Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Section Head - Spectroscopy

Oak Ridge National Laboratory$120K — $150K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in physics, materials science, chemistry, or related field with 12+ years of relevant experience.
  • Experience leading R&D teams and user programs at national/international facilities.
  • Proven track record in neutron scattering or similar research using large-scale instrumentation.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the scientific vision for the Spectroscopy Section, focusing on instrument capabilities and user programs.
  • Collaborate with Division Director and Group Leaders to set priorities and allocate resources effectively.
  • Ensure high-quality user programs by overseeing research capabilities and support across section instruments.
  • Manage the performance and development of section Group Leaders, including hiring and evaluation processes.
  • Pursue and communicate funding opportunities, assisting staff in proposal development.
  • Commit to and advocate for ORNL's Research Code of Conduct and its core values.
  • Foster a respectful and inclusive workplace culture, promoting equal opportunity.

Benefits

  • Access to world-class research facilities and collaboration opportunities.
  • Engagement in cutting-edge scientific initiatives in spectroscopy and neutron scattering.
  • Opportunity to influence and shape the direction of user programs and research methodologies.
  • Support for career development and professional growth within a prestigious national laboratory.
Full Job Description
Requisition Id 16739

Overview:

We are seeking a Section Head for Spectroscopy in the Neutron Scattering Division (NSD) of the Neutron Sciences Directorate (NScD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

The Spectroscopy Section leads the development of neutron spectroscopy methods across 10 instruments at both the High Flux Isotope Reactor and Spallation Neutron Source enabling research in areas such as quantum materials, energy-related materials, soft matter, complex fluids, and biology. The section currently comprises three groups (Chemical Spectroscopy, Direct Geometry, and Triple-Axis) and oversees the instruments BASIS, CNCS, HYSPEC, VISION, SEQUOIA, ARCS, PTAX, VERITAS, TAX, and CTAX.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:
  • Lead the development and execution of a world-class scientific vision for the Spectroscopy Section, including instrument capabilities and user program strategy.
  • Partner with the Division Director and section Group Leaders to establish priorities, allocate resources, and drive scientific excellence across all three groups.
  • Oversee a leading user program, ensuring users benefit from the highest quality research capabilities and scientific support across all section instruments.
  • Manage section Group Leaders, including hiring, performance evaluation, succession planning, and career development.
  • Actively pursue and communicate funding and proposal opportunities; support staff in proposal development and budget preparation.
  • As a member of the ORNL scientific community, you will be expected to commit to ORNL's Research Code of Conduct. Our full code of conduct and a statement by the Lab Director's office can be found here: https://www.ornl.gov/content/research-integrity.
  • 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 PhD in physics, materials science, chemistry, or a related field with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated experience leading R&D teams and supporting a user program at a national or international user facility.
  • Established track record of performing neutron scattering research or closely related work using large-scale user facility instrumentation.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Expertise in neutron spectroscopy methods, including data analysis techniques and the use of advanced sample environments.
  • Experience managing multiple research groups or cross-functional scientific teams.
  • Strong record of external scientific recognition, proposal success, and engagement with professional societies or advisory boards.


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.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a science and technology national laboratory managed for the United States Department of Energy (DOE) by UT-Battelle. ORNL is the largest science and energy national laboratory in the Department of Energy system by size and by annual budget. ORNL conducts research and development activities in a variety of scientific and technical disciplines. ORNL's scientific programs focus on materials, neutron science, energy, high-performance computing, systems biology and national security. ORNL partners with other national laboratories, universities and industry to solve complex problems and transfer knowledge and technology. ORNL is home to several of the world's most powerful supercomputers, including Summit, the world's most powerful supercomputer as of November 2018.
Learn more about Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1943

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