What are the responsibilities and job description for the Nuclear Security Specialist position at Portland General Electric?
At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven’t stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We’re always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.
The Nuclear Security Specialist serves as PGE’s onsite licensee representative at the Trojan Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI), ensuring compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) security requirements, licensing commitments, and approved security procedures. In this highly regulated role, you will provide oversight of contracted security personnel and security operations, ensuring activities such as patrols, alarm response, searches, reporting, and incident management are conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements and established procedures. As a key compliance resource, you will help maintain the integrity of PGE’s security program by ensuring reportability obligations are met, documentation is accurate, and security events are managed appropriately.
This position combines regulatory oversight, operational leadership, and security program administration in a compliance-driven environment where attention to detail, sound judgment, and procedural rigor are critical. While not a formal people leader, the Nuclear Security Specialist provides operational oversight and accountability for contractor security activities, influencing outcomes and ensuring adherence to security plans, licensing requirements, and corrective action processes. The role is ideal for professionals with experience in nuclear security, NRC-regulated environments, military nuclear operations, or other highly regulated industries where compliance and operational discipline are essential.
To support continuous licensee oversight coverage, Nuclear Security Specialists work a rotating 24/7 schedule consisting of 12-hour shifts, including both days and nights. The position follows a Panama-style schedule, typically rotating between four days on/three days off and three days on/four days off, with quarterly rotations between day and graveyard shifts. Candidates must be comfortable working overnight shifts and maintaining long-term flexibility in a round-the-clock operational environment. While primarily onsite, this position offers some schedule flexibility. Adjustments may be approved as needed, provided operational requirements and business needs continue to be met.
Key Responsibilities
Administer the Physical Security Plan May develop or lead others in developing strategy, policies, practices, processes and standards for Trojan’s Physical Security Plan; ensures the security system (access controls, intrusion alarms and video surveillance) is compliant with regulatory requirements and industry best practices; leads and/or coordinates providing and revoking physical access controls to work areas based on corporate security and business unit needs; documents, analyzes and reports on personnel access rights and enforcement of policies for physical security access controls; serves as subject matter expert on the Physical Security Plan providing expertise and problem solving to end users on security and access issues.
Security Projects Manages and oversees security related projects; assesses business needs and determines if new security products or upgrades are needed or viable; plans projects, including scope, resources and scheduling; conducts reviews for progress and to ensure tasks are completed.
Regulatory Compliance Reviews Completes periodic compliance reviews, certifications and audits related to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Standards; develops and implements procedures, business practices and protocols to enhance compliance with NRC regulations while balancing the employee occupational needs.
Conduct Site Visits Oversees or leads site visits (planned as well as random, unannounced) to inspect security systems; ensures the systems are operational and confirms that agreed-upon policy and operating procedures are being followed.
Investigations May respond to, investigate and evaluate security-related incidents; may solicit technical and substantive expert assistance to resolve security problems; may identify and recommend changes or corrective action to prevent future incidents.
Research Researches regulatory changes in physical security requirements and emerging industry trends and best practices applicable to physical security access controls; adapts processes and procedures to align with best practices; leads implementation efforts.
Technical Oversight and Training Oversees and trains security contractors and delegated PGE personnel in accordance with Trojan’s Training and Qualification Plan to ensure effective and efficient operations in accordance with departmental objectives.
Education
Requires a bachelor’s degree in business, law enforcement, IT or other related field or equivalent experience.
Experience
Typically eight or more years in security, regulatory compliance or in a related field.
Functional Competencies
Substantial:
Consistent use of logic or scientific thinking to define problems, collect information, establish facts and draw valid conclusions (for example, engineer, HR director, plant manager, etc.).
Cognitive
PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well-being and professional development, both now and into the future. To find out more, click here.
The Nuclear Security Specialist serves as PGE’s onsite licensee representative at the Trojan Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI), ensuring compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) security requirements, licensing commitments, and approved security procedures. In this highly regulated role, you will provide oversight of contracted security personnel and security operations, ensuring activities such as patrols, alarm response, searches, reporting, and incident management are conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements and established procedures. As a key compliance resource, you will help maintain the integrity of PGE’s security program by ensuring reportability obligations are met, documentation is accurate, and security events are managed appropriately.
This position combines regulatory oversight, operational leadership, and security program administration in a compliance-driven environment where attention to detail, sound judgment, and procedural rigor are critical. While not a formal people leader, the Nuclear Security Specialist provides operational oversight and accountability for contractor security activities, influencing outcomes and ensuring adherence to security plans, licensing requirements, and corrective action processes. The role is ideal for professionals with experience in nuclear security, NRC-regulated environments, military nuclear operations, or other highly regulated industries where compliance and operational discipline are essential.
To support continuous licensee oversight coverage, Nuclear Security Specialists work a rotating 24/7 schedule consisting of 12-hour shifts, including both days and nights. The position follows a Panama-style schedule, typically rotating between four days on/three days off and three days on/four days off, with quarterly rotations between day and graveyard shifts. Candidates must be comfortable working overnight shifts and maintaining long-term flexibility in a round-the-clock operational environment. While primarily onsite, this position offers some schedule flexibility. Adjustments may be approved as needed, provided operational requirements and business needs continue to be met.
Key Responsibilities
Administer the Physical Security Plan May develop or lead others in developing strategy, policies, practices, processes and standards for Trojan’s Physical Security Plan; ensures the security system (access controls, intrusion alarms and video surveillance) is compliant with regulatory requirements and industry best practices; leads and/or coordinates providing and revoking physical access controls to work areas based on corporate security and business unit needs; documents, analyzes and reports on personnel access rights and enforcement of policies for physical security access controls; serves as subject matter expert on the Physical Security Plan providing expertise and problem solving to end users on security and access issues.
Security Projects Manages and oversees security related projects; assesses business needs and determines if new security products or upgrades are needed or viable; plans projects, including scope, resources and scheduling; conducts reviews for progress and to ensure tasks are completed.
Regulatory Compliance Reviews Completes periodic compliance reviews, certifications and audits related to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Standards; develops and implements procedures, business practices and protocols to enhance compliance with NRC regulations while balancing the employee occupational needs.
Conduct Site Visits Oversees or leads site visits (planned as well as random, unannounced) to inspect security systems; ensures the systems are operational and confirms that agreed-upon policy and operating procedures are being followed.
Investigations May respond to, investigate and evaluate security-related incidents; may solicit technical and substantive expert assistance to resolve security problems; may identify and recommend changes or corrective action to prevent future incidents.
Research Researches regulatory changes in physical security requirements and emerging industry trends and best practices applicable to physical security access controls; adapts processes and procedures to align with best practices; leads implementation efforts.
Technical Oversight and Training Oversees and trains security contractors and delegated PGE personnel in accordance with Trojan’s Training and Qualification Plan to ensure effective and efficient operations in accordance with departmental objectives.
Education
Requires a bachelor’s degree in business, law enforcement, IT or other related field or equivalent experience.
Experience
Typically eight or more years in security, regulatory compliance or in a related field.
Functional Competencies
- Advanced knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures and strategies to promote effective security operations for the protection of personnel, property, assets, and/or material
- Advanced knowledge of NRC regulations and requirements
- Advanced skills in administering a security computer system, including physical access control protocols
- Advanced knowledge of law enforcement practices and methodologies as applied to security related activities
- Computer skills in using Outlook, MS Office, MS Project, and Visio
- Advanced analytical thinking skills
- Advanced influence skills
- Advanced to expert interpersonal skills, depending on position
- Advanced organization and prioritization skills
- Advanced presentation and facilitation skills
- Advanced problem-solving skills
- Advanced project management skills
- Advanced written and oral communication skills
Substantial:
Consistent use of logic or scientific thinking to define problems, collect information, establish facts and draw valid conclusions (for example, engineer, HR director, plant manager, etc.).
Cognitive
- Ability to adhere to set response times, deadlines and time-sensitive tasks
- Ability to follow accuracy standards
- Ability to follow through on decision-making tasks
- Ability to interact effectively and collaboratively within a team environment
- Ability to communicate and problem solve when under stress
- Ability to respond and adapt to frequent change
- Ability to accept and demonstrate self-awareness when provided constructive feedback
- Ability to discern feedback and acknowledge ownership of areas of improvement
- Ability to avoid future mistakes by applying reasonable skills to new but similar work situations or tasks
- Ability to successfully collaborate with peers, managers and others within the organization
- Demonstrates sound memory
- Ability to process new information to be applied consistently to work tasks
- Ability to work long hours
- Ability to work a variable schedule
- Ability to report to work and perform work during periods of severe inclement weather
- Ability to consistently meet attendance standards for regular, reliable, predictable, full-time attendance
- Ability to work shift schedule
- Ability to work on-call schedule
- Does the job require a valid driver’s license? - Yes
- Driving/travel/commute -frequently (at least once a week or more)
- Computer use (use computer regularly for entire work shift)
- Lifting/pushing/pulling/carrying: up to 10 lbs.
- Office environment
- Plant environment
- Field environment
PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well-being and professional development, both now and into the future. To find out more, click here.