Directorate Operations Officer

About this role

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, a

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