Associate Laboratory Director - Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences

Posting Title
Associate Laboratory Director - Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences

Location
CO - Golden

Position Type
Regular

Hours Per Week
40

Working at NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Join a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and visionaries dedicated to shaping the world's energy future through cutting-edge research and innovation. From our vision to our NREL community, we are unique in the research community. We are focused on impact. From our work in basic sciences to systems engineering, analysis, demonstration, and deployment, we are focused on solving market-relevant problems that result in advanced, secure, reliable, and affordable energy systems.

At NREL, we offer a unique, mission-driven work environment with cutting-edge facilities and multidisciplinary research teams. NREL's environment offers strong partnerships with industry, academia, and other national laboratories, as well as professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package for employees.

Job Description
NREL is seeking a new Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) to lead our Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences (MTES) directorate. The ALD is responsible for providing inspirational leadership and direction to the directorate, shaping its strategic vision and driving excellence in science and technology.

The MTES directorate is organized around a dedicated team of researchers, technicians and operational professionals focused on transforming the nation's energy systems, enabling a diverse, secure, and sustainable advanced energy future through technological innovations in buildings and industry, renewable energy, and systems integration.

Reporting to the Laboratory Director and serving on the laboratory's senior leadership team, this position provides strategic leadership and supervision in the following research areas: Building Technology Sciences, Energy Conversion and Systems Storage, Wind Energy, Geothermal, Water Power, Advanced Manufacturing and Arctic and Extreme Climate Research. The MTES directorate comprises 650 staff that executes over $270 million in annual research and development. This position has 16 direct reports spanning center directors, senior research advisors, laboratory program managers, a project manager and an executive assistant.

In addition to the scientific leadership in the areas detailed above, the ALD is also responsible for aligning facility and infrastructure operations with the laboratory's vision and strategy and for ensuring that research operations are conducted safely.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties

• Member of the NREL leadership team - serve as a member of NREL's leadership team, providing insight and input to key laboratory decisions. Oversee excellent performance lab wide and identify, evaluate and mitigate institutional risks.
• Build strategic relationships - maintain, and grow relationships with DOE leaders, NREL senior management, board members, technical review panelists, researchers, and general staff across organizational boundaries both inside and outside the Laboratory.
• Guide impactful research - oversee the successful delivery of projects and programs, exceeding sponsor expectations and enhancing NREL's reputation.
• Hire and maintain top talent - ensure the appropriate selection and development of personnel to maintain a creative environment and the optimum utilization of staff.
• Be a sponsor of change - define needed changes in the organization structure or underlying cultural norms as needed to support continued growth.
• Manage all aspects of the Directorate - oversee all MTES directorate elements including coaching, directing and managing center leadership, budget, investment strategies, succession planning, workforce development, administrative and communication support, planning, and reporting.

A successful leader at NREL demonstrates the following values and attributes:

• Credibility and Integrity
• Compassion, Empathy, and Sensitivity
• Critical Decision-Making
• Coaching and Developing Others
• Communication
• Courage

Basic Qualifications

• Relevant PhD and 15 years or more of experience. Relevant Master's Degree and 18 years of experience. Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 20 years of experience.
• Previous management and budget administration experience required.
• Program strategy, development and implementation experience required.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Comprehensive acumen in leadership and organization.
• Proven capacity for excellent managing and leading people and teams.
• Established track record of negotiating complex partnerships.
• Strong interpersonal skills in developing and maintaining effective and trusting relationships.
• Comprehensive oral and written communications skills are essential.
• Critical skill capabilities in decision-making and innovative problem-solving required.
• This position requires an onsite hybrid work arrangement and remote applicants will not be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within the DOE National Laboratory systems.
• Previous experience managing a large organization is highly preferred.
• A high level of emotional intelligence is required.

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

Annual Salary Range
Job Profile: Associate Lab Director / Annual Salary Range: $243,300 - $437,900

Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement. NREL employees may be eligible for performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards.

Drug Free Workplace
NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified.

EEO Policy
NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.