Posting Title

Director, Energy Security and Resilience Center

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Regular

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.

Job Description

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial leader to serve as the Director of NREL’s Energy Security and Resilience (ESR) Center. This position reports to NREL’s Associate Laboratory Director for Energy Security, Resilience, and Integration (ESRI) and leads energy security and resilience research and development activities in coordination with research centers and offices across NREL.

NREL’s Energy Security and Resilience Center is focused on meeting needs to improve security and resilience of the U.S. energy infrastructure given the full range of human and natural sources of disruption. Technical focus areas include:

• Strategic Energy Security: Analyzing the global political, economic, and societal implications of energy transformations. Reducing risks to energy services through analysis, technology development and deployment, modeling, simulation, and system evaluation.

• System Resilience: Theory and decision support for energy system and community resilience in response to disruption sources of natural and human origin.

• Integrated Energy Systems Engineering: Engineering solutions across energy and other infrastructure systems at the nexus of efficiency, resilience, and stability.

The ESR Center works directly with the electric utility sector, the renewable energy sector, energy and security technology vendors and integrators, the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies with missions critical to the nation’s energy security interests.

ESR Center staff, together with colleagues from other NREL Centers and other national labs, support the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Modernization Initiative-- a major program to help set our nation on a cost-effective path to an integrated, secure, and reliable grid system that is flexible enough to provide an array of emerging services while remaining affordable to consumers. We also support the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to increase awareness and advance the state of security and resilience in emerging renewable energy technologies, distributed energy resources, and energy efficiency technologies.

The Director of the Energy Security and Resilience Center will provide technical vision, strategic leadership and guidance, capability and intellectual asset stewardship, and management and direction for energy security and resilience R&D. The Director will be responsible for the development of new NREL capabilities, competencies, and staff resources that are relevant to meeting the nation’s energy security and resilience challenges.

Specific duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and enhance technical capabilities relevant to advancing security and resilience for electric power technologies and systems while delivering world-class, high-quality research, development, validation, and testing results.

• Ensure effective utilization of NREL’s facilities for security and resilience R&D within the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF). Develop new capabilities to meet emerging energy security and resilience needs for the nation.

• Work with Lab Program managers to maintain NREL’s strategic relationship with DOE and its component offices on security and resilience as one of their key Federally Funded R&D Centers (FFRDCs). Provide thought leadership to DOE and other government workshops and strategic meetings on future security and resilience needs for grid modernization and related efforts.

• Oversee NREL’s program planning related to energy security and resilience, including development of project plans, new project proposal development, and establishment of multi-year plans.

• Develop impactful partnerships with industry stakeholders, other National Laboratories and other Federal and State agencies that align with DOE security and resilience priorities and leverage DOE’s investments at NREL. Work with lab program managers to coordinate NREL’s response to relevant Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) and Lab Calls (Lab RFPs) for which NREL is eligible to submit proposals. Plan, arrange, and host visits/meetings at NREL by DOE and other government agencies, industry and/or associations, and universities to strengthen relationships and enhance NREL’s energy security and resilience research portfolio.

• Lead the set of managers and staff that comprise the ESR Center, including recruiting, hiring, coaching, counseling, motivating, evaluating performance, and developing succession plans. Ensure staff members understand and are compliant with NREL policies and procedures.

• Recruit and retain world-class human resources to support NREL’s expanded work in strategic energy security, resilience, and related engineering challenges.

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Basic Qualifications

Related PhD and seven or more years’ experience in relevant field; Or related Masters Degree and nine or more years’ experience; Or related Bachelors Degree and ten or more years’ experience. Experience managing research staff, budget, program strategy development and implementation experience is required. A degree in appropriate field and expert knowledge of technical field and related disciplines is required.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Expert understanding and application of project management principles, concepts, practices and standards in both unclassified and unclassified project settings.

• Expert knowledge of technical field and related disciplines.

• Exhibits an exceptional degree of ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness.

• Superior interpersonal, conflict resolution, and teaming skills.

• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.

• Excellent organizational skills.

• Demonstrated ability to manage and oversee complex and high-impact technical programs, and to design/implement effective work breakdown structures with an effective hierarchy of task leaders, project leaders, and sub-program managers.

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, lead strategic planning, and build consensus. Ability to propose and develop new/novel concepts and approaches where little or no precedents exist.

• Demonstrated ability to manage uncleared and cleared technical staff and technical managers in an R&D environment and experience building high performing collaborative teams.

• Ability to make difficult decisions.

• Capable of working independently.

• Highly effective teaming skills, including a proven ability to form and lead high-impact, cross-organizational teams.

• Must be able to work effectively with NREL Executive Management, Center/Office Directors, Laboratory Program Managers, and DOE leadership and technical staff.

• Travel (up to 25%) is required in this position, including frequent travel to Washington, D.C.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance and SCI access. SCI access may require a polygraph examination. Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE O 472.2A for additional information .

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability and proven track record of sponsor or customer satisfaction in managing one or more technical projects or programs with combined annual budget greater than $1 million.

• At least one area of deep specialized knowledge and expertise related to energy security; strategic energy system planning and related supply chain challenges; resilience of power systems and interdependent infrastructure; resilience of social systems; communications and control, power systems R&D or operations; grid integration; or power systems modeling.

• Experience with R&D programs that cross unclassified and classified environments.

• An established positive reputation with NREL’s DOE clients.

• A relevant technical degree, Ph.D. preferred, in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science or a related applied scientific discipline, for example: mechanical or other energy systems engineering, process dynamics/control, information technologies, communications, physics, or material science.

• Experience with successfully developing, forming, and leading one or more interdisciplinary collaborative project team(s) that included national laboratories, industry, and universities.

• Demonstrated experience successfully building and executing unclassified and classified programs with the DOD, DHS, and the broader U.S. government national security community.

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Center Director I / Annual Salary Range: $165,100 - $297,200

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NREL 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 required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

EEO is the Law (http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm) | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination (https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_English_unformattedESQA508c.pdf) | Reasonable Accommodations (http://www.nrel.gov/careers/employment-policies.html)

E -Verify www.dhs.gov/E-Verify For information about right to work, click here (http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2013/08/13/FinalOSCPosterEN08_01_2013.pdf) for English or here (http://www.justice.gov/crt/file/813271/download) for Spanish.

E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy’s effort to secure an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NREL is the primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies in the United States.

NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview and for hiring. DOE rules for site access during the interview process depend on whether the candidate is interviewed on-site, off-site, or via telephone or videoconference. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NREL by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Please review the information on our Hiring Process (https://www.nrel.gov/careers/hiring-process.html) website before you create an account and apply for a job. We also hope you will learn more about NREL (https://www.nrel.gov/about/) , visit our Careers site (https://www.nrel.gov/careers/) , and continue to search for job opportunities (https://nrel.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/NREL) at the lab.