Senior Director for Nuclear Safety

What You Will Do

This position is open for both internal and external candidates to apply. The Facilities & Operations Directorate is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as Senior Director for Nuclear Safety. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead the Engineering and nuclear safety programs at one of the nation's premier research institutions and directly influence safety standards and practices.

Reporting to the Associate Laboratory Director for Facilities & Operations, the Senior Director will oversee more than 900 employees across the Criticality Safety Division, Safety Basis Division, as well as 3 Engineering divisions. The engineering organizations include all aspects from facility engineering, design, and project delivery. This position will collaborate closely with DOE Field Office subject matter experts, DOE Headquarters assessments teams, and Defense Nuclear Safety Board representatives.

The selected candidate will provide strategic leadership and oversight for nuclear safety programs supporting DOE Order 420.1C and related requirements, including:

• Nuclear Criticality Safety
• Safety Basis development and authorization
• Fire Protection Services
• Natural Phenomena Hazards
• Nuclear and non-nuclear engineering services and deliverables

Three engineering divisions provide integrated facility and modification engineering services to ensure facilities are designed, constructed, modified, operated, and maintained in a safe, compliant, cost-effective, and mission-focused manner. Collectively, the divisions deliver design, project, procurement, field engineering, construction inspection, and engineering support for facility operations and maintenance, ensuring customer requirements are met while maintaining compliance with applicable regulatory, safety, and engineering standards.

The nuclear safety divisions provide comprehensive nuclear safety services that support and enable the safe accomplishment of the Laboratory's mission by protecting workers, the public, and the environment through the development and implementation of documented safety analyses, hazard identification, and effective hazard controls.

This role calls for an individual who embodies excellence in leadership through enterprise-level vision with bold thinking that pushes boundaries while maintaining safety excellence, execution excellence developing and implementing impactful strategies that deliver results, transparent trust that builds unwavering mutual confidence through honest communication, and empathetic leadership that values diverse perspectives to drive meaningful collaboration.

• Demonstrated record of successfully leading multidisciplinary technical organizations in support of nuclear facility operations, specifically facility engineering, safety basis, criticality safety, and project execution. Proven ability to establish, implement, and continuously improve related programs that efficiently enhance safety, regulatory compliance, operational reliability, and engineering excellence.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of DOE O 420.1C and related DOE Orders, standards, and regulatory requirements including national codes and standards governing engineering and nuclear safety programs, with proven application to the design, operation, maintenance, modification, and project execution of nuclear facilities.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and maintaining the nuclear facility safety basis to ensure compliance with Technical Safety Requirements, while preserving configuration management and the integrity of the facility's safety basis.
• Demonstrated success building and maintaining effective working relationships with all levels of contractor management, NNSA/DOE personnel, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) staff and Board Members, and other internal and external stakeholders, including members of the public, while fostering collaboration and achieving high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing strategic partnerships, negotiating with customers and support organizations, resolving complex technical and organizational conflicts, and aligning diverse stakeholder interests to achieve mission objectives and successful project outcomes.
• Active DOE Q clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one. Eligibility to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Clearance.

This position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or related field with 16+ years of progressive professional and leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, with an advanced degree expected at this level.

• Master's degree in engineering or related technical field.
• A track record as a program manager, line manager, or institutional organizational leader.
• Demonstrated success building relationships across all organizational levels.
• Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain top technical talent.
• Experience coaching senior staff…