The U.S. Department of Energy Office (DOE) of Environmental Management (EM) Workforce Management Office is implementing recruitment efforts to fill more than 300 vacancies across the cleanup program.
Office of Environmental Management
April 18, 2023
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Dameone Ferguson, far right, from EM’s Workforce Management Office, serves as a presenter during a panel session titled, “Graduating Students and New Engineers - Wants and Needs - Are Companies Even Listening?” at the 2023 Waste Management Symposia in Phoenix, Arizona.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy Office (DOE) of Environmental Management (EM) Workforce Management Office is implementing recruitment efforts to fill more than 300 vacancies across the cleanup program.
“EM is taking positive steps to attract, recruit and retain talent by leveraging its human capital plan to drive forth greater solutions to source for the next generation of our workforce,” Workforce Management Office Supervisory Diversity Analyst Dameone Ferguson said.
Despite its best efforts, the cleanup program has run into a few obstacles while working to fill these positions.
Many EM sites are in rural locations across the country, which is one of the main contributors to recruitment struggles. EM has increased the level of delegated authorities available to field managers at EM sites to help with recruitment and hiring, along with adding more professional development opportunities for employees to allow sites to grow their own experts. Additionally, the sites can offer enhanced telework or remote-work options, which can widen the field of candidates.
Read a related story about EM’s initiatives to develop an inclusive STEM workforce of the future.
EM is working to ensure a diverse, inclusive workforce through partnerships with local ecosystems such as colleges, universities, professional societies and minority-serving institutions. These partnerships enhance and expand STEM-based academic programs and draw candidates to federal employment opportunities through:
- Competitive research awards;
- Internships;
- Technology, curriculum and professional development;
- EM/Minority Serving Institutions Shared Interest Research Partnership;
- Postdoctoral fellows; and
- Graduate fellowship.
ONE-STOP SHOP: A new EM webpage titled EM Jobs, Internships & Fellowships offers a variety of resources on EM employment positions, internships and other programs as well as guidance on applying for jobs with EM. The site features useful links to EM and the broader DOE positions available on USAJobs, DOE veterans recruitment, graduate fellowship and postdoctoral research programs, and internships. In addition, the website houses past EM Update articles highlighting EM recruitment efforts, internships and more across the DOE complex.
At the National Cleanup Workshop last year, panelists addressed issues such as the loss of employees who move on to more lucrative positions with better benefits like day care; industry competition; and the lack of a diversified talent pool.
To combat those challenges, EM is focusing on the next generation of talent for positions in STEM fields, skilled trades and leadership development. EM recently developed a program-wide succession plan to help identify and develop the next generation of program leaders.
The need for effective recruitment efforts is critical due to the impending retirement of over half of EM’s workforce in the next three to five years. The Workforce Management Office has learned many lessons about recruiting and is implementing changes to ensure success. For example, EM:
- Held the inaugural EM Workforce Summit last year, bringing together DOE, industry and community leaders;
- Took part in the first in-person and virtual Waste Management Symposia job fair earlier this year;
- Expedited hiring of new employees to get qualified candidates in jobs sooner;
- Increased flexibility for contractors to boost participation in workforce development initiatives, including mentorships and volunteering in local schools;
- Developed methods to get annual and multi-year job projections to communities in an efficient, useful format; and
- Trained a cohort of students as future radiation control technicians at EM’s Portsmouth and Paducah sites in partnership with the United Steelworkers Tony Mazzocchi Center, United Steelworkers locals and area community colleges.
The virtual component of the 2023 Waste Management Symposia job fair, held during March, was successful. EM’s virtual booth received 757 total views and received 525 direct messages throughout the event. The in-person component of the job fair was also successful, resulting in 172 potential candidates for EM positions.
Open positions across EM and the broader DOE can be found here.
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