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 eight 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.

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Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.

Job Description

The Materials, Chemical, and Computational Sciences (MCCS) directorate is seeking a Research Operations Manager (ROM) to join the research operations team. This team works across the MCCS directorate to ensure safe and efficient research operations in fields spanning battery development, photovoltaics, perovskites, laser applications and various deposition and growth applications for semiconductors processes. This position is the primary interface for research with the ESH&Q and Security Offices, especially in coordination of emergency responses, and will work closely with Facility Managers (FMs) and conduct weekly deconfliction meetings for building activities impacting research. The successful candidate will report to the MCCS Research Operations Director and is responsible for ensuring safe conduct of research operations within MCCS. The ROM will coordinate with two current ROMs for overall oversight of the four MCCS facilities on NREL’s South Table Mountain campus.

Please include a cover letter describing education, experiences and training, and how this meets the requirements of the position.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities: Support Research

• Cultivate a fully integrated, trusting and collaborative environment between Research, Environment, Safety, Health and Quality (EHS&Q), Site Operations staff, and facilitate coordination for efficient research and operations.
• In collaboration with ESHQ & line managers, ensures that all work within the assigned facilities is planned, evaluated, approved, authorized, and released in accordance with NREL’s work planning and safety programs and within the safety envelope of the facility.
• Maintains the safety envelope for their facilities, ensuring that all changes and improvements to research operations stay within the facility limitations (e.g., maximum allowable quantities). Ensures the facility hazard analysis report (HAR) or other such assessment and bounding process is updated.
• Facilitates safe research by participating on process hazard analyses, safety assessments, safe operating procedure and safe work permit development/reviews, (independent) readiness verifications, safety inspections, and other ESH&Q-specific processes.
• Maintain work planning and control processes within the assigned areas of responsibility that are compliant with NREL policies and procedures. Team with research and mission support staff to develop process improvements that may be applied at the facility, center, or directorate level.
• Conducts weekly de-confliction meetings (Plan of the Week) with research operations, site operations, engineering, EHS&Q, project managers, maintenance, and relevant personnel to ensure activities minimize impact to research.
• Reviews and concur with capital planning and site operations activities such as equipment/improvement project charters and project management plans, lab space requests, field walks and contractor activities.
• Participates on incident investigation teams to determine the DOE Occurrence Reporting and Processing System (ORPS) level, root causes, and corrective actions.
• Coordinates regular housekeeping and chemical disposal efforts to bring forth resources (support staff, equipment and supplies) to assist researchers in maintaining a safety workspace, minimizing chemical loading requisite to execute the research.
• Participates in efforts to update and improve lab-level policies, procedures, and operations software that impact research. Assists researchers in successful implementation by being a subject matter expert and offering training and providing guidance to be safe and compliant.
• Supports and participates in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activities by seeking first to understand through active listening, soliciting feedback, valuing, and incorporating diverse perspectives, into the work and team environment.
• Participates inter-laboratory and external activities such as professional organizations, the Research Operations CoP to share best operations practices amongst the Battelle Complex, etc.

Planning and Emergency Response:

• Responsible for working with the MCCS Research Operations Director to develop long-term strategic plans for future upgrades and additions to the facility to support long term research objectives.
• Support continuous improvement of MCCS hazard identification and control processes and access to documentation, including working with stakeholders to successfully transition to new institutional systems for work planning and control.
• Coordinate the emergency response procedures for the facility with the site emergency preparedness office.
• Actively participate in and support the Research Operations Council as an advocate for research staff.

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Basic Qualifications

This position may be filled at level I or Level II

For level I

Relevant Bachelor's Degree and 9 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 7 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant PhD and 4 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant JD and 4 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Applies extensive technical expertise, and has full knowledge of other related disciplines. Contributes to the development of new concepts, techniques and standards. Considered internal subject matter expert. Extensive knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Excellent leadership, project management and problem solving skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.

For level II

Relevant Bachelor's Degree and 14 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 12 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant PhD and 9 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant JD and 9 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Applies advanced technical principles, theories and concepts. Contributes to the development of new principles and concepts. Develops advanced concepts, techniques and standards. Develops new applications based on professional principles and theories. Viewed externally as subject matter expert in field. Comprehensive and advanced knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Superior leadership, project management and problem solving skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

For ROM Level I

• Experience implementing controls to drive potential high-risk R&D activities to low or routine levels.
• Experience in meeting applicable codes and standards applied to hazardous work (ANSI, ASME, IBC, NFPA, NEC, and OSHA).
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse staff in research, engineering, facility management, and compliance to achieve effective solutions for safe and efficient work.
• Familiarity with P&IDs and other system and architectural drawings.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, establish trust, and resolve conflicts between personnel with diverse skills, work styles, and values.

For ROM Level II

• Demonstrated operations experience in a medium to large facility.
• Excellent leadership, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated experience in solving multi-dimensional problems in the absence of guidelines or precedents.
• Expertise in meeting applicable codes and standards applied to hazardous work (ANSI, ASME, IBC, NFPA, NEC, and OSHA).
• Proactively identify and help develop solutions for safety trends, safety related requirements (identified from HAZOPs, RVs, etc.) for new research projects to ensure timely work authorization, research interruptions due to construction or other building activities, and other opportunities to improve research activities and capabilities.
• Deep subject matter expertise leading strategic, operational and environmental health and safety best practices in complex research laboratory facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Hazardous Production Materials, process safety management (PSM) or semiconductor fabrication

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

Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $93,100 - $167,600Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $111,600 - $200,900NREL 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

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.

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.