Directorate Operations Officer

Directorate Overview

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory, Argonne is committed to delivering substantive impacts to U.S. prosperity, competitiveness, and security through transformative science and technology from discovery to technology development to application. Argonne’s long-standing, world leading expertise in nuclear energy coupled with our unique, first-in-class capabilities in nonproliferation and infrastructure science enable us to tackle emerging energy and security challenges.

The Nuclear Technologies and National Security (NTNS) directorate seeks to advance nuclear energy and deliver trusted, innovative science and engineering solutions for national security, resilience, and preparedness. Our objective expertise empowers decisions and drives impact for a safer, more sustainable nation and world.. We focus on enduring and emerging challenges in nuclear reactors and fuel cycles; nonproliferation; infrastructure science (risk and resilience analysis); intelligence and vulnerability analysis; and emergency and disaster preparedness. NTNS encompasses a diverse team of scientists, engineers, and technical support staff, all of whom are committed to developing and delivering innovative solutions to address our country’s most pressing energy and security challenges. We take a multidisciplinary approach to solving complex challenges and developing useful technologies that can transform the

marketplace and change the world.

Position Summary

The Nuclear Technologies and National Security (NTNS) Directorate, one of five S&T Directorates at Argonne, seeks to address the energy and national security missions through use-inspired and applied research. With an annual operating budget exceeding $200M, NTNS comprises five Divisions and several cross-cutting initiatives focused on defining and executing transformative science and technology solutions for complex, multidisciplinary energy and national security problems. Our current research portfolio has grown through work done for key sponsors such as DOE-NE, -OE, -NNSA, -CESER, DHS, DOW, and other federal agencies and non-federal entities.

The NTNS Directorate Operations Officer (NTNS DOO) will serve as an integral member of the NTNS leadership team (LT), assisting the NTNS Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) to achieve directorate science and technology impact through leading directorate operations delivery and performance excellence. In partnership with the NTNS LT, the NTNS DOO is responsible for long and short-range strategic and tactical operations supportive of the NTNS Directorate and programmatic missions. Through a team of operational managers and subject matter experts, the DOO leads the development, implementation and management of efficient and cost-effective operational support of the directorate and our programmatic divisions. The DOO provides organizational leadership for operational functions, which may include: operational fiscal management; risk assessments; environment, safety, health & quality assurance; IT systems; major infrastructure and space planning; HR/workforce planning; security; administrative support; and directorate communications. The NTNS DOO will recognize and resolve operational issues through multidisciplinary teams that crosscut the directorate and work as a conduit to the Laboratory Operations organization.

Responsibilities

• Assist the ALD by providing management and oversight of directorate operations to support directorate goals and priorities. Act on behalf of the ALD and NTNS for operational matters both internally and externally as needed. Advise the ALD on operational performance. 

• Partner with the NTNS Deputy ALD, Strategy Innovation Director, and Division Directors to develop and implement the directorate infrastructure strategic roadmap aligned with the NTNS S&T strategy. Identify investments in infrastructure to enable S&T strategy and mission delivery.

• Lead development and execution of directorate operational initiatives and encourage innovations and continuous improvement. Contribute to strategic planning for the execution of major research initiatives. 

• Partner with Directorate and Laboratory Operations leaders to improve and maintain consistent operations, enhance operations performance, prioritize initiatives/projects, and enable the mission while managing/mitigating risk. Assist in determining and shaping the quality of operations programs and personnel. 

• Provide guidance on the local implementation of Laboratory policies including those directed by the Department of Energy (DOE) and contractual requirements in a manner that mitigates institutional risk yet provides flexibility to achieve the Lab’s scientific mission. 

• Actively model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

• This role includes direct reports and supervisory responsibilities.

• Leaders at Argonne are expected to demonstrate a high level of competency, including strategic agility, team building, clear communication, trust-building, and accountability.

This position description documents the general nature and level of work but is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all activities, duties and responsibilities required of job incumbent. Consequently, the job incumbent may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in operational/administrative management including relevant, demonstrated accomplishments in facility operations leadership and management.

• Advanced degree in a scientific, engineering, technical or business-related field coupled with extensive knowledge of the R&D environment and functional knowledge of fiscal management, infrastructure, and space planning.

• Ability to function as a member of a senior executive management team, to work effectively with all levels of internal and external personnel, and to gain consensus, build teams, and resolve conflicts.

• Demonstrated success managing and leading people; a team builder who has experience in scaling up organizations; ability to connect with staff both on an individual level and in large groups; capacity to enforce accountability, develop and empower topnotch leaders from the bottom up, lead from the top down, cultivate entrepreneurship, and learn the strengths and weaknesses of related operational support teams so as to put people in a position to succeed.

• Experience in communicating and presenting technical and operational concepts, strategies and performance to a wide range of technical, non-technical and executive audiences.

• Exhibited skills in the areas of leadership, management, staff development, relationship building, communications and strategic planning.

• Experience and successful track record in independently carrying out delegated authority with a minimum of instruction, including skill in judgment, discretion and decision making.

• Ability to thrive in a cross-functional work setting leveraging skills in team building, time management, resource management, communication management and cost management.

• Demonstrated ability to lead change through influence and deliver measurable results (increased awareness, higher customer satisfaction, increased engagement, etc.).

• Formal project management experience handling substantial, cross functional and mission critical projects.

• Knowledge and familiarity of typical operations functions such as safety, security, facilities, human resources, business systems, and contractor assurance.

• Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values of Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity and Teamwork.

• To perform the essential functions of this position, successful applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship and must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance (SCI, DOE “Q” and others) which is required to comply with federal regulations and contract. Please see http://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm  for more information about requirements for obtaining a security clearance process.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Master’s degree in an engineering field, facilities management, or related field is preferred.

• Experience leading a nuclear facility is desirable.

• Experience leading operations functions such as safety, security, facilities, human resources, business systems, and contractor assurance within an R&D environment is preferred.

• Knowledge of Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory environment, and the DOE and its policies and procedures are highly preferred.

• Active SCI or DOE “Q” security clearances are desirable.

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Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.  

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