Group Leader, REDC Material Operations

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a leader within its world-class radioisotope production program. Supporting the largest radioisotope production and research portfolio within the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science for Isotope R&D and Production, this position offers the opportunity to work with rare nuclear materials and ensure the safe and effective execution of nuclear materials processing within nuclear facilities in the Melton Valley area of the ORNL campus. This position resides within the Isotope Processing and Manufacturing Division (IPMD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). IPMD is focused on the reliable delivery of radioisotope products to exacting quality standards. This work is performed within the unique facilities at ORNL, including the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC), and additional radiological and nuclear facilities throughout the ORNL campus containing shielded hot cells and gloveboxes. We are seeking a group leader to lead a high-performing production group to ensure ORNL can successfully meet its mission to supply critical isotopes for science, medicine, and industry. This position resides in the REDC Material Operations Group in the REDC Isotope Processing Section, Isotope Processing and Manufacturing Division, Isotope Science and Enrichment Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Requirements

A BS degree in a technical field and 8+ years of relevant experience. An equivalent combination of education and applicable experience may be considered.
Experience working in HC-2 nuclear facilities.
Experience developing detailed schedules and work control for projects.
Strong leadership and communication skills.
Ability to hold and maintain a DOE Q security clearance is required.

Nice To Haves

BS in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or similar field is preferred.
Experience in a radiochemical operations environment.
Experience executing or supervising work in remote hot cell and glovebox environments.
Experience reading radioanalytical data such as gamma, alpha, and mass spectroscopy.
Experience translating research and development processes into reliable operations.
Experience in maintaining high levels of process documentation and quality control.
Line management experience with direct supervisory responsibility for a team.
Active DOE clearance.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
Ability to function well in a fast-paced production environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Responsibilities

Responsible for Plutonium-238 and Californium-252 pellet and target production goals.
Safe operation within HC-2 hot cell facilities to ensure safe and compliant execution of the mission.
Lead and develop a team of 10+ technicians, technical staff, and engineers.
Provide mentoring and career guidance to early career staff.
Lead the manufacturing of Pu-238 and Cf-252 targets and pellets with unique processing flowsheet, frequency, and throughput.
Maintain up-to-date procedures for routine processing.
Support research and development groups in translating developmental work into robust processes.
Ensure all work is completed while maintaining cost, schedule, and quality standards.
Work with project management and controls to maintain the resource-loaded schedule for facility operations.
Work with the quality assurance team to ensure compliance with all quality standards.
Respond to requests from program management for processing scheduling changes.
Schedule work activities and coordinate work authorization.
Maintain detailed records relating to nuclear materials processing.
Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and optimization.
Develop and execute on-the-job training programs to grow the strength of our processing teams.
Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.