Director, Nuclear Quality and Continuous Improvement

Director, Nuclear Quality and Continuous Improvement

The Director, Nuclear Quality and Continuous Improvement has overall responsibility for the 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, NQA-1, and ASME Section III Quality programs for TerraPower. The Director is responsible for maintaining and growing their team through hiring/staffing the correct mix of skillset, experience and knowledge to implement and oversee the TerraPower Quality Programs. They are responsible for growing the personnel within their team through annual goal setting and monitoring, career growth opportunities and encouraging professional development. The Director will build communication among the departments including Engineering, Procurement, and Quality Assurance and educating all organizations of nuclear quality standards.

• Develop and manage a highly effective team focused on meeting and defining quality requirements
• Demonstrate visible, continuous leadership in the areas of safety and quality
• Identify and propose staffing needs, prepare job descriptions, interview candidates
• Set yearly goals, hold mid-year checks, and perform annual performance reviews
• Support employee professional development and career objectives
• Coach for performance
• Help resolve employee concerns
• Recommend promotions, transfers, and other staffing changes
• Ensure the project and technical scope are being met while meeting quality requirements
• Estimate effort and durations required for scheduled activities
• Participate and provide input and feedback to Pre-Job Plan (PJP) meetings
• Assign applicable personnel to activities
• Monitor and report status of activities
• Oversee partner and vendor technical work as required
• Average timecard and contractor invoices
• Identify and communicate opportunities for work process improvements with department business manager
• Develop and ensure growth opportunities for employees
• Ensure the technical adequacy and quality of work products
• Participate in Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA), Continuous Improvement, Lessons Learned/Operation Experience and Risk Management processes
• Review quality affecting procedures (engineering, procurement, document control, records, testing, etc.)
• Ensure compliance with TerraPower Engineering procedures and guidelines, including applicable quality standards
• Keep team technically synchronized with each other and within the project; help remove roadblocks, break down silos and promote resilience and resourcefulness
• Facilitate definition of technical interfaces/handoffs from other teams
• Keep senior managers, department directors, and lead technical staff informed of major emerging technical issues, while working to solving these problems with others
• Avoid identifying regulations, codes and standards applicable to the work
• Avoid ensuring technical documents meet applicable regulatory guides, codes and standards
• Avoid ensuring design conducted in accordance with project requirements, configuration management and change control plans and practices.

Key Qualifications and Skills

• S. engineering related discipline from an accredited university and 10+ years direct experience, or an M.S. or Ph.D. with commensurate experience
• 12+ years' experience in a Quality Assurance function with 5+ year as a Manager in a nuclear (NRC, DOE) Quality Assurance function preferred or in a regulated environment such as EPA, aerospace, or similar industries
• Experience successfully managing and leading a team of technical QA professionals
• Exceptional communication skills to integrate with a geographically and organizationally diverse Quality and engineering teams are required
• Experience managing projects executed under a high degree of regulatory oversight, with a preference for experience building Nuclear Power Plants
• Strong technical acumen, with the ability to understand complex technical concepts is highly desirable
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork

Job Functions

• Motor Abilities: Sitting for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands)
• Physical exertion and/or requirements: Minimal, with ability to safely lift up to 25 pounds
• Repetitive work: Prolonged
• Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work
• Work Conditions: Stairs, typing/keyboard, standard and/or sitting working environment of >8 hrs./day, visits to construction site include walking on uneven surfaces and wearing required PPE
• Travel required 20-30%

Job Details

• Salary Range: $196,537 - $294,806
• We typically place offers in the lower to middle portion of the range to maintain internal equity and allow room for growth. Any salary offered within the posted salary band is based on market data and commensurate with the selected individual's qualifications experience.
• This range is specific to Washington State.
• Benefits: Competitive Compensation, Salary, eligible to participate in discretionary short-term incentive payments, Comprehensive Medical and Wellness Benefits, Medical, Vision, Dental, Life and Disability, Gender Affirmation Benefits, Parental Leave, 401k Plan, Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), 21 days of annually accrued PTO, Generous Holiday Schedule, 10 paid holidays, Relocation Assistance, Professional and Educational Support Opportunities
• TerraPower Career and Benefits information: https://www.terrapower.com/contact-us/careers/