Deputy Laboratory Director - Science and Technology

Overview

Posting Title Deputy Laboratory Director - Science and Technology.
Location CO - Golden.
Position Type Regular.
Hours Per Week 40.

Working at NREL NREL is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join NREL, where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NREL stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future.

Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NREL, you’ll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for energy systems. With a focus on security and reliability, NREL leads energy systems innovation and integration – enhancing existing technologies and developing cutting-edge solutions that unlock economic opportunity and fuel America’s global competitiveness. NREL bridges foundational research with practical applications to integrate various energy sources, storage, buildings, transportation, and emerging technologies.

By fostering strategic partnerships, NREL accelerates energy innovation to market and delivers resilient systems that lower costs, bolster national security, and ensure abundant energy.

The Deputy Laboratory Director of Science and Technology (DDST) serves as a key executive leader, Alliance for Sustainable Energy board member, and NREL’s Chief Research Officer. Working in close partnership with the Laboratory Director, Deputy Director of Operations and senior leadership throughout the laboratory, the DDST shapes the laboratory’s scientific strategy, ensures excellence across research programs, and fosters partnerships that expand NREL’s impact on the national and international stage.

• Leads efforts to establish a shared vision and strategy for innovation for the laboratory providing inspiration to all levels of staff.

• Serves as the senior scientific leader for the laboratory and will be responsible for developing NREL’s scientific and technical strategic planning efforts.

• Continuously assesses and identifies opportunities to strengthen the laboratory’s current and future core capabilities, the quality of the research conducted and its impact, and the relevance of its research programs.

• Develops programs and initiatives that drive process improvement, cost effectiveness and optimization of resources to support NREL’s research mission.

• Assist with the creation and overall accomplishment of the laboratory’s strategic agenda in collaboration with the Laboratory Director and Associate Laboratory Directors.

• Maintain a working knowledge of the research business plans and strategy, organizations’ structure and resources.

• Manage key relationships within leading research institutions, the S&T committee of the Alliance Board of Directors, Chief Research Officer’s Council and other committees with the Department of Energy at the deputy assistant secretary level while leading and supporting NREL’s major goals and initiatives.

• Ensures the scientific goals of the laboratory are achieved and that the assigned laboratory goals and objectives measured through the DOE Performance Evaluation and Measurement Plan (PEMP) are realized.

• Work with senior leadership to promote development of the Lab's scientific and technical talent pipelines, including the postdoctoral director’s fellowship program.

• Manage and lead discretionary R&D investments such as the…