Project Management Office Director - IDSD

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

About The Position

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory seeks a Project Management Office Director (PMOD) to lead the Physical and Computational Sciences Project Management Office (PMO 0060) within the Integrated Discovery Sciences Directorate (IDSD). The position provides strategic leadership and expert delivery stewardship for a diverse research portfolio, helping teams deliver high-quality scientific results while meeting sponsor expectations and managing project risk. PMO 0060 supports work sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science programs, including Basic Energy Sciences, Advanced Scientific Computing Research, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Fusion Energy Sciences. Its portfolio also includes other fundamental research in chemical, materials, and computational sciences, mathematics, and physics for government and industrial sponsors. The PMOD establishes and continually improves project management practices, tailoring oversight to each project’s scope, complexity, and risk. The role works with principal investigators, project managers, Division Directors serving as Sector Managers, Group Leaders, the Program Development Office, and business and operational partners to align project delivery with IDSD strategy and Laboratory mission outcomes. The PMOD oversees projects from proposal development through closeout, exercises delegated proposal and project approval authorities, and supports safe, secure, environmentally responsible, and compliant research operations. The role also monitors portfolio performance, addresses delivery issues, reviews significant changes, advises on staffing and capability needs, mentors project managers and principal investigators, and improves proposal and execution processes. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance and U.S. citizenship.

Requirements

BS/BA and 13 or more years of project management experience in a government or federally funded environment, or an MS/MA or higher and 11 years of such experience.
Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
U.S. citizenship.
If selected for a security clearance, meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter under 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
For the security clearance process, be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the required Questionnaire for National Security Positions.
Selected candidate is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana.

Nice To Haves

Education or experience in chemistry, materials science, computational science, mathematics, physics, or a related scientific or engineering discipline.
Experience leading or overseeing a portfolio of complex research projects or programs, including fundamental research supported by the DOE Office of Science.
Demonstrated ability to manage project risk, cost, schedule, resources, and technical quality while accommodating scientific research uncertainty.
Experience developing and reviewing research proposals, cost estimates, Field Work Proposals, and Project Management Plans, and translating sponsor commitments into executable project plans.
Experience working with principal investigators, project managers, line management, sponsors, and business and operational organizations to resolve delivery issues and align resources with project needs.
Knowledge of laboratory and facility operations, research hazards, and applicable safety, security, quality, and compliance requirements; experience incorporating these requirements into project planning and execution.
Demonstrated ability to influence across organizational boundaries, communicate with senior leaders and sponsors, and implement improvements in project management practices.
Experience mentoring project managers, developing project management capability, and providing constructive staff performance feedback.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or demonstrated equivalent project management knowledge and competency.
Completion of PNNL’s Project Management Development Program, Management and Supervisory Development Program, Executive Leadership Program, or comparable professional development.

Responsibilities

Provide portfolio oversight from proposal development through project closeout, setting expectations for planning, risk management, performance, and delivery.
Partner with Division Directors/Sector Managers and the Program Development Office to develop executable proposals with credible technical approaches, complete cost estimates, realistic schedules, and appropriate staffing.
Ensure project risks are identified during proposal development, addressed in planning, formally accepted by the appropriate authority, and monitored and mitigated during execution.
Exercise delegated proposal and project approval authorities, including approving or rejecting proposals, assigning risk levels, directing risk management, demonstrating compliance with institutional standards, and obtaining required approvals before proposals are released or projects proceed.
Apply a graded project management approach that supports scientific discovery and research uncertainty while maintaining accountability for agreed scope, resources, milestones, and deliverables.
Engage in preparation and review of project planning and documentation, ensuring plans define deliverables, milestones, budgets, resource needs, and risk mitigations appropriate to sponsor requirements.
Work with Contracts, Finance, line management, principal investigators, and project managers to establish adequate budgets and resource plans and resolve delivery constraints.
Monitor portfolio performance against approved plans, identify technical, cost, schedule, and staffing issues, direct corrective actions within delegated authority, and escalate significant issues to directorate leadership.
Review and approve significant changes within delegated authority, ensuring scope changes align with budget and schedule adjustments and required sponsor and institutional approvals.
Partner with the IDSD Chief Operating Officer and Operations Manager to ensure safe, secure, environmentally responsible execution consistent with operational, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
Ensure project planning addresses hazards and operational needs associated with laboratory research, scientific instrumentation, computational resources, and applicable offsite work; confirm required reviews and controls before work proceeds.
Ensure appropriate quality assurance and technical review practices support reliable scientific results and deliverables, and coordinate applicable research data, software, publication, and intellectual property requirements with cognizant organizations.
Help project teams understand sponsor expectations and communicate progress, risks, and changes; participate in sponsor reviews and engagements with Sector Managers and project leadership.
Assess portfolio resource needs and provide line management timely input on staffing gaps, capability needs, and investments required to execute sector plans and project commitments.
Coach and mentor project managers and principal investigators in project management practices; provide line managers performance feedback and input on professional development and succession planning.
Identify recurring delivery challenges, capture lessons learned, and improve proposal and execution processes; tailor management practices and support arrangements across the portfolio.