Research Operations Manager

Operations Manager

The Energy and Environment Directorate (EED) is hiring an Operations Manager with experience in a research and development environment. The primary role of the EED Operations Office is to enable effective, efficient and safe research in support of the EED mission. This is achieved by partnering with the M&O organizations in integrating operational capabilities, requirements, and solutions into research activities.

Major challenges of this position include being able to bridge successfully between EED mission execution and the operational expectations and requirements of doing business at PNNL, responding 24/7 to events and issues, staying abreast of organizational and Lab level changes to requirements and assuring communications are effectively carried out related to the changes. This is an ever-changing work environment, where the expectation is to be able to think strategically and anticipate upcoming impacts and risks, while responding to day to day needs of the directorate.

The successful candidate will work effectively with the research organization to help enable effective mentoring of staff to assure safe, effective, and compliant operations.

The Operations Manager reports to the EED Chief Operating Officer and has day-to-day interface with all levels of Line Management and Project Management Office Directors to provide guidance and support on all manner of operational topics. The incumbent works with little or no direction and has the latitude to make decisions on behalf of the EED organization. Many of the assignments are self-initiated after identification of an operational risk or condition that must be mitigated.

The incumbent may work on large, longer term tasks or short discreet tasks, either of which may be at differing complexities, risk and impact. They will be a task lead on operational initiatives as assigned by the EED Chief Operating Officer or other EED senior managers.

The Operations Manager is considered an expert with respect to Environment Safety & Health (ES&H), Facilities & Operations (F&O) and Security related processes, procedures and requirements. The incumbent is expected to lead by effectively influencing management and staff at all levels.

• Leads scientific, technology and engineering vision, strategy development and execution.
• Includes responsibility for the conception of, development of, and execution of internal investments to advance strategic objectives.
• Provides input into capability and infrastructure needs for areas of responsibility.
• Provides leadership for assigned areas in growing new business and maintaining and expanding existing business.
• Responsible to develop and maintain strong relationships with assigned sponsors.
• Management of Research Operations budget.
• Support and strengthen the safety culture of the organization through reinforcement of the Safe Conduct of Research (SCoR) principles.
• Oversight and day-to-day leadership of ES&H and Quality subject matter experts.
• Management of a team of full-time staff in the Operations office and oversight and direction matrixed support staff.
• Operational Performance Management, including planning and execution of the Annual EED Operations Performance/Assessment Plan and EED Operations Strategic Plan.
• Providing guidance and oversight to cognizant space managers.
• Assuring operational excellence via anticipation and communication of requirements, identification and mitigation of previously unidentified critical, high risk issues, strategic awareness, influencing operational culture and having a presence and demonstrating leadership within EED and across the Laboratory.
• Facilitation and resolution of issues via advocacy for EED staff & Management, and for Support Organizations, analysis of options, recommendations, maintaining situational awareness, communication, coordination, continuity and consistency.
• Operational event recovery, including the conduct of critiques, cause analyses, extent of condition and cause, corrective action planning, effectiveness reviews and lessons learned.
• Facilities & Infrastructure support, including:
  Participation in F&I planning, preparation of F&I Requests, identification of opportunities, POC for tactical move requests and coordination.
• Developing creative or unique solutions to highly complex problems for which no precedents or past practices exist.
• The incumbent is accountable to the EED Management team and EED staff for execution of responsibilities and to M&O Lab management for integration of M&O expectations.

Job Duties/Expectations:

• The primary role of the EED Operations Office is to integrate operational capabilities, requirements, and solutions across EED and the Support Organizations to enable and enhance effective and efficient project execution in support of the EED mission.
• Additionally, the incumbent must be viewed as an expert in the operational arena. They must be able to lead by effectively influencing management and staff at all levels, both internally and externally. The…