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 innovative, objective science and engineering-based solutions and inform decisions for a secure and resilient global society. 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 Science and Technology (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 5 Divisions and several cross-cutting initiatives that are focused on defining and executing on 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, DOD, and other federal agencies and non-federal entities.

In this newly created role, the NTNS Deputy Associate Laboratory Director will serve as an integral member of the NTNS leadership team  assisting the NTNS Associate Laboratory Director (ALD), in partnership with the NTNS Division Directors (DD), Directorate Operations Officer (DOO), and Strategy Innovation Director, to successfully achieve near, mid and long-term target outcomes in directorate management, technical thought leadership, S&T strategy, opportunity capture and growth, and mission delivery. The NTNS Deputy ALD will serve as spokesperson and representative of the ALD and the directorate on research program matters, both internally and externally, as required. The Deputy ALD will also advise on and act as the technical lead for scientific and technical quality and risk across the organization and ensure alignment and integration with strategic priorities. 

The NTNS Deputy ALD will work cooperatively with Division and Program Directors, Initiative Leads, Laboratory Relationship Managers (LRMs), and laboratory scientists and engineers to nurture and sustain relationships with key current and potential sponsors (DOE, other federal and non-federal) to develop and communicate a strong knowledge of key sponsors’ priorities, support business capture efforts, and deliver S&T impact consistent with NTNS, Laboratory and sponsor strategy and objectives. In addition, the Deputy ALD will develop, lead, sustain, and cultivate relationships with external institutions such as universities, industry, and other laboratories to build partnerships that enable new ground-breaking research in areas relevant to NTNS.

Responsibilities:

Assist the ALD in overseeing directorate management and functions to achieve key directorate outcomes in mission delivery, S&T capability development, opportunity capture, strategy, partnerships, financial health, talent development, communications, and risk management. Act on behalf of ALD and NTNS internally and externally as needed.

Act as Chief Science and Technology Officer for the directorate contributing to NTNS and Argonne research initiatives and priorities. Lead and/or facilitate the development and execution of directorate- and/or lab-level S&T initiatives. Establish and sustain internal collaborations to support NTNS sponsor missions.

Facilitate and sustain key sponsor and partner relationships. Interface with senior management of DOE program offices, national laboratories, and industry partners, as needed.

Develop a deep understanding of sponsor missions and support DDs and LRMs in identifying strategic priorities for sponsors and positioning Argonne and NTNS for maximum impact. Support sponsor-facing strategy development and communications.

Contribute to development and implementation of a forward-leaning strategy for energy and national security research working closely with the NTNS Strategy Innovation Director and NTNS Director of Global Security Research. Identify and motivate business capture opportunities in select areas.

Identify cross-cutting S&T capability investments, working closely with the ALD, NTNS Directorate Operations Officer, and Strategy Innovation Director to align with NTNS research and infrastructure strategy.

Actively model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

This role may evolve to include 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 role will require approximately 10% travel – mostly domestic, with the potential of international trips.

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 10 years of relevant scientific/technical leadership and management experience with a demonstrated track record of science and technology priority development and integration for impact, including mission delivery, opportunity capture, strategy development with resulting impact/outcomes.

Experience and demonstrated success leading and managing large organizations.

Advanced degree and demonstrated professional expertise in one or more scientific or engineering fields of relevance to NTNS with a broad level of knowledge in both basic and applied sciences.

Ability to function as a member of a senior executive management team, to work effectively with all levels of internal and external personnel, and to gain consensus, build teams, and resolve conflicts.

Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to lead and work with multidisciplinary teams, establish effective interpersonal relationships, and motivate scientific and technical staff.

Demonstrated success in the formulation, development, and organization of new and innovative research and development initiatives.

Experience and successful track record in science strategy development in partnership with basic and applied science programs.

Demonstrated ability to synthesize and communicate scientific and technical research objectives of organizations, programs, and projects.

Business acumen and the ability to identify research opportunities and build collaborative partnerships with the Department of Energy and other federal agencies, regional universities and other institutions.

Contemporary knowledge of national energy and national security S&T priorities, policies and opportunities.

Demonstrated ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

To perform the essential functions of this position, successful applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship and must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance (SCI, DOE “Q” and others) which is required to comply with federal regulations and contract. Please see http://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm  for more information about requirements for obtaining a security clearance process.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

Knowledge of one or more emerging and disruptive technologies, e.g. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Quantum Science, etc.

Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and programmatic requirements of Argonne, the University of Chicago, DOE, and other relevant federal agencies.

Leadership experience of a high-impact, multi-disciplinary R&D program.

Active SCI or DOE “Q” security clearances are desirable.

Job Family

Research Development (RD)

Job Profile

R&D Multi-Functional Leader 5

Worker Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

The expected hiring range for this position is $272,799.00 - $430,435.98.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!

As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.  

All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis.  Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements.  Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.