Nuclear Sciences Division Director

Overview: PNNL’s Energy and Environment Directorate (EED), led by Associate Laboratory Director Jud Virden, views energy and the environment as inextricably linked, and believes energy solutions can't be achieved without associated environmental solutions.
Working from this perspective, our organization of 1,000 staff applies an impressive portfolio of scientific and technical capabilities to invent a better future for America and the world.
EED's efforts are: Revolutionizing how nations with extensive coal reserves can meet growing energy demand while simultaneously reducing emissions.
Transforming the existing electricity generation and transmission infrastructure to optimize the assets we have today.
Designing the grid of the future to accommodate intermittent types of power generation, such as wind and solar.
Using electricity and alternative fuels to cost-effectively meet the needs of a cleaner transportation sector while addressing our dependence on imported oil.
Tapping technologies to achieve smart and efficient energy performance in buildings.
Applying our expertise in waste forms, waste processing and subsurface science to help DOE reduce the cost and risk of cleanup.
Enabling a safe and secure acceleration of nuclear power as a critical part of the U.
S.
and global energy portfolio.
PNNL is recruiting for a director to lead the Nuclear Sciences Division (NSsD) within EED.
Annually, the NSsD conducts about $55 million of R&D for Department of Energy’s Offices of Environmental Management, Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Science, and other government agencies.
The NSsD is a growing organization of about 300 staff members based primarily at PNNL’s Richland, Washington campus where this position is located.
The staff is organized into four capability-based groups, each under the leadership of a group manager who reports to this position of the Division Director.
These groups include Nuclear Chemistry and Engineering, Reactor Materials, Experimental and Computational Engineering, and Radiological Materials.
NSsD provides solutions to some of the world’s most complex environmental and radiological challenges.
We are focused on nuclear materials behavior, chemistry, and processing to address our sponsor’s missions advancing nuclear energy, resolving legacy waste, and assuring our national security.
For example, NSsD scientists and engineers are developing advanced waste forms to immobilize nuclear waste, developing novel materials to capture fugitive emissions from industrial and nuclear facilities, and developing new materials for the extreme environments in nuclear power reactors.
Through fundamental radiochemical science, strong academic and industrial collaborations, and leveraging PNNL’s multipurpose Hazard Category II nuclear facility (Radiochemical Processing Laboratory), we are fostering a renewed national focus on radiochemistry and irradiated materials research in several areas including nuclear nonproliferation, advanced nuclear energy, and the beneficial use of isotopes for medicine and industry.
Our technical staff expertise in this area includes radiochemical processing engineering, irradiated materials characterization, dosimetry, radiation effects, and radiochemical separations and conversions.
The staff are supported in this research by a comprehensive set of analytical instrumentation for process modeling, online monitoring, colloidal dispersion science, and surface science, as well as remote hot cells and radiological glove boxes that, among other wide-ranging research activities, support spent fuel receipt and post-irradiation examination.
The Division also stewards PNNL’s radiological quite suite with several state-of-the art atomic resolution electron microscopes for characterization of nuclear materials and nanoscale testing.
Rockstar Rewards: Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, supplemental parental bonding leave**, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support.
Employees are automatically enrolled in our company funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401k savings plan.
Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
* Research Associates excluded.
**Once eligibility requirements are met.
Click Here For Rockstar Rewards Responsibilities: This position reports to the EED Associate Laboratory Director.
The division director is responsible for leading, developing, and maintaining institutional capabilities including staff, facilities, and equipment in alignment with directorate and lab-wide strategies in order to meet current and future DOE and other sponsor mission needs.
These responsibilities include: Leading the development and execution of the Division’s vision and strategy in partnership with EED leadership team and other PNNL stakeholders.
Developing world-class research capabilities (people, equipment and facilities) that are externally recognized for scientific and engineering excellence that support the DOE mission and deliver national impact.
Modeling, creating and reinforcing a culture of excellence, including safety, security, and operational discipline.
Promoting diversity and inclusion enabling all staff to have a voice and contribute to the success of NSsD.
Stewarding and communicating NSsD’s accomplishments with internal and external partners to advance PNNL and DOE’s reputation.
Implementing practices to recruit, develop, assess performance, and retain talented people to support current and future mission needs.
Ensuring robust succession planning for key technical capabilities needed for current and future business growth.
Managing budgets and assets to ensure facilities, equipment, and operating procedures are adequate and deliver on mission priorities.
Qualifications: Minimum Qualifications: BS/BA and 15 years work experience -OR- MS/MA or higher and 13 years of experience Preferred Qualifications: Recognized R&D experience in the nuclear science area and knowledge of the scientific and applied trends and drivers.
Well-developed strategic planning, organizational and capability development, and business development skills and demonstrated record of meeting financial and operational expectations.
Knowledge and experience working with relevant DOE and other NSsD mission sponsors.
Experience conducting and leading research in a nuclear facility.
Record of working with and collaborating with U.
S.
industry and universities.
Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment: The position requires approximately 20% domestic and international travel.
Additional Information: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
Requirements: U.
S.
Citizenship.
Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the candidate selected is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).
Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.
S.
Department of Energy until non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months can be demonstrated.
Testing Designated Position (TDP): This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.
About PNNL: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage.
Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.
S.
Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them! At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, flexible work schedules and telework options.
PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living.
The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3-hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Commitment to Excellence, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunity: Our laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment dedicated to solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency.
We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.
In support of this commitment, we encourage people of all racial/ethnic identities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.
gov.
Drug Free Workplace: PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment.
PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use.
Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
HSPD-12 PIV Credential Requirement: In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.
1A, new employees are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential.
To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation.
This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year.
This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.