Research Operations Support Professional

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

About The Position

The Research Operations Support Professional supports operational excellence for ORNL’s scientific research mission as part of an integrated environment, safety, health, and quality (ESH&Q) team responsible for safe operations at a DOE neutron-scattering user facility. The position supports research staff in maintaining compliance with applicable federal and state laws, DOE Orders, and ORNL policies and procedures for work control, space utilization, and facility operations management. It is part of the Integrated Research Operations Support group in the Work Management Division and is matrixed to support the Neutron Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The role coordinates work-control documentation and related reviews and approvals, facilitates operational activities needed to support safe and compliant research, and develops and maintains operating procedures and guidance. It also involves emergency response support, compliance walkthroughs and assessments, hazardous-material inventory support, and ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency and safety culture. Additional duties may include event critiques and causal analyses, corrective action planning, support for Integrated Safety Management, regulatory guidance, procurement reviews, and procedure development. The position requires a relevant bachelor’s degree and at least eight years of technical experience. A pre-hire physical is required after an offer. Visa sponsorship is unavailable. Employment at ORNL requires Real ID-compliant identification and the ability to obtain and maintain a federal PIV card, including successfully passing a Federal Tier 1 background investigation.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in science, engineering, health and safety, an operational discipline, or a relevant technical field.
At least 8 years of technical experience in operations, research, health and safety, or a related area.
Successfully complete a required pre-hire physical after receiving an offer.
Obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card, including successfully passing a Federal Tier 1 background investigation.
Provide Real ID-compliant identification for employment at ORNL.

Nice To Haves

Ability to deliver safety and/or operational presentations effectively and write detailed reports.
Experience as a team player in a changing, multidisciplinary, multitask, integrated or functional organizational environment, interfacing with management, researchers, facility users and visitors, and operations staff.
Experience in a multidisciplinary research and development environment or supporting R&D and industrial facilities and operations.
Knowledge and experience in chemical and material identification and evaluation, hazard analysis, and exposure assessment.
Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) practitioner.
Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Experience with work-control processes in a research and development and/or industrial environment.
Ability to work independently under pressure and strong problem-solving skills.
Ability to prioritize work and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong organizational and time-management skills and ability to meet inflexible deadlines on one’s own initiative.
Experience with DOE and ORNL systems, such as the Research Hazard Analysis and Control System, Activity Plans system, Integrated Safety Management, SAMS, the Facility Service Center, and the Hazardous Material Management Information System.

Responsibilities

Serve as a Division point of contact and Work Planner for research safety summaries and Activity Plans, coordinating reviews to ensure adequate peer and subject-matter-expert input and timely approval and authorization.
Facilitate operational activities required through the work-control process or requested by researchers, supporting safe and compliant achievement of research objectives.
Work with operations staff, the ESH&Q team, and scientists to understand SNS and HFIR workflows, and write, format, maintain, and regularly update standard operating procedures, work instructions, and guides.
Serve on the local emergency squad for one or more facilities.
Schedule and participate in laboratory compliance walkthroughs.
Represent Hazardous Materials Management in assisting research staff with chemical inventory maintenance, organization, and reconciliation.
Participate in assessments that verify compliance and program effectiveness for the assigned Directorate.
Promote Battelle Safe Conduct of Research principles, including personal responsibility for safe operations, raising safety concerns, maintaining a questioning attitude, considering hazards for every task, and continual learning.
Seek and champion operational efficiencies and improvements to safety culture in support of the research mission.
Align behaviors, priorities, and interactions with ORNL’s values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service, and promote equal opportunity and a respectful workplace.
As needed, facilitate or participate in event critiques, causal analyses, and corrective action plan development.
As needed, assist with implementing Integrated Safety Management in work planning and execution with an interdisciplinary operations team.
As needed, provide technical support on regulatory requirements, procedures, and standards applicable under 10 CFR 851.
As needed, review procurement and subcontract activities for safety, environmental, and operational requirements.
As needed, participate in developing and reviewing division- or directorate-level procedures and guidelines.