Associate Laboratory Director - Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences

Full-time - Senior

Hybrid - Golden, CO

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

NREL is seeking a new Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) to lead our Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences (MTES) directorate. The ALD is responsible for providing inspirational leadership and direction to the directorate, shaping its strategic vision and driving excellence in science and technology. The MTES directorate is organized around a dedicated team of researchers, technicians and operational professionals focused on transforming the nation's energy systems, enabling a diverse, secure, and sustainable advanced energy future through technological innovations in buildings and industry, renewable energy, and systems integration. Reporting to the Laboratory Director and serving on the laboratory's senior leadership team, this position provides strategic leadership and supervision in the following research areas: Building Technology Sciences, Energy Conversion and Systems Storage, Wind Energy, Geothermal, Water Power, Advanced Manufacturing and Arctic and Extreme Climate Research. The MTES directorate comprises 650 staff that executes over $270 million in annual research and development. MTES is the largest science and technology directorate at the laboratory spanning three different campus locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, and Fairbanks, Alaska. This position has 16 direct reports spanning center directors, senior research advisors, laboratory program managers, a project manager and an executive assistant. This individual should have scientific and/or technical contributions in the relevant areas of research performed by the MTES directorate. In addition to the scientific leadership in the areas detailed above, the ALD is also responsible for aligning facility and infrastructure operations with the laboratory's vision and strategy and for ensuring that research operations are conducted safely. The ALD oversees stewardship of DOE-owned facilities and equipment to ensure they are research ready and compliant with regulations and DOE requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of NREL's leadership team, providing insight and input to key laboratory decisions.
• Maintain and grow relationships with DOE leaders, NREL senior management, board members, technical review panelists, researchers, and general staff.
• Oversee the successful delivery of projects and programs, exceeding sponsor expectations and enhancing NREL's reputation.
• Ensure the appropriate selection and development of personnel to maintain a creative environment and the optimum utilization of staff.
• Define needed changes in the organization structure or underlying cultural norms as needed to support continued growth.
• Oversee all MTES directorate elements including coaching, directing and managing center leadership, budget, investment strategies, succession planning, workforce development, administrative and communication support, planning, and reporting.

Requirements

• Relevant PhD and 15 years or more of experience, or a relevant Master's Degree and 18 years of experience, or a relevant Bachelor's Degree and 20 years of experience.
• Previous management and budget administration experience required.
• Program strategy, development and implementation experience required.
• Demonstrated breadth and depth of expertise required to create aligned strategies and set direction with command of advanced industry knowledge.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working within the DOE National Laboratory systems and associated science and technology.
• Previous experience managing a large organization is highly preferred.
• A high level of emotional intelligence is required to be successful in this position.
• Working knowledge of state-of-the-art technology and the ability to apply it to administrative functions.
• Experience in multiple functions within a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), major research or academic institution.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Pension benefits
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Personal time off (PTO) and sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement