Head of Energy Science
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
United States

ORNL is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, with an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,800 people! ORNL’s decadal vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation. Come join us and help solve the world's most challenging energy problems!

Overview: 

We are seeking a senior scientist/engineer/analyst to lead world class capabilities related to the energy science and technology associated with the ORNL and DOE mission.  Selection will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, skills, and education.

The Energy Systems Integration & Controls Section Head within the Electrification and Energy Infrastructures Division will be responsible for advancing energy systems integration and controls to improve the efficiency and resiliency of energy grid systems-of-systems architectures.

The selected Section Head will lead and direct the strategic research and development efforts of the Energy Systems Integration & Controls Section of the Energy Science and Technology Directorate.  This section comprises five focused research groups:

1. Grid Systems Hardware: Designs, develops, and deploys power electronics for grid-connected systems through packaging, magnetics, and hardware prototyping.
2. Grid Systems Architecture: Designs and tests grid system architectures and their integration (eg: Power electronics-based substation), and performs real-time power electronics systems simulation.
3. Power Systems Resilience: Conducts transformational research and development for energy security and resilience through advancement of modeling, simulation, and real-time monitoring of the electric grid.
4. Grid Systems Modeling and Controls: Designs, develops, and implements advanced control systems (e.g. microgrids, protection and controls) and integration of novel energy system components.
5. Grid-interactive Controls: Designs, develops, and deploys advanced control algorithms and methods for building energy efficiency and grid connectivity.

Purpose:

Provide Research and Development (R&D) leadership to the section that strategically advances science and technology consistent with ORNL’s aspiration to be the world’s premier R&D institution and ORNL’s science culture.

The R&D Section Head works closely with the Electrification and Energy Infrastructures Division Director and section Group Leaders to establish and implement the science and technology directions for the section; support the Group Leaders to ensure their success and the success of the R&D groups as world-recognized leaders in their fields; ensure that staff members understand business opportunities; identify links to current and future funding opportunities and R&D programs; develop and implement consistent processes for the peer-review of proposals consistent with lab standards; model proper Environment, Safety, Security, Health, and Quality practices; and ensure a diverse and inclusive work environment where every employee feels safe, heard and appreciated—a workplace that sets an example for the broader community.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

Research:

We seek a scientist/engineer/analyst who has significantly advanced knowledge/technology in their respective field. The successful candidate will initiate, lead and deliver R&D programs and initiatives on an ongoing basis.  

Leadership:

• Work closely with the Division Director and Group Leaders within the section to develop a vision and implement a strategy to pursue world-leading science and technology directions for the section. Demonstrate cross-functional team leadership.
• Support Division Director in the operations of the division and represent Director when Director is not available.
• Work with section Group Leaders to establish, communicate, and measure critical metrics for success and impact. Benchmark against the best in the world.
• Actively contribute to shaping the division’s, directorate’s, and laboratory’s research plans and investments.
• Build strong teams by collaborating across ORNL and securing external expertise when needed. Leverage ORNL facilities and resources when developing new projects.
• Work with the Group Leaders and the Division Director to assess and calibrate individual staff performance across the section.  Evaluate progress regularly, providing feedback and addressing performance issues in a timely manner.
• Develop and implement Succession Planning with input from Group Leaders for all critical positions in the section to ensure future success.
• Ensure groups are recruiting and hiring from a diverse pool of top candidates who are committed to world-class research and aspire to be the best in their field.  Approve job offers.
• Drive staff promotions and development.
• Address in a timely manner all concerns expressed by staff and any disciplinary actions.
• Lead by example, using the principles in ORNL’s “Research Code of Conduct” as a guide for proposing, performing, and communicating research and in dealing with others.
• Employ best practices, such as holding regular meetings, being visible in the workplace, monitoring budgets, acknowledging sponsors, and adhering to ORNL business systems requirements regarding staff requests for foreign travel and submission of quality proposals.
• Coach and mentor staff regarding Battelle’s “Safe Conduct of Research” principles and ensure all work is carried out safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL policies, standards, and procedures.
• Exemplify a commitment to “One ORNL” by modeling lab expectations for excellence in research, operations, and community engagement, and by working cooperatively to leverage capabilities across the lab.

Service:

• Serve as direct supervisor for section Group Leaders.
• Counsel/consult/mentor staff and transfer knowledge of specialized field(s) to a variety of staff, including senior staff. 
• Connect staff to your network.  Assist Group Leaders (and R&D staff when appropriate) in setting long-term career goals.  Identify additional mentors as appropriate and engage senior staff to act in this capacity.   
• Be open and transparent in communicating information to your groups and communicate staff achievements and changes to stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Work with Group Leaders to ensure staff are participating actively in professional service (engagement in scientific societies, workshop and conference organization, peer review, advisory board membership, etc.).
• Advocate for and support internal and external recognition of staff achievements.  Ensure the Section’s external professional presence is strong.
• Communicate funding/proposal opportunities to staff and support proposal development as appropriate (mentoring, proposal reviews, budget preparation, etc.).
• Ensure that staff manage their research projects effectively to deliver results on scope, schedule, and budget while meeting scientific, technical, and business expectations. 
• Effectively communicate the importance of protecting proprietary or sensitive information and complying with ORNL cybersecurity policies and guidelines.
• Recognize and support the contributions and responsibilities of Group Leaders and Laboratory Space Managers to lab safety.

Accountabilities:

• To section staff, for the quality and safety of their work environment and opportunity for professional growth.
• To organization managers, for world-leading science and technology directions, safe effective, and compliant operations, ownership of assigned staff, facilities, and equipment, and the quality of products and services.
• To customer, for the quality of products and service.

Authorities:

• Develop a vision and implement a strategy to pursue world-leading science and technology directions for the section.
• Hold group leaders accountable for performance.
• Act to ensure safe and effective operations.
• Hire group leaders.

You are expected to deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• Requires a PhD in electrical/computer engineering, computer science or closely related field with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience or a MS with a minimum of 16 years of experience or a BS with a minimum of 20 years of experience.
• Qualified candidates should have demonstrated experience and success in leading R&D teams.
• This position requires access to technology that is subject to export control requirements. Successful candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory. 
• Experience writing successful R&D proposals to multiple government agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interact with senior levels of client management and others involved in technical endeavors.
• Demonstrated ability to write research plans, technical reports to a sponsor, and proposals and to develop and execute on a vision for future research relevant to modeling and simulation. 
• A successful record of developing research partnerships and collaborative relationships with universities, industry, and research laboratories.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to work independently, outstanding written and oral communication skills, and good organizational skills.

Relocation:  

Moving can be overwhelming and expensive. UT-Battelle offers a generous relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. If invited to interview, be sure to ask your Recruiter (Talent Acquisition Partner) for details.
 
For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the “About” tab at jobs.ornl.gov.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.