Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) Director

Education, Government & Non-Profit
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS/BA and 15 years of relevant experience, or MS/MA and 13 years of relevant experience
  • PhD in relevant field preferred
  • Experience leading scientific teams in research environments
  • Strong research background in environmental and biological sciences
  • Expertise in contracting, operations, and resource management in laboratories
  • Directly managed teams of 25 or more staff
  • Recognized achievements in scientific or engineering fields

Responsibilities

  • Lead the environmental user facility to promote scientific excellence and productivity
  • Oversee construction and integration of new facilities to expand capabilities
  • Collaborate across user facilities to drive discovery science
  • Develop and implement an ambitious scientific vision for molecular advancements
  • Represent EMSL and liaise with government and research partners
  • Manage user program budgets and workforce planning
  • Enhance partnerships and visibility with academic and national lab networks

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Robust telehealth and mental health support programs
  • Generous paid time off including vacation and holidays
  • Tuition assistance and relocation support
  • Company-funded pension plan and 401(k) with match
  • Legal benefits and support for family-related needs
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

The Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science user facility advancing molecular level discoveries that support predictive understanding of biological, environmental, and energy systems. As the EMSL Director, they will lead one of the nation's most collaborative scientific user programs, shaping its scientific vision, stewarding its capabilities, and providing operational and strategic leadership for one of the nation's most impactful and collaborative scientific user programs.

Reporting to the Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) of the newly formed Integrated Discovery Sciences Directorate, the EMSL Director serves as a key member of the directorate's scientific leadership team and provides direct oversight to a core EMSL science and operations leadership group of 25-50 staff. EMSL's user program mission is to lead molecular-level discoveries for the DOE Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, ensuring EMSL delivers high-impact science and predictive insights that translate to predictive biological and environmental understanding and accelerated solutions for national energy and environmental challenges. They will enable foundational discoveries and predictive capabilities that are critical to DOE's mission-guiding its future impact and growth.

  • Responsible for leading the EMSL User Facility and Program, ensuring scientific excellence, program productivity, and safe operations.
  • Ensure the smooth transition to operations and ongoing high impact science are executed as the $122M EMSL expansion to include the Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC) project begins construction and eventual commissioning near FY2029.
  • Work collaboratively across BER User Facilities and Enabling Technologies resources to promote, advance, and lead discovery science research with the BER community across biotechnology and critical biology-Earth-Energy intersections.
  • Responsible for developing, articulating, and implementing an ambitious, bold forward looking scientific vision that enables molecular science discoveries and effectively mobilizes the scientific community to provide the foundations for BER research priorities and our nation's critical biological, environmental, and energy challenges.
  • Responsible for enabling integrated, cross collaboration and engagement amongst the laboratory and the the broader scientific user community.
  • Represents EMSL as the primary spokesperson for the User Program in interactions with the DOE, the BER and broader research communities, and other government agencies.
  • Accountable for User Program budgets, funding, workforce planning, human resource management, capital acquisitions, environmental health and safety, and facilities management.
  • Enhance EMSL's research programs and capabilities in alignment with emerging mission priorities.
  • Strengthen partnerships with academic institutions, national laboratories and other DOE User Facilities, scientific networks, and sponsors to enhance program impact and visibility.
  • Provide strategic direction to EMSL research groups and directly supervises members of the EMSL leadership team.
  • Responsible for oversight with ES&H safety criteria for safe operation of laboratories, in compliance with lab, state, and federal regulations.
  • Responsible for safe operations with oversight to field deployments.
  • Direct line management of EMSL leadership team and critical science and operational roles, ~20 staff.
  • Partner with Division Directors to collaboratively matrix lead and manage scientific, technical, and operational staff directly supporting the EMSL user program and facility across PNNL (~200 staff).


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Knowledge of relevant research sponsors, particularly BER and DOE Office of Science, and familiarity with national laboratory environments.
  • Ability to develop and execute strategic plans and adapt to evolving scientific and operational needs.
  • Ability to articulate a clear vision and purpose to position capabilities for mission impact.
  • Ability to effectively engage and build strong relationships with senior leaders, sponsors, and external partners.
  • Ability to interact effectively with funding agencies such as the Department of Energy.
  • Ability to lead, motivate, and develop staff, fostering a collaborative culture with diversity of scientific thought.
  • Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:
  • BS/BA and 15 years of relevant experience -OR-
  • MS/MA or higher and 13 years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:
  • PhD in biology, chemistry, geochemistry, Ecology, Earth science or relevant field.
  • Experience leading scientific or technical teams and/or programs within research environments.
  • Experience working in high performing teams as part of a matrixed line management environment.
  • Research experience within environmental and biological sciences.
  • Contracting, operations, and resource management experience within a complex scientific laboratory environment.
  • Experience within a DOE User Facility.
  • Recognized national and international reputation and record of accomplishment in a scientific and/or engineering field.
  • Direct line management experience of 25+ staff.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Not Applicable

Testing Designated Position

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

Rockstar Rewards

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

* Research Associates excluded.

**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.

Click Here For Rockstar Rewards

Notice to Applicants

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual's relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.

Minimum Salary

USD $238,500.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary

USD $376,900.00/Yr.

About Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory that conducts research and development in areas including energy, environment, and national security. PNNL is operated by Battelle Memorial Institute and is located in Richland, Washington. The laboratory was established in 1965 as the Battelle Northwest Laboratory and was renamed to its current name in 1997. PNNL has a staff of over 4,000 scientists, engineers, and support staff, and has an annual budget of over $1 billion. The laboratory has been involved in a number of high-profile projects, including the development of the first artificial heart and the cleanup of the Hanford Site, a decommissioned nuclear production complex.
Learn more about Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1965

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