Energy-Water Research and Partnerships Lead

Requisition  Overview:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a well-recognized and highly collaborative Energy-Water Research and Partnerships Lead to provide scientific and strategic leadership at the intersection of energy and water systems. As a senior consultant, the successful candidate will grow and manage a robust portfolio of technical projects; establish strong, long-term working relationships with government, industry, utilities, academic institutions, community partners, and other stakeholders;

and apply advanced scientific and engineering insights to develop practical, real‑world solutions for complex energy‑water challenges.

This position will guide technical strategy and partnership efforts that address the interconnected challenges of energy production, water availability and quality, infrastructure reliability, climate resilience, environmental stewardship, and the equitable deployment of advanced technologies. The Energy-Water Lead will identify emerging engineering and operational opportunities, secure and manage major technical initiatives, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and serve as a trusted technical authority and external representative for ORNL.The

ideal candidate brings exceptional technical expertise in energy‑water systems along with a strong history of building collaborations across multiple organizations, securing and managing sponsored technical programs, mentoring engineering and scientific staff, and conveying complex technical insights to policy, technical, and general audiences.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

Strategic Technical Leadership Define and drive a nationally and internationally influential technical strategy for energy‑water systems, aligned with ORNL’s mission, sponsor priorities, and stakeholder needs.

Lead original, high‑impact technical work in areas such as energy‑water systems engineering, water use in energy infrastructure, water treatment and reuse technologies, desalination systems, hydropower and cooling innovations, grid‑water interactions, industrial water solutions, climate‑resilient infrastructure, or related fields.

Grow and sustain a strong, externally funded portfolio of technical programs, including major multi‑year and multi‑institutional engineering initiatives.

Identify emerging technology, market, policy, and deployment opportunities that advance sustainable, resilient, affordable, and equitable energy‑water systems.

Guide the development of technical roadmaps, engineering strategies, proposals, white papers, and investment priorities.

Partnership Development and External Engagement Build and sustain strategic partnerships with federal, state, tribal, and local governments; energy and water utilities; industry; universities; national laboratories; nonprofit organizations; and community stakeholders.

Serve as a principal technical representative in high-level stakeholder discussions, workshops, advisory groups, professional societies, and conferences.

Develop technical collaboration agreements, consortia, and demonstration partnerships that advance solutions from concept to validation, deployment, and operational impact.

Support productive engagement among partners with differing priorities, ensuring all activities are technically rigorous, transparent, and responsive to stakeholder needs.

Communicate technical findings and strategic recommendations clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences, including sponsors and senior leaders.

Program and Team Leadership Lead and mentor interdisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, analysts, project managers, and early‑career technical professionals.

Provide technical review, quality assurance, and strategic oversight across energy‑water technical programs.

Manage…