Hazardous Materials & Waste Professional 4 - Field Services

Job Opportunity At PNNL

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our directorates related to Mission Support & Operations include Office of General Counsel, Business Services, Communications and External Engagement, Operational Systems, Communications and Information Technology, and Performance Management.

The Operational Systems Directorate (OSD) leads delivery of PNNL’s 10-year, $1.2 billion campus construction portfolio—the single largest construction and modernization effort in the Laboratory’s history. OSD oversees operations and facility services, maintenance, and infrastructure planning.

A team of nearly 800 staff comprise OSD, spanning in a wide range of disciplines, including craftspeople, engineers, construction professionals, technicians, scientists, administrators, and specialists. Together, they ensure that PNNL’s assets, services, and OSD-led programs are managed and performing safely, securely, reliably, effectively, and efficiently.

The directorate stewards more than $250 million in annual budget authority; managing more than 2.5 million square feet of facility space across two campuses; overseeing approximately 200 regulatory program areas; and executing a multi-million-dollar facility and infrastructure project portfolio.

The mission of the Environment, Health, Safety and Security (EHS&S) Division is to minimize risks, assure compliance with regulatory standards, and promote a culture of safety, health, and environmental stewardship.

EHS&S focuses on reducing environmental impact, promoting employee health, preventing workplace incidents, and safeguarding physical and information security. Core functions include risk assessment, safety training, environmental stewardship, health monitoring, emergency preparedness, and implementing security measures. EHS&S fosters a culture of safety, maintainability, and continuous improvement, ensuring operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and long-term organizational resilience.

Responsibilities

Serves as a technical expert in the management of assets (property, chemicals, biological materials, radioactive materials, etc.) and wastes at the Laboratory. The overall objective of this position is to provide secure, compliant and efficient leadership in asset lifecycle and waste management as well as packaging and transportation of hazardous materials. This position is responsible for providing oversight to ensure facility and project compliance with statutes, regulations, and policies. Position can represent the Laboratory during inspections from outside agencies such as the Dept. of Ecology, EPA and USDOT.

May serve as a Task Manager (e.g., field lead, transportation SME, hazardous waste SME) providing technical leadership to maintain Laboratory program and implementation compliance. Demonstrates leadership by translating strategy into specific goals and objectives. Works on unusually complex problems and provides solutions which are highly innovative and ingenious. Identifies improvement/efficiency opportunities both within and outside of area were assigned as SME.

This position will have the following key responsibilities and accountabilities:

• Provide research and maintenance staff with a point of contact and conduit to answer and resolve questions and concerns related to the responsible disciplines.

Materials and Waste Management

• Manage waste storage areas (90-day, SAA, radioactive) proactively, independently, and compliantly.
• Be cognizant of chemical, biological and radioactive material inventories, customer needs, and all business and operations systems/requirements, including the understanding of facility operating boundaries and managing these inventories within acceptable limits.
• Track, monitor, reconcile, and report inventory status and trends with recommendations for action including performance metrics management.
• Coordinate materials acquisition, unwanted inventory disposition, including transfer/sharing.
• Serve as the material balance area custodian for nuclear material inventories.

Environmental Management

• Perform drinking and waste water sampling, equipment calibrations and ordering supplies.

Property Management

• Identify, tag and track inventory status of PNNL personal property. Coordinate annual Wall-to-Wall asset inventory to effectively manage property.

Facility Operations

• Perform and/or schedule for calibrations on several pieces of equipment.
• Provide safety oversight of contractor work.
• Function as a member of the Building Emergency Response Organization as the Chemical Hazards Assessor and participate in emergency activities and drills.

Transportation

• Perform Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Shipping responsibilities and assist staff when shipping radioactive and non-radioactive materials via ground, air or water.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 7 years of relevant experience -OR-
• MS/MA or higher and 5 years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a science-related field.
• Demonstrated experience performing waste designation, surveillance, and characterization.
• Experience working in and supporting laboratory environments, including sampling activities and spill response.
• Experience posting and managing waste accumulation areas in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Experience providing oversight of waste accumulation and posting in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Experience interacting with senior leadership, managers, or technical stakeholders.
• Experience with excess property or surplus material management.
• Working knowledge of environmental, safety, and waste regulations (e.g., RCRA, EPA, OSHA).
• Completion of hazardous materials or waste operations training or certifications (e.g., RCRA, HAZWOPER).

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Clean working conditions. May be requested to respond to upset conditions that are controlled by Health and Safety professionals.

Additional Information

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.

A security clearance background investigation includes review of your employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with you and your personal references, neighbors, and co-workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States. The investigation also examines your foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.

Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship
• Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
• Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP). Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months cannot be demonstrated.

Testing Designated Position

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.

About PNNL

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.

Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity

Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an