Nuclear Science Division Director

Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeley, CA
$320,000 - $375,000Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is seeking a dynamic scientific leader with an international reputation and outstanding record of scientific accomplishment to serve as the Director of the Nuclear Science Division. Reporting to the Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences, the Nuclear Science Division Director is responsible for providing vision and leadership for the research and operations activities of the Division, overseeing an annual budget of approximately $50 million and a staff of over 100 employees and 200 affiliates. The Director has full responsibility for all areas of management within the division, including scientific research, operations, finance, human resources, and environmental, health and safety. The Director establishes a culture of scientific excellence, service, integrity, accountability, trust, respect, safety, and collaboration by recruiting a broad population of outstanding scientists and support staff, as well as enthusiastically supporting and promoting their career development. The Director will serve as a member of the executive team for the Physical Sciences Area, comprising the Nuclear Science, Physics, Accelerator Technology and Applied Physics, and Engineering Divisions. As a member of Berkeley Lab's management, the Director is expected to build collaborative partnerships and programs within the Physical Sciences Area, with other Divisions across Berkeley Lab, and with external research institutions. The Nuclear Science Division research program is primarily funded by the Nuclear Physics program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science; the Director will serve as the spokesperson for the Nuclear Physics Division in interactions with the DOE. The Nuclear Science Division Director will also contribute to the leadership of large-scale Laboratory initiatives, including the development of multidisciplinary activities around cross-cutting themes (such as instrumentation, quantum information science, and artificial intelligence & machine learning), as well as our responsible stewardship of the Lab’s research, people, and assets. About the Nuclear Science Division: The Nuclear Science Division conducts research in relativistic nuclear collisions, hadronic physics, neutrino physics and fundamental symmetries, low energy nuclear physics and chemistry, nuclear theory, nuclear data, and applied nuclear physics. The Nuclear Science Division operates the 88” Cyclotron for external users as well as for internal experimental programs. The Nuclear Science Division program is further enabled by strong connections with Berkeley Lab’s matrixed Engineering Division staff and the Computing Sciences Area's two national user facilities (NERSC and ESNet) and its research divisions (Advanced Mathematics & Computational Research and Scientific Data). The Division also maintains a strong, collaborative partnership with UC Berkeley Physics and Nuclear Engineering Departments, integrating leading faculty scientists and talented graduate students into Berkeley Lab’s research environment to foster a stimulating intellectual community. Learn more about the Division here.

Requirements

  • Ph.D. or equivalent education/experience in nuclear physics or a related field, and at least 10 years of professional experience post doctorate.
  • Internationally recognized scientific leader with a distinguished record of research accomplishments.
  • Significant experience and demonstrated competence in the management of scientific projects, collaborative research programs, and a substantial multi-program research portfolio, including safety, financial stewardship, resource prioritization, workforce planning, and long-term program sustainability, including maintaining an active research program.
  • Ability to interact effectively with funding agencies, including the DOE, and demonstrated ability to initiate substantial new research efforts and collaborations.
  • Demonstrated scientific and strategic leadership ability applicable to running a large, diverse, team-oriented organization with a multidisciplinary group of scientists and engineers.
  • Demonstrated experience in effective management and administrative oversight, creativity in decision making and problem solving, experience in human resource management and a commitment to mentoring and career development.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to interact at the highest level of management, both internally and externally, in a constructive and collaborative manner and in a way that appropriately represents the Laboratory.
  • Commitment to upholding the Laboratory’s stewardship principles, especially with regard to the Lab’s research, people, and resources.

Nice To Haves

  • Conduct research in an area of nuclear physics that is preferably aligned with one of the Nuclear Science Division research programs.

Responsibilities

  • Provide scientific and operational leadership for the Nuclear Science Division’s research programs, overseeing a $50-million portfolio and over 300 employees and affiliates, including scientists, postdoctoral fellows, administrative, technical and operations staff, and students.
  • Effectively manage existing programs and guide the development of new initiatives within the framework of a long-term research vision building on the Area’s 2025 Strategic Plan and aligned with national goals.
  • Partner with the operations staff to ensure operational efficiencies across the full range of operations areas, including budgets, funding, workforce planning, human resources management, environmental, health, and safety, property, space, and facilities management.
  • Work collaboratively with the Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences and other Division Directors to develop research initiatives, programs, and other activities to advance the mission of the Physical Sciences Area.
  • Collaborate with colleagues at UC Berkeley and other research institutions to develop cooperative programs to the mutual benefit of Berkeley Lab and its partners.
  • Champion and communicate the Nuclear Science Division’s mission, goals, and accomplishments to Division employees, funding sponsors, Berkeley Lab leadership and staff, and to the broader research community.
  • Make substantial contributions to the formulation and direction of Laboratory programs that enhance Berkeley Lab’s preeminence as a National Laboratory.
  • Serve as a point of contact to DOE officials for Nuclear Physics related research and applications, and implement DOE policies as they impact the Nuclear Science Division. Coordinate with other funding agencies and their respective Berkeley Lab points of contact.
  • Address management and resource challenges of a complex organization.
  • Participate in formulating the research policy and long-term direction of the Laboratory as a whole, and provide consultation to the Laboratory Director, Deputy Directors, and Associate Laboratory Director regarding new initiatives for the strategic direction.
  • Work as a team member with other Berkeley Lab scientific and operational Division Directors, the Associate Laboratory Directors, and the Laboratory Directorate to advance the interests of Berkeley Lab and assure efficient, effective, and safe operation of the Laboratory.
  • Conduct research in an area of nuclear physics that is preferably aligned with one of the Nuclear Science Division research programs.
  • Provide leadership for talent management to motivate and assure a high-performing organization through effective recruitment, mentoring, career development, performance management, retention, and succession planning, and proactively promoting and exemplifying stewardship values, to cultivate the next generation researchers and leaders.

Benefits

  • full-time career appointment
  • exempt from overtime pay (monthly paid)
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