Job Description

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), a national laboratory under the stewardship of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM), is seeking an innovative and strategic Division Director to lead the Energy Sciences and Engineering (ESE) Division within the Science, Energy, and Innovation (SEI) Directorate. The Energy Sciences and Engineering (ESE) Division Director is the inaugural leader of a newly formed, multidisciplinary research division spanning energy materials, advanced manufacturing and automation, fusion energy and isotope science, and research computing and computational science. This is a foundational role: you are building — from inception — a division culture, operating system, partnership ecosystem, and people-development framework that will define how ESE operates for years to come.

As a line leader within a matrix organization, the Division Director is accountable for the stewardship, development, and support of the division’s people; the creation of an environment where research, science, and innovation thrive; and the execution of missions that align with the strategic direction set by SRNL leadership. The Director also owns the cultivation and stewardship of strategic partnerships outside the Department of Energy — industry engagement, university collaborations, and the broader research ecosystem — that strengthen the division’s capabilities and expand its impact.

This role preferences deep technical credibility in at least one of the division’s core domains, a demonstrated record of building and developing people and research leaders, and the leadership judgment to steward technical areas where you are not the expert. Success is measured on the division’s collective impact: the quality and trajectory of its science, the development and retention of its staff, the strength of its external partnerships, and its operational and safety excellence.

People Development and Culture Building

• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a high-caliber technical and leadership staff. Build and coach the division’s group leaders and identify and grow the next generation of research leaders.
• Establish the division’s operating culture, values, and norms around scientific rigor, collaboration, psychological safety, inclusion, and accountability. Set the tone for how the division works as a unified entity.
• Create an environment where researchers are supported, developed, and enabled to do their best work. Manage performance, allocate staff and resources, and make sound personnel and investment decisions.
• Foster a strong safety culture and ensure all division work is planned and executed safely and in full compliance with environmental, safety, health, quality, and security requirements appropriate to a radiological and nuclear research environment.

Science Stewardship and Execution

• Work with SRNL leadership to understand the strategic direction and mission priorities they steward with the Department of Energy. Execute division activities and allocate resources in alignment with that direction.
• Steward the scientific quality, rigor, and reputation of the division’s work. Serve as a credible scientific voice to sponsors, peers, and the external research community.
• Lead the group leaders in identifying high-value science and technical opportunities that align with DOE mission needs, SRNL strategic priorities, and the division’s distinctive capabilities. Bring those opportunities and ideas forward to inform the program office’s strategic direction.
• Ensure the division has the capabilities, tools, talent, and partnerships needed to execute its missions effectively and on time.

External Partnership and Ecosystem Development

• Own the cultivation and stewardship of strategic partnerships outside the Department of Energy — industry engagement, university collaborations, national laboratory partnerships, and professional relationships — that strengthen the division’s technical capabilities and expand its reach and impact.
• Lead and mentor staff in building and deepening these external relationships. Position the division as a credible, trusted partner to industry and academia.
• Advance SRNL’s standing and visibility in the division’s technical domains through publications, presentations, professional leadership, and strategic external relationships.

Operational Excellence and Business Performance

• Manage the division’s budget, financial performance, facilities, and capital and infrastructure needs. Ensure delivery of high-quality work products on scope, on schedule, and on budget.
• Establish division metrics, reporting cadences, and accountability structures. Track and communicate progress to the ALD and the SEI leadership team
• Work closely within the SRNL matrix structure to ensure alignment between division capabilities and program office priorities; surface challenges and opportunities that should inform strategic planning.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic vision with sound judgment — ability to see how disparate technical areas intersect, to set priorities across competing demands, and to align division work with broader institutional strategy.
• People leadership — ability to recruit talent, develop leaders below you, create psychological safety, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.• Collaborative matrix leadership — skill in working through peer relationships, navigating ambiguity, and building alignment across organizational lines without direct authority.
• Business and operational acumen — comfort with budgets, metrics, and performance management; ability to connect resources to outcomes.
• External relationship building — ability to establish trust and credibility with industry, universities, and research partners; skill in positioning an organization as a valued collaborator.
• Foundational thinking — recognition that this is a startup role; comfort designing systems, processes, and culture from first principles; willingness to document decisions and rationale for those who come after.
• Integrity and unwavering commitment to safety — personal integrity that sets the tone for the division; zero tolerance for shortcuts on safety, quality, or ethical conduct.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a physical science, engineering, computational science, or closely related field and 10+ years of relevant experience, (or equivalent combination of education and experience) with a minimum of 5 years in technical leadership or program management roles.
• Significant progressive experience in research and research leadership, including direct management of technical staff and demonstrated success building teams and developing research leaders.
• Deep technical credibility and expertise in at least one of the division’s core domains (energy materials, advanced manufacturing and automation, fusion energy and isotope science, or research computing and computational science), with the capability to steward domains where you are not the expert.
• Demonstrated commitment to and accountability for safety in a research environment, particularly in complex or radiological settings.
• Strong record of recruiting, developing, and retaining technical talent and cultivating the next generation of research leaders.
• Proven ability to work effectively in matrix environments, partnering with peer leaders and senior sponsors to align direction and execute missions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to represent an organization credibly to senior sponsors, DOE leadership, external partners, and internal staff.
• For ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, US Citizenship is Legally Required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a DOE national laboratory, federal research environment, or comparable mission-driven research organization.
• Established relationships with DOE program offices and credibility in the relevant national research communities.
• Experience building and cultivating strategic partnerships with industry, universities, and other national laboratories.
• Demonstrated success building new research programs or divisions from inception.
• Track record of growing a research portfolio and securing external funding and partnerships.

"We put science to work!"

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is a multi-program laboratory applying state of the art science and practical, high-value, cost-effective solutions to complex technical problems to protect the nation. Located at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken SC, the laboratory develops and deploys innovative technologies to address some of the nation’s environmental, energy, and national security challenges.

Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA) is constantly assessing trends to provide the best possible benefits to our workforce. We also negotiate cost effective premiums that will meet the needs of our evolving workforce.

Some of the *Benefits offered to employees include:

*Benefits vary based upon employment status

• Highly competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision options including HSA options with company provided seed
• Short- & Long-Term Disability (company paid)
• Life Insurance Non-Contributary 1X salary (company paid)
• AD&D Non-contributary 1x salary (company paid)
• Savings & Investment plan:
• • Qualified Non-Elective Company Contribution of 5% each pay period with immediate vesting
  • Company match 50 cents/dollar up to 8% (5 yrs. vesting in company match)
• Contributory Life Insurance up to 5x Salary with $1M Cap
• Contributory AD&D (employee, spouse and children)
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Plan
• SRNL offers a competitive relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions.

For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the “About” tab at www.srnl.doe.gov

BSRA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. BSRA is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. Please email us at SRNLRecruiting@srnl.doe.gov with any questions regarding the hiring process or to request an accommodation.