Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Nuclear Environmental Analyst

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking a Nuclear Environmental Analyst to manage and execute radiological and conventional environmental monitoring programs for nuclear facilities, remediation projects and research sites. The Nuclear Environmental Analyst will design and implement sampling campaigns, perform radiological dose assessments, maintain compliance with federal and state regulations (NRC, EPA, DOE, CERCLA, RCRA), analyze environmental and radiological data, prepare regulatory reports, and support remediation and decommissioning activities. The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise in environmental sampling and laboratory QA/QC, experience performing radiological assessments using tools such as RESRAD/GENII/HotSpot, and a demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical issues to regulators, stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Environmental Technician / Sampling Technician
Health Physics Technician / Radiological Technician
Environmental Scientist (entry-level) with experience in sampling or laboratory work

Advancement To:

Senior Nuclear Environmental Analyst / Lead Environmental Scientist
Radiation Safety Manager / Health Physics Manager
Environmental Compliance Manager or Remediation Project Manager
Radiation Protection Officer / Registered Radiation Protection Technologist

Lateral Moves:

Regulatory Affairs Specialist (NRC/EPA)
Environmental Remediation Specialist / Project Scientist
GIS & Environmental Data Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the design and execution of comprehensive radiological and non‑radiological environmental monitoring programs for nuclear power plants, research reactors, DOE sites, or licensed facilities to ensure public and worker safety and regulatory compliance.
Develop sampling plans, chain-of-custody procedures, and field QA/QC protocols for air, water, soil, sediment, biota, and effluent monitoring to meet NRC, EPA, state, and DOE requirements.
Perform radiological dose assessments and consequence analyses using industry-standard models and tools (e.g., RESRAD, GENII, HotSpot, CAP88), including calculation of effective dose, organ dose, and public pathway exposure estimates.
Review, interpret, and validate laboratory radiochemistry and environmental analytical reports (alpha, beta, gamma spectroscopy, gross alpha/beta, mass spectrometry) and coordinate corrective actions with laboratories when results exceed detection limits or action levels.
Prepare, write, and submit regulatory deliverables and technical reports such as Environmental Monitoring Reports, Radiological Environmental Reports (RERs), Annual Site Environmental Reports (ASERs), Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs), and NRC/DOE submittals in a timely, audit-ready format.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and guidance: NRC regulatory guides, EPA drinking water and effluent standards, DOE orders (e.g., DOE O 458.1), CERCLA, RCRA, and applicable state regulations.
Lead environmental sampling field teams, provide on-site technical direction, oversee sample collection, use radiation detection instrumentation (e.g., HPGe, NaI, scintillation counters, Ludlum survey meters), and ensure adherence to ALARA principles.
Conduct radiological surveys, contamination mapping, and environmental characterization activities to support decommissioning, decontamination, and remediation projects.
Develop and implement environmental data management workflows — QC/QA, entry into LIMS or databases, validation, trending, and statistical analysis to support decision making and regulatory reporting.
Perform environmental fate and transport modeling and geospatial analyses using GIS to evaluate contaminant distribution, transport pathways, and potential receptors for risk assessments and remediation planning.
Support emergency response and incident investigation efforts by performing radiological dose estimation, environmental sampling, and technical briefings to internal leadership and regulatory agencies.
Coordinate with cross-functional teams (health physics, operations, waste management, engineering, contractors) to integrate environmental monitoring results into site safety cases and remediation strategies.
Oversee and coordinate environmental permit applications, renewals, and compliance inspections; act as the primary point of contact during regulatory inspections, audits and public hearings.
Design and maintain environmental monitoring instrumentation and field equipment programs, including calibration, performance checks, maintenance logs, and procurement specifications for detectors and samplers.
Evaluate environmental remediation alternatives, develop remediation plans (e.g., excavation, capping, monitored natural attenuation), and prepare cost and schedule estimates to support project decision making.
Apply statistical analysis and multivariate techniques to environmental data sets to detect trends, outliers, and potential exceedances; prepare visualizations and data-driven recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
Prepare and deliver technical presentations, briefings, and outreach materials for regulators, stakeholders and the public that clearly explain radiological results, risks, and mitigation measures.
Implement and maintain radiological and environmental program documentation — procedures, SOPs, work instructions, and training materials — to support operations and continuous improvement.
Support waste characterization and classification for radiological and mixed wastes, coordinate packaging and shipping in accordance with DOT, NRC, and facility-specific requirements, and assist in disposition planning.
Conduct vendor and contractor oversight for field sampling, laboratory analyses, and remediation subcontractors, including scope definition, technical evaluation, and quality surveillance.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives in sampling efficiency, data quality, cost control, and regulatory alignment using lessons learned and industry best practices.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory environmental data analysis to inform project teams and regulatory responses.
Assist in development of long-term environmental monitoring strategies and data management roadmaps that integrate GIS, LIMS and cloud-based analytics.
Collaborate with health physics and radiation protection teams to translate monitoring results into operational controls and ALARA-based recommendations.
Participate in emergency drills, contingency planning and provide subject matter expertise for radiological incident response and public communication.
Provide training and mentorship to junior analysts and field sampling technicians on sampling protocols, instrumentation, and data QA/QC methods.
Coordinate with stakeholders (regulators, community groups, contractors) to schedule sampling, communicate results, and resolve technical concerns.
Support procurement of laboratory services and technical equipment, write scopes of work, and evaluate laboratory performance and accreditation status.
Contribute to environmental permitting support documents, environmental impact statements (EIS), and NEPA documentation as technical lead for radiological sections.
Participate in cross-departmental continuous improvement projects to modernize monitoring systems and automate report generation.
Assist senior staff with complex radiological modeling tasks and perform peer reviews of radiological assessments and technical memoranda.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Radiological monitoring and sampling methods for air, water, soil, sediment, and biota, including field sampling SOPs and chain-of-custody management.
Proficiency with radiological dose assessment models and tools such as RESRAD, GENII, CAP88, HotSpot, or similar public dose calculators.
Strong understanding of NRC, EPA, DOE regulatory frameworks and guidance (e.g., NRC Reg Guides, 10 CFR, DOE O 458.1, CERCLA, RCRA).
Hands-on experience with radiation detection instrumentation (HPGe, NaI, GM counters, scintillation detectors, liquid scintillation), calibration and instrument QA/QC.
Environmental data analysis and statistics, including trend analysis, uncertainty quantification, and environmental risk assessment methodologies.
Laboratory analytical methods knowledge (gamma spectroscopy, alpha/beta counting, ICP-MS, radiochemical separations) and ability to review and validate lab data packages.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial analysis, plume mapping, and site characterization (ArcGIS, QGIS).
Environmental modeling and transport analysis skills (fate and transport concepts, contaminant migration, groundwater modeling familiarity).
Experience with environmental data systems and LIMS, plus proficiency in Excel (advanced), and data scripting/analysis tools (Python, R, MATLAB) for data processing and visualization.
Experience preparing regulatory reports and technical documentation (Environmental Monitoring Reports, ASERs, RERs, DMRs) and supporting regulatory inspections.
Knowledge of waste characterization and packaging requirements for radioactive and mixed waste; DOT and NRC shipping regulations.
Familiarity with quality assurance programs (NQA-1 where applicable), MARSSIM/MARLAP guidance, and environmental sampling QC techniques.

Soft Skills

Exceptional technical writing and report preparation skills with an ability to explain complex radiological concepts in plain language.
Strong oral communication and stakeholder engagement skills for interacting with regulators, community members and cross-functional teams.
Detail-oriented with rigorous approach to QA/QC and documentation to ensure defensible data and audit readiness.
Critical thinking and problem-solving—able to evaluate competing remediation or monitoring options and make evidence-based recommendations.
Project management and organizational skills; ability to prioritize multiple concurrent projects and meet regulatory deadlines.
Leadership and mentorship capabilities; experience supervising field teams and developing junior staff.
Adaptability and composure under emergency response conditions and during regulatory scrutiny.
Collaborative team player who can coordinate technical activities among engineers, contractors and operations personnel.
Ethical decision-making and commitment to safety (ALARA principles) and environmental stewardship.
Time management and ability to draft clear, concise executive summaries and technical briefings for non-technical stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Health Physics, Radiological Science, Nuclear Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Geoscience or a closely related technical field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Health Physics, Environmental Science, Nuclear Engineering, or related discipline; or professional certifications such as Certified Health Physicist (CHP), Registered Environmental Professional (REP), or ISO/QMS training.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Health Physics / Radiological Sciences
Environmental Science / Environmental Engineering
Nuclear Engineering / Physical Sciences
Geology / Hydrology / Chemistry

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of relevant experience for mid-level analyst roles; 7+ years for senior/lead roles; entry roles may accept 0–2 years with strong internship or technician experience.

Preferred:

5+ years of direct experience in nuclear facility environmental monitoring, radiological assessments, environmental compliance with NRC/EPA/DOE requirements, or remediation at regulated nuclear or contaminated sites.
Demonstrated experience preparing regulatory submittals, leading field sampling campaigns, and performing dose assessments and environmental modeling.
Prior experience with MARSSIM/MARLAP guidance, LIMS, GIS, and environmental data QA/QC programs is highly desirable.
Experience interacting with regulatory agencies and supporting inspections, audits, or public information meetings.