Division Director

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

7h•Onsite

About The Position

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget. Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management. The Earth Systems Science Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, provides leadership and solutions that advance Earth system opportunities for energy systems and national security. We are a multidisciplinary division connected by a shared commitment to innovate and collaborate towards solving complex problems in the dynamic Earth system. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is recruiting for a Director to lead the Earth Systems Science Division (ESSD) within the Energy and Environment Directorate (EED). Annually, ESSD conducts about $115 million of R&D for the Department of Energy’s applied energy offices and other government agencies. The ESSD is an organization of about 400 staff members based primarily at PNNL’s Richland, Washington campus where this position will be located. The staff is organized into five capability‐based groups, each under the leadership of a group leader who reports to the Division Director. These groups include Applied Decision Systems & Analytics, Earth Systems Predictability & Resiliency, Operational Systems Engineering, Risk & Environmental Assessment, and Subsurface Science. ESSD provides leadership and solutions that advance earth system opportunities for energy systems and national security. Division research often addresses the complex relationship of the natural environment with energy systems. Specific areas of work include: Earth-energy resilience: Resilience to extreme events, long-term energy system planning, earth-energy science Energy monitoring and technology: Sensor and algorithm development, ecological interactions and impacts, engineering and operational performance Subsurface science: Subsurface utilization for energy (geothermal, critical minerals), subsurface remediation, subsurface security applications Environmental assessment: Environmental and nuclear risk, federal permitting Decision science: Risk analysis, decision analytics, decision systems Division scientists and engineers conduct applied research at the bench, pilot, and field scale, integrating test results with advanced modeling and simulation to provide the technical underpinnings, scientific approaches, and technological advancements to support breakthrough solutions, improve system knowledge, and champion new regulatory protocols that are protective of human health and the environment. Work is conducted in a wide variety of radiochemistry and biology laboratories, aquatic research laboratories, bioacoustics & flow laboratories, and geophysics/geomechanics laboratories. Field research occurs at the nearby Hanford Site, and at locations around the northwest and the globe. The ESSD Division Director develops and implements strategy to steward and expand existing capabilities in the division, and to grow new capabilities. They engage with key internal and external sponsors and stakeholders to build impactful research partnerships and to support Sector Managers in growing the business portfolio. This position reports to the Energy and Environment Directorate (EED) Associate Laboratory Director. The Division Director for Earth Systems Science is responsible for leading, developing, and maintaining institutional capabilities (including staff, facilities, and equipment) in alignment with directorate and lab‐wide priorities, and with the goal to meet current and future DOE and other sponsor mission needs.

Requirements

BS/BA and 15 years of relevant technical experience -OR-
MS/MA or higher and 13 years of relevant technical experience

Nice To Haves

Record of progressively increasing strategic leadership and line management experience.
Familiarity with research and development in the technical areas represented by the Division.
Demonstrated experience in safe and healthy operations.
Strong, proven management skills in collaboration, interpersonal communications, problem solving, and human relations skills.
Willingness to move to the Tri-Cities, WA, area.
Ph.D. in a relevant science or engineering discipline, with 15+ years of progressively responsible technical leadership, program leadership, and line management experience.
Record of R&D accomplishment in at least one of the areas of technical capability managed by the Division.
Well‐developed strategic planning, organizational and capability development, and business development skills, with a demonstrated record of regularly meeting financial and operational expectations.
Knowledge and experience working with relevant DOE and other ESSD mission sponsors.
Record of success working with and collaborating with U.S. industry and universities.
Demonstrated experience effectively communicating to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

Leading the development and execution of the Earth Systems Science Division (ESSD) strategy in partnership with the EED leadership team and other PNNL stakeholders.
Developing world‐class research capabilities (people, equipment and facilities) that are externally recognized for scientific and engineering excellence, and that support the DOE mission and deliver national impact.
Modeling, creating and reinforcing a culture of research excellence that includes safety, security, and operational discipline.
Stewarding and communicating ESSD’s accomplishments with internal and external stakeholders to advance the Lab’s and DOE’s reputation.
Implementing best practices to recruit, develop, assess performance, and retain talented subject matter experts to support current and future mission needs.
Ensuring robust succession planning for key technical capabilities needed for current and future business growth.
Managing budgets and assets to ensure facilities, equipment, and operating procedures are adequate and deliver on mission priorities.

Benefits

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support.
Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match.
Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

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