Deputy Laboratory Director - Science and Technology

Deputy Laboratory Director - Science and Technology

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for energy systems. With a focus on security and reliability, NREL leads energy systems innovation and integration enhancing existing technologies and developing cutting-edge solutions that unlock economic opportunity and fuel America's global competitiveness. NREL bridges foundational research with practical applications to integrate various energy sources, storage, buildings, transportation, and emerging technologies. By fostering strategic partnerships, NREL accelerates energy innovation to market and delivers resilient systems that lower costs, bolster national security, and ensure abundant energy.

The Deputy Laboratory Director of Science and Technology (DDST) serves as a key executive leader, Alliance for Sustainable Energy board member, and NREL's Chief Research Officer. Working in close partnership with the Laboratory Director, Deputy Director of Operations and senior leadership throughout the laboratory, the DDST shapes the laboratory's scientific strategy, ensures excellence across research programs, and fosters partnerships that expand NREL's impact on the national and international stage.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities :

• Leads efforts to establish a shared vision and strategy for innovation for the laboratory providing inspiration to all levels of staff.
• Serves as the senior scientific leader for the laboratory and will be responsible for developing NREL's scientific and technical strategic planning efforts.
• Continuously assesses and identifies opportunities to strengthen the laboratory's current and future core capabilities, the quality of the research conducted and its impact, and the relevance of its research programs.
• Develops programs and initiatives that drive process improvement, cost effectiveness and optimization of resources to support NREL's research mission.
• Assist with the creation and overall accomplishment of the laboratory's strategic agenda in collaboration with the Laboratory Director and Associate Laboratory Directors.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the research business plans and strategy, organizations' structure and resources.
• Manage key relationships within leading research institutions, the S&T committee of the Alliance Board of Directors, Chief Research Officer's Council and other committees with the Department of Energy at the deputy assistant secretary level while leading and supporting NREL's major goals and initiatives.
• Ensures the scientific goals of the laboratory are achieved and that the assigned laboratory goals and objectives measured through the DOE Performance Evaluation and Measurement Plan (PEMP) are realized.
• Work with senior leadership to promote development of the Lab's scientific and technical talent pipelines, including the postdoctoral director's fellowship program.
• Manage and lead discretionary R&D investments such as the Laboratory Directed Research and Development program as well as champion the increased impact of the Laboratory Directed R&D portfolio.
• Represent NREL to DOE and other sponsors, various scientific and engineering institutions, research partners, academic partners as well as dignitaries from around the world.
• May represent NREL when the Laboratory Director is unavailable and should have the potential to stand in as necessary.

A successful leader at NREL embodies the following personal competencies :

Basic Qualifications

PhD and 15 or more years of relevant work experience, including previous experience as a senior research leader at a large R&D organization. A successful track record of developing and sustaining deep relationships with significant stakeholders, up to and including Board level. An established record working with the Department of Energy or a similarly funded entity in a senior research management role.

Additional Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Job Profile : Deputy Laboratory Director / Annual Salary Range : $350,300 - $630,500

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short

NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin / ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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