Nuclear Energy Advisor

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

About The Position

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) seeks a senior leader to advance its nuclear industry strategy and support its advanced reactor programs. Approximately 20% of the position is devoted to the nuclear industry subsector, with the remaining time focused on managing advanced reactor programs. The role connects industry and sponsor needs with PNNL capabilities, develops strategic partnerships, and leads multidisciplinary teams to deliver research, development, and deployment outcomes. In collaboration with sector, division, and technical leaders, the advisor translates nuclear industry priorities into funded opportunities and ensures advanced reactor programs meet technical, cost, schedule, quality, and sponsor expectations. For the nuclear industry strategy, the advisor develops and executes a strategy aligned with PNNL sector and division plans; assesses technology, market, policy, and regulatory trends; builds relationships with industry, government, and research organizations; identifies business opportunities; leads proposal development; and recommends investments in staff, facilities, and partnerships. For advanced reactor programs, the advisor plans and executes assigned programs, integrating scopes, deliverables, schedules, budgets, staffing, performance measures, research, engineering, procurement, and quality assurance. The role coordinates teams across PNNL and partner organizations, manages risks and changes, communicates performance and resource needs to sponsors, and supports the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy and Department of War Advanced Reactor Programs. Activities may address advanced reactor development, siting, deployment, redeployment, and decommissioning, including defense applications. The advisor works with line managers to secure qualified staff and resources, mentors technical and project leaders, fosters collaboration, and ensures compliance with applicable safety, security, quality, and other requirements. The position may require work in radiological areas, including the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory, with applicable training and adherence to facility access, radiation protection, and safety requirements. Travel may be up to 20% to support sponsor engagement, program execution, and collaboration. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance and U.S. citizenship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, systems engineering, or a related field and 13 years of relevant nuclear energy technology and program development leadership experience; alternatively, a master’s degree or higher in one of these fields and 11 years of relevant experience.
Demonstrated experience in nuclear energy technology and program development leadership.
Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
U.S. citizenship.
For security clearance eligibility, applicants must meet requirements for access to classified matter under 10 CFR 710, Appendix B, and demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the required national security questionnaire.
Selected applicants are subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
Ability to work in radiological areas while meeting applicable training, facility access, radiation protection, and safety requirements.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated success managing complex advanced reactor programs involving multiple organizations, including integrated scopes, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, risk assessments, sponsor reporting, and delivery of technical milestones.
Experience coordinating reactor research, engineering, procurement, quality assurance, and demonstration activities; familiarity with advanced reactor siting, deployment, redeployment, decommissioning, and commercial or defense end-user needs.
A record of developing and executing nuclear industry strategies, identifying emerging opportunities, preparing competitive proposals, and securing funding.
Ability to translate sponsor needs and market trends into programs that use and expand laboratory capabilities.
Established relationships with nuclear developers, utilities, suppliers, federal agencies, and national laboratories; experience with DOE nuclear energy programs, defense sponsors, and private industry.
Knowledge of interfaces among reactor design, fuels, materials performance, manufacturing, instrumentation and control, and licensing.
Familiarity with risk-informed or performance-based approaches, transportation, nuclear material management, and the back end of the fuel cycle.
Experience with federal advanced reactor programs or comparable reactor research and demonstration programs.
Experience supporting policy or regulatory development for advanced reactor deployment.
Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across organizational boundaries, negotiate priorities, resolve technical and programmatic issues, and mentor staff.
Excellent proposal writing, executive briefing, and technical communication skills.
Ability to balance strategy development with direct program delivery and connect long-term capability development with near-term sponsor needs.
Experience within the DOE national laboratory system and coordinating resources with line and sector management.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute an actionable nuclear industry strategy aligned with PNNL sector and division plans.
Assess technology, market, policy, and regulatory trends affecting the existing reactor fleet, advanced reactors, nuclear fuels, and related infrastructure.
Build and maintain relationships with nuclear technology developers, utilities, suppliers, federal sponsors, national laboratories, and research institutions; represent PNNL with senior industry and government stakeholders.
Identify and prioritize business opportunities, develop sponsor engagement strategies, lead proposal development, and secure sponsored work with sector and project leaders.
Position PNNL capabilities in materials performance, advanced manufacturing, measurement and control, systems engineering, licensing support, and nuclear material management to address industry needs.
Recommend investments in staff, facilities, and partnerships to strengthen the nuclear industry subsector’s long-term impact.
Plan and execute assigned advanced reactor programs, establishing integrated scopes, deliverables, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and performance measures.
Manage program risks, dependencies, and changes, and resolve issues affecting delivery.
Coordinate technical and project management teams across PNNL, partner laboratories, industry, and government.
Integrate research, engineering, procurement, and quality assurance activities with demonstration and deployment objectives.
Lead internal and external performance reporting, sponsor reviews, and communications about accomplishments, resource needs, and emerging risks; develop corrective actions and recommendations for program leadership.
Support the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy and Department of War Advanced Reactor Programs.
Manage activities addressing advanced reactor development, siting, deployment, redeployment, and decommissioning, including defense applications.
Coordinate expertise in regulatory and policy frameworks, transportation and logistics, fuel and spent fuel management, and end-user requirements.
Work with line managers to obtain qualified staff and resources, mentor technical and project leaders, and promote a collaborative work environment.
Ensure assigned work follows applicable safety, security, quality, and compliance requirements.
Travel up to 20% to support sponsor engagement, program execution, and collaboration with partner organizations.
Work in radiological areas when required, following applicable training, facility access, radiation protection, and safety requirements.