Project Management Office Director

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Management Office Director (PMOD) leads the Global Security and Integrated Systems Project Management Office (PMO 71), providing strategic oversight and expert delivery stewardship for a portfolio of approximately 180 projects that support PNNL’s national security mission. The PMOD executes and continually improves a codified, repeatable approach to project management excellence, ensuring that projects are effectively planned, delivered, and aligned with sponsor expectations. PMO 71 delivers high-quality products and services to domestic and international partners in weapons of mass destruction, nonproliferation, safeguards and security, threat reduction, international security, systems engineering, operations research, and testing and evaluation. The portfolio includes projects addressing nuclear and radiological, chemical, biological, missile, and physical security challenges, as well as the development and deployment of technology and engineered systems across the technology readiness spectrum—from concept refinement and development through demonstration, integration, deployment, and post-transition support. The PMOD provides disciplined management of project risk, technology life cycles, operational and regulatory requirements, environmental, health and safety considerations, security requirements, and complex domestic and international interfaces. The position works collaboratively with project managers, group leaders, division directors, market sector managers, sponsors, and technical organizations to ensure that risks are identified, planned for, accepted when appropriate, and effectively mitigated during project execution. Through a systems-oriented approach that integrates scientific expertise, engineering, sensors and electronics, data and communications architectures, sponsor operations, and rigorous testing and evaluation, the PMOD enables the reliable delivery of solutions that help predict, prevent, detect, and respond to threats affecting national and global security. The PMOD serves as a recognized expert in project management, providing executive leadership and strategic direction for complex, high-impact projects and programs.

Requirements

BS/BA and 15+ years of relevant project management experience -OR- MS/MA or higher and 13 years of relevant project management experience
Experience leading complex, technically diverse, domestic and international projects involving multiple sponsors, partners, work locations, or regulatory environments.
U.S. Citizenship
Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
Must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Nice To Haves

Experience managing projects involving nonproliferation, safeguards and security, threat reduction, arms control, nuclear or radiological materials, chemical or biological threats, missile threats, or other national security missions.
Background in nuclear, chemical, biological, radiological, physical, or systems engineering; the physical sciences; operations research; systems engineering; or testing and evaluation.
Demonstrated experience managing project risks, budgets, schedules, resources, technical quality, and delivery across multiple technology readiness levels.
Experience integrating scientific and engineering solutions with sponsor operations, sensors and electronics, data processing, communications architectures, or other complex technical systems.
Demonstrated ability to identify shortcomings in organizational processes, influence change, and implement improvements that increase operational discipline and delivery effectiveness.
Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships and communicate effectively with sponsors, technical staff, line management, regulators, domestic and international partners, and other stakeholders.
Experience working in laboratory, facility, Hanford Site, or remote field environments and understanding the associated ES&H, security, operational, and regulatory requirements.
Demonstrated external recognition for project management and leadership, with experience defining long-range project and program management strategy.
Experience coaching and mentoring senior project managers and contributing to succession planning for key positions.
Graduate of the PNNL Project Management Development Program (PMDP), Management and Supervisory Development Program (MSDP), and/or Executive Leadership Program (ELP) preferred.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or demonstrated equivalent project management knowledge and competency.

Responsibilities

Identify, assess, document, and manage project risks; ensure risks are addressed in project planning, formally accepted when appropriate, and mitigated throughout project execution.
Provide delivery oversight for a diverse portfolio of domestic and international projects supporting weapons of mass destruction nonproliferation, safeguards and security, threat reduction, international security, and related national security missions.
Ensure projects effectively and efficiently deliver high-quality products, services, research, and engineered technical solutions that meet sponsor, operational, regulatory, and mission requirements.
Work with Contracts, Finance, line management, project managers, and technical organizations to establish adequate budgets, realistic schedules, appropriate staffing, and resource plans that support delivery on time and within budget.
Understand and meet sponsor expectations regarding project scope, technical content, quality, cost, schedule, performance, and delivery.
Oversee projects across the technology life cycle, including concept refinement, development, integration, technology demonstration, deployment, and post-transition support.
Ensure projects are executed in a safe, secure, environmentally responsible, and operationally compliant manner, consistent with applicable ES&H, security, contractual, regulatory, and international requirements.
Ensure appropriate quality assurance, testing and evaluation, verification, and validation activities are incorporated to produce technically sound, reliable, and sponsor-ready results.
Apply a systems approach that integrates scientific and engineering disciplines, sponsor operations, sensors and electronics, data processing and communications architectures, and other technical capabilities.
Tailor project management systems, processes, controls, and staffing models to the scope, complexity, risk, and technology readiness of each project.
Establish and maintain effective relationships with sponsors, domestic and international partners, regulators, and other stakeholders.
Promote operational discipline, accountability, continuous improvement, and consistent project management practices across the PMO.
Identify process shortcomings and implement improvements that strengthen project delivery, risk management, quality, and organizational performance.
Hold authority to approve or reject proposals, assign risk levels, and direct proposal teams to ensure risks are adequately managed. Accountable for demonstrating compliance with institutional risk management standards and for gaining Laboratory Director approval for high-risk proposals.
Exhibit leadership in coaching and mentoring senior project managers, collaborating with Line Managers to provide staff performance input and recommendations on succession planning for key positions.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives in proposal preparation and project execution, investigating causes for missed expectations and communicating improvement opportunities to stakeholders. Provides performance feedback to project managers and support staff to drive delivery excellence.