Programs, Planning, and Partnerships Specialist

Programs, Planning, and Partnerships Specialist

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Programs, Planning, and Partnerships Specialist to support program planning, proposal development, stakeholder engagement, and public-private partnership activities within its fission-related programs. This position will play a key role in coordinating programmatic activities, supporting responses to funding opportunities, managing deliverables, and facilitating communication among stakeholders including private companies, national laboratories, universities, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The successful candidate will support the full proposal lifecycle—from initial funding opportunity announcement through final submission—as well as ongoing program execution, reporting, and communications. This role will also contribute to the development of business and planning materials, stakeholder events, and partnership-focused initiatives in the public-private collaboration space.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Work with Principal Investigators, researchers, and administrative staff across ORNL to develop and submit single- and multi-investigator scientific and technical proposals in response to DOE and other funding opportunities.
• Ensure the timely preparation and submission of proposals, reports, review documents, including verifying required elements, formatting, compliance, and completeness.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to administrative staff in proposal development, management, and submission processes.
• Manage the preparation and timely delivery of programmatic materials directly funded by DOE, including review documents, brochures, reports, presentations, and other factual materials.
• Support communications with program stakeholders, including private sector companies, national laboratories, universities, and DOE program offices.
• Collect information from external partners and internal stakeholders to support formal documentation, data tracking, communications, and reporting.
• Assist with the development of content for division and laboratory business activities, such as business plans, performance reports, presentations, laboratory planning materials, and annual reporting.
• Support the development and administration of partnership-oriented programs and public-private collaboration efforts related to fission energy initiatives.
• Help define deliverables, coordinate schedules, manage competing priorities, and ensure deadlines are met across multiple projects and activities.
• 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:

• BS or BA degree in communications, business, science, engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of related experience in program support, proposal coordination, stakeholder engagement, meeting/event coordination, or similar work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a scientific organization, national laboratory, university research environment, or other research institution.
• Experience supporting technical proposals, reports, and program documentation.
• Some project management experience, particularly in defining deliverables, managing competing schedules and requirements, and meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency with standard business software, including Microsoft Office applications (especially Word and Excel) and Adobe Acrobat.
• Ability to work independently as a motivated self-starter while contributing effectively in collaborative teams.
• Ability to adapt to evolving priorities and organizational needs.
• Experience supporting public-private partnerships, external collaborations, or government-funded programs is a plus.

Special Requirements:

• Visa sponsorship:
  Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:
  For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real  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…