Job Description

Requisition Id 16148

Would you like to have a lasting and significant impact on a key user facility in the nation’s scientific infrastructure and strengthen U.S. scientific competitiveness? The Neutron Upgrades Project Office (NUPO) at ORNL is seeking a talented and enthusiastic Project Manager to spearhead the planning and execution of the Beryllium Reflector Replacement project at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), a premier source of neutrons for the U.S. scientific community.

HFIR provides one of the highest steady-state neutron fluxes of any research reactor in the world. The thermal and cold neutrons produced by HFIR are used for research into the fundamental properties of materials, including biological and engineered materials, enabling researchers to make scientific discoveries and address some of the biggest challenges facing society today, such as the clean energy transition. ORNL is preparing to replace HFIR’s permanent beryllium reflector, along with other key reactor core components, to sustain and enhance HFIR’s operational performance. In conjunction with redesigning the cold neutron guide network, plans are under way to extend HFIR’s cold guide hall by more than 5,500 square feet. The cold guide hall features instruments that use cold neutrons with lower energies to unlock information about complex soft matter, such as proteins and polymers, and analyze materials with magnetic properties. Extending this guide hall will allow for reconfiguring and optimizing the facility’s cold neutron instruments to significantly improve their performance, develop new capabilities, and provide space to build new instruments. This exciting project will enable the HFIR to provide the Office of Science neutron scattering, isotopes production, materials irradiation, and other scientific missions essential to our national interests well into the future.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead HBRR project planning and execution, including scope, schedule, budget, and configuration control.
• Serve as the primary project lead for conceptual design, acquisition strategy, contractor selection, engineering, construction, and commissioning, reporting to the HFIR Upgrades Project Office Director.
• Assemble and direct a multidisciplinary integrated project team to deliver project objectives on schedule, within budget, and within scope.
• Coordinate with Research Reactors Division, Neutron Scattering Division, and Neutron Technologies Division to support execution of the HFIR Beryllium Outage planned for 2029–2031.
• Oversee project controls, including work breakdown structure, cost estimating, actual costs, risk management, earned value reporting, and baseline change control.
• Establish and maintain project management policies, procedures, standards, training, and documentation aligned with DOE, ORNL, and UT-Battelle requirements.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and project reporting with DOE, engineering and construction partners, support contractors, leadership, and collaborators.
• Lead project reviews, prepare baseline change recommendations, represent the project at reviews and technical forums, and serve as acting HBRR Project Director when designated.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A BS/BA in science or engineering or other related field, with at least 12 years of experience including a minimum of 5 years working in a technical project management role.
• Previous leadership experience in a senior management capacity within a complex engineering environment, preferably on a large project.
• Must have demonstrated experience managing diverse, high performing teams.
• Must have strong communications skills, with the ability to successfully interact with DOE, project reviewers, senior laboratory management, and senior project staff members.
• Must be well versed in construction, operations, R&D, and business systems to assure project scope is accomplished, schedules are met, and work is completed within budget.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Operating nuclear reactor management experience in Engineering or Operations.
• Master’s or Doctorate degree in science or engineering or another related field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience with DOE nuclear facilities projects to include initial construction and/or upgrades to the facility.
• Experience with neutron scattering instruments and technology.
• Project experience working with DOE projects within the Office of Science portfolio.
• Experience managing/working with projects using the following software/system: Oracle Primavera.
• A solid understanding of best practices and ability to create project schedules, resource loading, incorporating monthly status and creating and maintaining the project baseline.
• Experience with projects using a ‘DOE compliant’ EVMS environment; to include establishing baselines, incorporating baseline changes, producing monthly reports and variance analysis.

Visa Sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.
• For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required.
• Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.
• 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.

Benefits at ORNL:

We offer competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain hardworking people! The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include the following: 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, and Employee Discounts. Relocation Assistance is available for certain positions.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.