Buildings Technology - Laboratory Program Manager

NREL • Golden, CO

7h • Hybrid

About The Position

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking a Laboratory Program Manager (LPM) to coordinate NLR’s buildings research and development activities across the laboratory. NLR’s Building Technologies Program leads cutting-edge buildings research to drive affordable solutions, increase resiliency, and strengthen the reliability of energy systems. This position, located at the South Table Mountain campus in Golden, Colorado, reports to the Associate Laboratory Director of the Mechanical & Thermal Engineering Sciences Directorate. Specific duties related to the position include, but are not limited to: Serve as the primary relationship manager for DOE’s Buildings Technology Office (BTO), which entails maintaining a strategic partnership, high levels of customer satisfaction, and effective coordination with DOE and national lab partners. Lead BTO-funded program planning and strategy development, including annual operating plans, multi-year roadmaps, proposal development, and long-term alignment with DOE/BTO objectives. Manage NLR’s buildings research, development, and deployment (RD&D) portfolio, ensuring balanced integration, effective project execution, reporting, and alignment with approved operating plans. Collaborate with laboratory directorates, centers (particularly the Building Technology Sciences Center, BTSC), Associate Laboratory Directors (ALDs ) , and business development leaders to align NLR's core competencies, resources, infrastructure, and industry partnerships with BTO priorities. Provide technical, programmatic, and subject-matter leadership in building technologies, mentor staff. serve as an expert internal resource on technology, industry, market, and research trends. Coordinate and lead NLR’s response to building-related funding opportunities (NOFOs, Lab Calls), publications review, and intellectual property protection to ensure mission impact and stewardship of federal funds. Strengthen strategic alliances with industry, universities, associations, and other national laboratories through partnership development, site visits, and external engagement. Oversee fiduciary, operational, and compliance responsibilities for the Buildings Technology program, including financial management, cross-program coordination, best-practice program management, and adherence to health, safety, and environmental requirements.

Requirements

• PhD and 15 years of relevant experience. Or, Master's and 18 years of relevant experience. Or, Bachelor's and 20 years.
• Previous management, budget development and/or significant leadership in an individual contributor role is required.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically considering the big picture and effectively lead strategic planning while building consensus toward a vision and strategy.
• Expert knowledge within buildings technology research, preferably in areas such as but not limited to; commercial, residential, building energy modeling, building/grid integration, software development
• Ability to propose and develop new/novel concepts and approaches where little or no precedents exist.
• Highly-effective teaming skills, including a proven ability to form and lead high-impact, cross-organizational teams.
• This position requires regular travel and an onsite hybrid work location and is not seeking applicants who wish to work remotely.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated ability and proven track record of sponsor or customer satisfaction in managing one or more technical projects or programs with large annual operating budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to grow and/or adapt a research program/portfolio over a short period of time.
• An established positive reputation with NLR’s DOE clients within BTO.
• A relevant technical degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry or a related applied scientific or engineering discipline.
• Experience successfully developing, forming and leading one or more interdisciplinary project team(s) that included national laboratories, industry, and universities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary relationship manager for DOE’s Buildings Technology Office (BTO)
• Lead BTO-funded program planning and strategy development
• Manage NLR’s buildings research, development, and deployment (RD&D) portfolio
• Collaborate with laboratory directorates, centers (particularly the Building Technology Sciences Center, BTSC), Associate Laboratory Directors (ALDs ) , and business development leaders to align NLR's core competencies, resources, infrastructure, and industry partnerships with BTO priorities.
• Provide technical, programmatic, and subject-matter leadership in building technologies, mentor staff. serve as an expert internal resource on technology, industry, market, and research trends.
• Coordinate and lead NLR’s response to building-related funding opportunities (NOFOs, Lab Calls), publications review, and intellectual property protection to ensure mission impact and stewardship of federal funds.
• Strengthen strategic alliances with industry, universities, associations, and other national laboratories through partnership development, site visits, and external engagement.
• Oversee fiduciary, operational, and compliance responsibilities for the Buildings Technology program, including financial management, cross-program coordination, best-practice program management, and adherence to health, safety, and environmental requirements.

Benefits

• Benefits include 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; and tuition reimbursement.
• NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component.
• Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree