Sr Dept Program Specialist, U.S.iFE

University of Rochester•City of Rochester, NY

1d•$70,600 - $105,800•Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Department Program Specialist manages nationally visible programs that support the growth, coordination, and effectiveness of the Laboratory's U.S. Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) initiatives. This role manages complex program activities including the annual U.S. IFE conference, undergraduate workforce development programs, outreach activities, scientific workshops, and collaborations involving universities, national laboratories, industry partners, and the DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences. Working under limited supervision, the position is responsible for program management, stakeholder engagement, communications, and operational activities to support LLE's education, workforce development, and scientific mission. The role exercises independent judgment in coordinating program activities, resolving operational issues, and supporting the successful execution of nationally visible initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 5 years of relevant experience required
Strong leadership and team management skills required
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills required
Proficiency in program evaluation and data analysis required

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred
Or equivalent combination of education and experience
Advanced budget management and financial planning expertise preferred
Demonstrated ability to independently coordinate and execute moderately complex programs and initiatives with limited supervision preferred.
Strong organizational, communication, stakeholder management, and project coordination skills preferred.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities while delivering high quality results in a dynamic research environment preferred.
Experience working with federal agencies, national laboratories, universities, research institutions, or scientific organizations preferred.
Experience coordinating scientific programs, conferences, workforce development initiatives, or outreach activities preferred.
Experience supporting communications, website coordination, branding, or digital engagement platforms preferred.
Experience coordinating collaborative activities involving multiple organizations and stakeholders preferred.

Responsibilities

Leads the planning and execution of nationally visible scientific programs and events, including the annual U.S. IFE conference, workshops, workforce development activities, and scientific meetings involving participants from universities, national laboratories, industry, and federal agencies.
Manage operational activities associated with conferences and scientific programs, including communications, website coordination, abstract management, scheduling, logistics, sponsorship support, registration systems, and on-site event coordination.
Facilitates program committee activities by organizing meetings, preparing agendas, facilitating communications, coordinating speakers, and tracking follow-up actions supporting U.S. IFE initiatives.
Oversees the implementation and continuous improvement of workforce development, outreach, and scientific engagement programs that strengthen the U.S. inertial fusion energy community.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, national laboratories, universities, industry collaborators, and sponsors to support workforce development, scientific collaboration, outreach activities, and conference participation.
Coordinate activities that expand participation and engagement among students, early career researchers, universities, and partner institutions.
Coordinate activities among LLE divisions, DOE supported programs, national laboratories, universities, and industry collaborators participating in workforce development and scientific engagement activities.
Organizes activities with scientific staff, program leadership, sponsors, students, administrative teams, and external stakeholders to support conferences, workshops, outreach activities, and workforce development initiatives.
Drives implementation of program objectives through conferences, student programs, outreach activities, scientific meetings, and related communications.
Recommend and implement improvements to operational processes and communication practices that enhance coordination, efficiency, continuity, and visibility of U.S. IFE activities, including website content and community communications.
Coordinate logistics, scheduling, communications, and operational activities supporting leadership participation in national U.S. IFE initiatives, conferences, workshops, and program reviews.
Organize and support scientific reviews, workshops, visiting collaborators, internal meetings, and external engagement activities.
Prepare and coordinate reports, presentations, outreach materials, and other communications supporting U.S. IFE programs and workforce initiatives.
Support workforce engagement and community building activities associated with undergraduate programs, outreach efforts, scientific meetings, and national community initiatives.