Chief Operating Officer - National Security Sciences

Oak Ridge National Laboratory - Oak Ridge, TN

Full-time - Executive

Oak Ridge, TN

5,001-10,000 employees

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the National Security Sciences Directorate (NSSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing operational performance and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. The COO will establish a culture of operational excellence, manage risks, and lead initiatives to improve performance while supporting the laboratory's mission to address national security challenges through research and development.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a culture of personal accountability and excellence in conduct of operations, project management, configuration management, security, quality assurance, and environment, safety, and health.
• Ensure that work processes and practices follow the 'Plan-Execute-Assess-Improve' cycle to assure a focus on mission accomplishment within the terms and conditions of our contract with DOE.
• Ensure that work is carried out safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL policies, standards, and procedures, while incorporating the Safe Conduct of Research principles into daily operations.
• Collaborate with NSSD leadership to ensure that the appropriate staff, processes, and metrics are in place for compliant, safe, efficient, and effective programs, resulting in successful completion of research milestones and the mitigation of risks.
• Facilitate resolution of operational issues through the ORNL Issues Management process including critiques, extent of condition reviews, corrective action development and the evaluation of their effectiveness.
• Serve as an active contributor to ORNL operational improvement initiatives and drive appropriate operational practices across the laboratory, leading a culture of continuous improvement.
• In partnership with other directorate COOs, work with ORNL Management System Owners to ensure that ORNL processes and operational practices enable the most efficient and effective support of ORNL R&D missions.
• As a member of the ORNL Emergency Response Organization, work with ORNL leadership to respond to major operational events.
• Ensure effective execution of NSSD's strategy via management of the directorate facilities and instrumentations in partnership with the Division Directors.
• Lead NSSD's facility planning.
• Participate with NSSD leadership in strategy development and business planning.
• Provide oversight for all NSSD's Strategic Partnership Project proposals and ensure success by partnering with the DOE's Oak Ridge Site Office.
• Promote an inclusive and empowering culture, achieve diversity goals and establish a strong diversity culture.
• Partner with the Division Directors to establish workforce planning and development and institute robust hiring practices and successful strategic hiring and retention.
• Provide directorate-level leadership for the NSSD Educational Outreach Program to attract and recruit a diverse talent pool to advance our missions.
• Serve as a delegate for the NSSD ALD in ORNL business and operational processes as directed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a scientific or engineering discipline with at least 12 years of experience in a scientific or R&D related organization.
• Experience working at or with major national security organizations within government.
• Experience in effectively managing operational teams to support cutting-edge R&D.
• Experience in effectively managing operational and programmatic teams to support cutting-edge R&D.
• Demonstrated record of supporting the professional development of staff.

Nice-to-haves

• A current DOE security clearance.
• Experience with national security sponsors and stakeholders.
• Understanding of national security research capabilities housed in other organizations around the DOE complex and within partner or competitor organizations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Well-developed planning, organizational development and business skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• Increasingly responsible leadership experience with leading and/or managing large and complex projects/research organizations.
• Understanding of DOE and associated agencies.

Benefits

• Medical and retirement plans
• Flexible work hours
• On-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities
• Prescription Drug Plan
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Contributory Pension Plan
• Life Insurance
• Disability Benefits
• Generous Vacation and Holidays
• Parental Leave
• Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Educational Assistance
• Relocation Assistance
• Employee Discounts