Quality Representative

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Assurance Division (QAD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking qualified applicants for a Quality Representative position supporting organizations, projects, and programs within the Energy Science and Technology Directorate (ESTD). The Quality Representative will work collaboratively with customers to proactively implement Laboratory policies, procedures, quality assurance practices, and improvement tools. Through this support, the successful candidate will help organizations meet applicable requirements, achieve reliable and effective results, and advance their scientific and operational missions. ORNL is the largest US Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic, applied and developmental research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. Our diverse capabilities span a broad spectrum of scientific and engineering disciplines, enabling the Laboratory to explore fundamental science challenges and to carry out the research needed to accelerate the delivery of solutions to the marketplace.

Requirements

BS degree in science, engineering, health and safety, quality assurance, or a related technical field and a minimum of five years of relevant quality or research experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Experience in applying quality assurance requirements within technical, research, operational, or similarly regulated work activities.
Ability to work independently, establish priorities, manage multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing organizational needs.
Demonstrated self-motivation, accountability, and attention to detail when completing quality-related activities, assessments, and documentation.
Ability to identify quality concerns, evaluate process gaps, and support appropriate corrective actions and continuous improvement.
Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, including the ability to develop positive working relationships and contribute effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to interpret and communicate quality requirements to management, researchers, technical staff, customers, and suppliers.
Ability to earn and maintain ISO 9001 lead auditor certification.
Ability to travel as needed, typically 5% or less annually.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance. This position is designated under the Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and requires successful completion of a pre-placement drug test and participation in ongoing random drug testing.
Ability to safely move throughout the ORNL main and Hardin Valley campuses to support work activities, including walking or driving between facilities, navigating uneven surfaces, and climbing stairs as required.

Nice To Haves

Advanced experience applying and validating quality assurance programs in a research and development, scientific, engineering, nuclear, or similarly regulated environment.
Demonstrated experience developing or improving quality processes, leading or conducting assessments and audits, evaluating implementation effectiveness, and implementing sustainable corrective actions or continuous improvements.
Current ISO 9001 lead auditor certification or comparable auditing credentials and experience.
Demonstrated ability to interpret complex quality, regulatory, contractual, or technical requirements and translate them into practical guidance for research and operational organizations.
Advanced interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, negotiation, conflict resolution, and the ability to influence outcomes while maintaining productive working relationships.
Demonstrated experience leading complex investigations, performing causal analysis, resolving quality issues, and developing effective solutions.
Qualification or experience as a Critique Facilitator, Root Cause Analyst, or equivalent, or demonstrated experience sufficient to obtain these qualifications through the ORNL qualification system.
Demonstrated ability to communicate complex quality matters through reports, presentations, briefings, and recommendations to technical personnel and organizational leadership.
Proven record of delivering effective, timely, and practical solutions in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment.
Proficiency with computer applications and information-management tools used to analyze data, maintain quality records, prepare reports, and communicate results.

Responsibilities

Serve as Quality Representative and advisor to ESTD organizations, projects, and programs, providing guidance and communicating quality matters to all levels of management and staff.
Develop an understanding of assigned organizations’ missions, objectives, risks, and work activities to identify customer needs, establish priorities, and integrate appropriate quality assurance practices.
Interpret and apply DOE O 414.1D, ISO9001:2015, ORNL Quality Assurance Program requirements, as well as program and project requirements, using a risk-based, graded approach.
Provide quality planning, reviews, and guidance throughout the lifecycle of research, operational, and project activities, including the development and revision of quality plans, procedures, checklists, technical documents, and work controls.
Support procurement and supplier quality activities, including quality categorization, pre-procurement planning, review of specifications and supplier proposals, supplier evaluations and assessments, receipt inspections, and verification of acceptance criteria for quality-significant items.
Serve as the assigned organization’s point of contact for Software Quality Assurance, assisting with interpreting requirements, completing required self-assessments, and resolving identified concerns.
Serve as the assigned organization’s point of contact for suspect/counterfeit items. Assist management in identifying, reporting, and resolving S/CI issues while verifying compliance with relevant requirements.
Conduct or support assessments and self-assessments; monitor organizational, project, program, and supplier performance and risk; and use performance measures and trend analysis to identify emerging issues and improvement opportunities.
Facilitate the identification, documentation, evaluation, escalation, and resolution of quality issues, including nonconformances, deviations, occurrence-related concerns, audit or assessment findings, corrective actions, and effectiveness reviews.
Support continuous improvement through feedback, lessons learned, causal analysis, and the development and implementation of practical corrective actions and process improvements.
Develop and deliver targeted quality assurance training and maintain qualifications required for assigned responsibilities.
Establish collaborative relationships with customers, peers, suppliers, and stakeholders to promote effective communication, knowledge sharing, and successful execution of organizational missions.
Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with the Laboratory’s values of impact, integrity, teamwork, safety, and service.