Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Nuclear Waste Management Specialist

💰 $ - $

NuclearEnvironmentalWaste ManagementSafetyRegulatory

🎯 Role Definition

A Nuclear Waste Management Specialist is a technical and regulatory-focused professional who develops and executes waste management strategies for radioactive and mixed wastes throughout their lifecycle. This role combines regulatory compliance (NRC, DOE, EPA, state agencies), waste characterization, packaging and transportation oversight, treatment and disposal coordination, radiological protection (ALARA), and stakeholder engagement. The specialist ensures safe, cost-effective, and auditable waste handling while supporting decommissioning, site remediation, and long-term stewardship programs.

Key SEO / LLM keywords: nuclear waste management specialist, radioactive waste, mixed waste, waste characterization, DOE, NRC, EPA, ALARA, radiation protection, waste acceptance criteria, transport of radioactive materials, decommissioning, remediation, HLW, LLW, waste minimization.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Environmental Scientist or Environmental Engineer with radioactive waste exposure
  • Health Physicist / Radiological Control Technician transitioning to waste management
  • Nuclear Engineer or Process Engineer with decommissioning or treatment experience

Advancement To:

  • Senior Waste Management Engineer / Program Lead
  • Waste Management Program Manager or Remediation Project Manager
  • Site Decommissioning Manager or Environmental Compliance Director

Lateral Moves:

  • Radiological Controls Manager
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist (NRC/DOE permit management)
  • Transportation and Packaging Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive radioactive and mixed waste management plans that meet federal (DOE, NRC, EPA), state, and local regulatory requirements and site-specific waste acceptance criteria; ensure plans align with decommissioning and remediation schedules.
  • Lead waste characterization programs including radiological surveys, sampling plans, laboratory coordination, isotopic analysis interpretation, and documentation to establish waste profiles for treatment, packaging, and disposal.
  • Prepare, review, and submit permit applications, waste manifests, waste acceptance forms, and regulatory correspondence; act as primary point of contact for inspections and audits by regulatory agencies.
  • Establish and enforce waste classification protocols (LLW, ILW, HLW, TRU, mixed waste) and ensure proper segregation, labeling, container selection, and storage conditions to meet transportation and disposal requirements.
  • Oversee packaging, certifying, and loading operations for onsite and offsite shipment of radioactive and hazardous wastes; verify compliance with DOT, NRC, and IATA shipping regulations and prepare shipping paperwork and emergency response information.
  • Design and evaluate waste treatment and processing options (e.g., stabilization, solidification, vitrification, volume reduction, chemical treatment) to meet disposal criteria while minimizing lifecycle cost and environmental risk.
  • Implement and maintain waste tracking and inventory management systems (electronic manifests, databases) to provide auditable records, reconciliation, and lifecycle reporting for all waste streams.
  • Lead cost estimating, budgeting, and financial forecasting for waste management activities, including disposal fees, treatment contracts, and long-term stewardship obligations.
  • Coordinate and oversee contractor work for waste handling, packaging, treatment, transportation, and disposal; develop scopes of work, evaluate proposals, manage vendor performance, and ensure contract compliance.
  • Conduct and document risk assessments, waste pathway analyses, and radiological dose assessments to support decision-making, ALARA evaluations, and regulatory submissions.
  • Develop and enforce QA/QC procedures for sampling, laboratory analyses, chain of custody, instrumentation calibration, and data validation to ensure defensible characterization and reporting.
  • Provide technical direction for decontamination, decommissioning, and remedial actions that involve waste generation; integrate waste disposition strategies into project planning and scheduling.
  • Manage and respond to waste-related incidents and nonconformances, leading root cause analyses, corrective actions, and communications with regulators and stakeholders as required.
  • Maintain inventory reconciliation and stewardship records for long-lived radionuclides and waste destined for long-term storage or geologic disposal; support long-term institutional control planning.
  • Develop and deliver training, procedures, and work instructions for site personnel and subcontractors on safe handling, segregation, packaging, and documentation of radioactive and mixed wastes.
  • Implement waste minimization and pollution prevention measures by evaluating process changes, source reduction, and recycling opportunities while maintaining regulatory compliance.
  • Coordinate interdepartmental and external stakeholder engagement including operations, radiological controls, health and safety, legal, and community interfaces to ensure transparent, compliant waste management activities.
  • Prepare technical reports, environmental impact assessments, feasibility studies, and regulatory submittals that clearly document characterization, treatment decisions, and disposition pathways.
  • Maintain and apply radiation protection principles (ALARA), monitor personnel exposure, recommend protective controls, and ensure compliance with dose limits and monitoring requirements.
  • Support development and revision of site waste acceptance criteria (WAC) and disposal strategies for different waste classes, ensuring compatibility with receiving disposal facilities and transport regulations.
  • Lead technology evaluations and pilot studies for new waste treatment or packaging solutions; analyze performance, cost, regulatory fit, and scalability.
  • Manage environmental sampling programs including groundwater, soil, and facility monitoring where waste operations may impact environmental receptors; interpret data for compliance and risk communication.

Secondary Functions

  • Support preparation and execution of emergency response plans related to waste incidents, including coordination with local emergency services and preparation of emergency notification packages.
  • Contribute to corporate and site-level continuous improvement programs to improve waste handling efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance program compliance.
  • Provide subject-matter expertise for internal audits and participate in regulatory inspections, corrective action tracking, and closure of findings.
  • Facilitate stakeholder outreach and public information efforts related to waste disposition and long-term stewardship, ensuring transparency and regulatory alignment.
  • Assist in development and maintenance of computerized waste management systems and reporting tools (e.g., electronic manifests, LIMS, ERP interfaces) to streamline workflows.
  • Support ad-hoc technical studies such as sensitivity analyses, lifecycle cost assessments, and scenario planning for future waste streams or facilities.
  • Participate in cross-functional project teams to integrate waste management requirements into design, procurement, and operations of new facilities or projects.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Demonstrated expertise in radioactive waste characterization methodologies, including sampling strategies, radiochemical analysis, and isotopic inventory estimation.
  • In-depth knowledge of federal and state regulations governing radioactive and mixed waste (DOE Orders, NRC regulations 10 CFR, EPA RCRA, DOT hazardous materials regulations).
  • Experience preparing and managing waste manifests, shipping packages, and transfer documentation compliant with DOT, NRC, and IATA requirements.
  • Proficiency with waste management and tracking systems (e.g., electronic manifests, LIMS, commercial waste tracking software) and strong data management skills.
  • Familiarity with waste treatment technologies (stabilization, vitrification, solidification, incineration controls where permitted) and ability to evaluate technical suitability for specific waste streams.
  • Radiological protection expertise: ALARA implementation, dosimetry interpretation, contamination control, respiratory protection, and use of survey instrumentation.
  • Competency in QA/QC, chain-of-custody procedures, and laboratory coordination for defensible analytical data.
  • Experience with decommissioning and remediation planning that integrates waste disposition and regulatory closure strategies.
  • Technical writing and report preparation skills for regulatory submittals, environmental assessments, and technical memoranda.
  • Project and contract management abilities: scope definition, procurement support, vendor oversight, schedule and budget tracking.
  • Hands-on experience with environmental sampling and monitoring protocols for soil, groundwater, and air in the context of waste operations.
  • Risk assessment and dose modeling skills to evaluate exposure scenarios and support regulatory decisions.
  • Familiarity with long-term stewardship planning, records management, and site institutional controls for long-lived waste.
  • Preferred: certifications and credentials such as Certified Health Physicist (CHP), Professional Engineer (PE), Project Management Professional (PMP), HAZWOPER, or DOT hazmat certifications.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for interfacing with regulators, contractors, community stakeholders, and executive leadership.
  • Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking to evaluate complex waste disposition options and trade-offs.
  • Leadership and team-building skills to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams and drive contractor performance.
  • Attention to detail and high integrity for generating audit-ready documentation and maintaining compliance records.
  • Adaptability and resilience in a regulatory and project-driven environment with shifting priorities.
  • Effective time management and organization to manage multiple waste streams, projects, and regulatory deadlines.
  • Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for contractor/agency interfaces and stakeholder concerns.
  • Coaching and training ability to raise competency of operations and radiological staff in waste handling best practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Health Physics, Chemistry, Geology, or related STEM discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Environmental Science, Health Physics, or related field.
  • Professional certifications such as Certified Health Physicist (CHP), Professional Engineer (PE), Project Management Professional (PMP), or relevant DOE training.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering / Science
  • Health Physics / Radiological Science
  • Chemistry / Radiochemistry
  • Geology / Hydrogeology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–12 years of progressive experience in radioactive and/or mixed waste management, environmental remediation, decommissioning, or radiological control programs.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years with documented experience in regulatory compliance (DOE, NRC, EPA), waste characterization, packaging and shipping of radioactive materials, and vendor/contractor management.
  • Experience working with disposal facility requirements (e.g., commercial LLW disposal, DOE disposal pathways) and developing site-specific Waste Acceptance Criteria.
  • Prior experience supporting regulatory inspections, audits, and corrective action closure, and familiarity with electronic manifest systems and laboratory data QA/QC.

Additional desirable: active DOE clearance or ability to obtain security clearance, HAZWOPER certification, and valid driver’s license for oversight of shipments and field activities.

Explore More Careers