Waste and Transportation Oversight Sr. Specialist

Argonne National Laboratory seeks a Waste and Transportation Sr. Specialist to provide senior-level, independent technical leadership, governance, and assurance for the Laboratory’s Waste Management Program (WMP) and associated on‑site and off‑site waste transportation activities. Operating from the Worker Safety and Environment Division within the ESH Directorate, this position leads oversight of regulatory compliance and performance of the full lifecycle of hazardous, radioactive, mixed, TSCA, and TRU wastes – from planning, generation, processing, storage, characterization, packaging, on‑site transportation, to final disposition.

• Program Governance and Technical Leadership – Lead independent oversight of the Waste Management Program and related transfer and transportation activities, ensuring compliance with DOE Orders, federal and state regulations, contractual requirements, and Laboratory policies.
• Independent Assurance – Plan and execute independent assessments, surveillances, and readiness reviews of waste characterization, sampling, data quality, processing, storage, and shipping compliance, documenting issues, coordinating corrective actions, and ensuring closure in institutional corrective action programs.
• Facility and Transportation Compliance – Oversee compliance in nuclear and radiological facilities with safety basis requirements, DOE transportation requirements, DOT/PHMSA regulations, and RCRA/TSCA shipping requirements, exercising stop‑work authority when necessary.
• Regulatory Compliance, Waste Certification, and Disposition – Senior‑level assessment of program conformance with applicable DOE Orders, federal, state, and local regulations, oversight of monitoring of accumulation limits, container storage conditions, and waste certification activities, and strategic input on disposition pathways.
• Worker Safety, Special Hazards, and Training – Lead oversight of HEPA filter procurement, replacement, and development of targeted training and guidance materials to elevate technical rigor.
• Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement, and Continuous Improvement – Provide technical review and concurrence for regulatory reports, lead Laboratory preparation for external assessments, and guide the development of metrics and dashboards to monitor program health.
• Functional Leadership – Mentor and coach waste and transportation staff, develop team priorities and activity scopes, and maintain strong partnerships and communication with operational line management.

• Minimum:
  Bachelor’s degree in nuclear, chemical, environmental engineering, health physics, or a related technical field (advanced degree preferred), 12+ years of experience in waste management, nuclear facility operations, or related regulatory/compliance roles.
• Expert‑level knowledge of waste management, safety, and quality regulatory requirements (40
  
  CFR RCRA/TSCA, 49
  
  CFR hazmat transportation, 29
  
  CFR OSHA, relevant state requirements).
• Extensive hands‑on experience with waste characterization, waste acceptance criteria, and waste storage/packaging practices.
• Strong quality assurance familiarity with NQA‑1 or equivalent, including leading audits, surveillances, readiness reviews, and managing corrective actions to closure.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or provide functional direction in a matrixed environment.
• Proficiency with waste management and/or inventory systems or equivalent tools is desirable.
• Excellent technical writing, analytical, and communication skills including presentations, training, and consensus building.
• Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.

• Experience in a DOE‑site waste management environment.
• Professional certification such as CHMM, CIH, CHP, CDGP, CSP, or PE.
• Lead Auditor training or certification.
• DOT Hazmat Shipper and 40‑hour HAZWOPER training.
• RCRA Large‑Quantity Generator and TSCA (PCB/ACM) compliance training.
• Familiarity with NNSS WAC, DOE complex waste practices, and TRU waste certification processes.

• Proof of U.S. citizenship is required.
• Accessibility to radiological and nuclear facilities and use of required PPE; respirator qualification may be needed.
• Occasional travel (~10%) to disposal facilities, vendor locations, and DOE complex meetings.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance may be required.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.