
Job Specialty: Readiness Assurance
Job Title: Readiness Assurance Leader
Career Level: Advisor
Organization: Readiness Assurance (50993954)
Job Specialty: Readiness Assurance
What You'll Do
The Readiness Assurance (RA) department reports to the Quality Assurance Division. The department's overarching role is to manage and execute readiness activities that confirm a nuclear or hazardous non-nuclear facility, activity, or operation has achieved a satisfactory state of operational readiness that is safe, secure, and compliant. RA performs four core functions: Contractor Readiness Assessments (CRA), Implementation Verification Reviews (IVR) of new or changed Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs), scheduled TSR re-verifications, and Readiness Leader functions.
The Readiness Leader is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing all activities necessary to ensure a nuclear or hazardous facility is prepared to enter a Contractor Readiness Assessment (CRA), in accordance with Department of Energy (DOE) Order 425.1D and Nuclear Production Office (NPO)- Supplemental Directive (SD)-3.4.3. This role ensures the facility, personnel, procedures, and management systems are fully ready for startup or restart, and that all contractual and regulatory safety requirements are implemented prior to the commencement of the CRA. This role may perform all four RA functions and other duties as assigned. The Readiness Leader reports to Readiness Assurance management.
Key Responsibilities
Program and Process Readiness
- Develop and execute a comprehensive readiness preparation plan that addresses DOE O 425.1D and NPO-SD-3.4.3 requirements.
- Ensure all prerequisite actions for startup/restart are identified, tracked, and completed prior to readiness review.
- Coordinate validation of procedures, training programs, hazard controls, safety basis implementation, and emergency preparedness elements.
- Lead internal Process Performance Demonstration (PPD) to verify readiness prior to CRA.
- Document, prepare and report activities via software applications, standard templates and in-person briefings.
Leadership and Coordination
- Support program and project managers and serve as the single point of accountability and SME for readiness preparation across operations, engineering, maintenance, training, and safety functions.
- Lead Readiness Certification working teams responsible for collecting evidence of compliance, facilitating and resolving issues early.
- Coordinate with DOE line management, contractors, and external oversight bodies to align expectations and resolve issues early.
- Provide readiness status briefings to all levels of management up to and including site manager, identifying risks, gaps, and required corrective actions.
Readiness Verification and Evidence Management
- Establish and maintain a readiness evidence library, including procedures, qualification records, test results, and corrective action documentation.
- Ensure objective evidence demonstrates implementation of Integrated Safety Management and nuclear safety requirements.
- Develop readiness metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools to track progress toward review readiness.
- Oversee and support conduct of mock reviews and drills to ensure personnel are prepared for assessment activities (PPD).
Issue Identification and Closure
- Identify deficiencies and readiness gaps, support development of corrective action plans, and verify timely closure.
- Manage pre-start and post-start findings to ensure compliance with DOE-STD-3006-2010 closure criteria.
Program Management & Improvement
- Ensure compliance with standard Pantex business practices (e.g., records management, Tools for Opportunities- Performance Improvement through Communication (TOPIC)).
- Drive continuous improvement in readiness assurance processes.
- Use, maintain and report data and metrics.
- Develop, deliver and maintain training in Learning Management System (LMS).
- Improve and maintain department policy, procedures, and documents.
- Support and maintain applicable software such as Startup NOtificaiton Report (SNR), Readiness Certification Assurance Process Tracking System (RCAPTS) and SharePoint, and collaborate with relevant orgs (e.g., Information Technology (IT)).
- Support RA workload assignment, scheduling, and tracking.
What You Can Expect
- Meaningful work and unique opportunities to support missions vital to national and global security
- Top-notch, dedicated colleagues
- Generous pay and benefits with a stable organization
- Career advancement and professional development programs
- Work-life balance fostered through flexible work options and wellness initiatives
Minimum Job Requirements
- Bachelor's degree: Minimum 12 years of relevant experience.
- OR Master's degree: Minimum 10 years of relevant experience.
- OR PhD: Minimum 6 years relevant experience.
- OR Applicants without a bachelor's degree may be considered based on a combination of at least 20 years of completed education and/or relevant experience.
DOE Order 426.2A Requirements
- In addition to the above requirements, the applicant must also meet the requirements of DOE O 426.2A (i.e., Baccalaureate in engineering or related science, 2 years job-related and at least 1 year nuclear experience, or a DOE O 426.2A alternative). DOE O 426.2A experience requirements can be satisfied following employment. In the interim, newly hired personnel will not be assigned duties that could impact the safety basis of nuclear facilities. (Ref. DOE O 426.2A)
Preferred Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree - preferably in engineering or a physical science discipline.
- Minimum 20 years managerial, leadership, control application, demonstrated control knowledge and understanding, and demonstrated network relationships preferred. Minimum of 12 years of Pantex and/or applicable DOE experience preferred.
- Current or previous qualification as a Readiness Assessment Team Leader (RATL) under DOE or equivalent federal/contractor program preferred.
- Extensive experience in DOE nuclear and hazardous facility operations, startup/restart readiness, readiness reviews, and operational & nuclear safety requirements; with integration of operations, safety and regulatory compliance; and experience in readiness tracking, evidence management, and corrective action systems.
- Technical mastery of readiness requirements (DOE O 425.1D, DOE-STD-3006-2010, NPO-SD-3.4.3), 10 CFR 830, nuclear and hazardous facility operations, independent verification activities, technical and regulatory knowledge, nuclear safety management, safety basis and hazard control implementation.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary teams through complex readiness activities and independent assessments in high-hazard operational environments and to deliver defensible, high-quality results under DOE standards while balancing mission execution and safety imperatives.
- Demonstrated strategic planning, systems thinking, leadership, and facilitation skills.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Proven analytical, problem solving, conflict & issue resolution and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication skills including written and oral, business and technical – with the ability to engage and influence all levels within Pantex.
- Demonstrated independent & objective judgment with strong accountability and ownership mindset.
- Excellent interpersonal and teaming skills and committed to collaborative engagement with stakeholders and internal teams.
- Proven ability to coach, mentor and develop less experienced staff in high-consequence and complex operational and regulatory environments.
- Demonstrated commitment to instilling sustainable organizational capability and strong safety & quality culture.
Why Pantex?
You get #morethanajob. We encourage employees to achieve a healthy personal balance among home, work and the community. One of the ways we embrace work-life balance is by offering flexible work arrangements that provide alternatives to the traditional workweek, while still meeting business needs. Top talent and personal commitment mean more to our success than any other factors, so we reward our people with the kinds of benefits that make a positive difference in the quality of their lives. Benefits such as: medical plan, prescription drug plan, vision plan, dental plan, employer matched 401(k) savings plan, disability coverage, education reimbursement and many more. Want to stay healthy and fit but hate the cost of a gym membership? Take advantage of one of our onsite workout facilities and eat healthy in our onsite cafeterias. Much more than a workplace, at Pantex you can build a career that lasts a lifetime.
Notes
The minimum education and experience for the lowest career level in the job posting range are listed under Minimum Job Requirements. Successful candidates hired into a higher career level than the minimum in the range must meet the requirements listed in the job leveling charts for the career level into which they are being hired.
If a range of Career Levels is posted, i.e., Senior Associate to Senior Specialist, internal applicants already in one of the Career Levels would come across at their current Career Level. Internal applicants currently in a lower level Career Level would move to the lowest posted Career Level.
Requires a Q clearance; however all qualified candidates will be considered regardless of their current clearance status. The ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance is required.
Position may require entry into Materials Access Areas (MAA) and participation in the Human Reliability Program (HRP). If HRP is required, candidate must complete a counterintelligence-scope polygraph, pursuant to 10CFR 709. Medical requirements may apply.
Pantex is a drug-free workplace. Candidates accepting a job offer will be required to pass a pre-placement physical, drug screening and background investigation. As an employee, you may be required to receive and maintain a security clearance from the United States Department of Energy in order to meet eligibility requirements for access to sensitive information or matter. U.S. citizenship is a requirement for security clearance applicants. All employees are subject to being randomly selected for drug testing without advance notification.
Pantex is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, disability or veteran status.
Pantex is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, disability or veteran status.
