Nuclear Energy Advisor

Overview

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management.

The Nuclear Sciences Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, delivers science and technology innovations for the environment, energy, and national security. At a time when complex challenges are emerging on many fronts, we address some of the most challenging national and international nuclear issues. This includes providing technological solutions that protect the public health and safety around nuclear facilities, developing durable new materials for extreme nuclear environments, innovating new nuclear processes for the safety and security of the nation, and delivering new approaches for accelerating environmental cleanup of nuclear sites. The division’s capabilities and efforts are focused on environmental management of nuclear sites, nuclear regulatory processes, national nuclear security, and advancing nuclear energy.

Responsibilities

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a senior leader to advance its nuclear industry strategy and support its advanced reactor programs. The position will devote approximately up to one-fifth of the time to the nuclear industry subsector and the rest of the time managing advanced reactor programs.

The successful candidate will connect industry and sponsor needs with PNNL capabilities, develop strategic partnerships, and lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver research, development, and deployment outcomes. Working with sector, division, and technical leaders, the individual will translate nuclear industry priorities into funded opportunities while ensuring that advanced reactor programs meet technical, cost, schedule, quality, and sponsor expectations.

Nuclear Industry Strategy

• Up to twenty percent of the position

• Develop and execute an actionable nuclear industry strategy aligned with PNNL sector and division plans. Assess technology, market, policy, and regulatory trends affecting the existing reactor fleet, advanced reactors, nuclear fuels, and associated infrastructure.

• Build and maintain relationships with nuclear technology developers, utilities, suppliers, federal sponsors, national laboratories, and research institutions. Represent PNNL capabilities and priorities with senior industry and government stakeholders.

• Identify and prioritize business opportunities, develop sponsor engagement strategies, lead proposal development, and secure sponsored work in collaboration with sector and project leaders.

• Position PNNL capabilities in materials performance, advanced manufacturing, measurement and control, systems engineering, licensing support, and nuclear material management to address industry needs. Recommend investments in staff, facilities, and partnerships that strengthen the subsector’s long-term impact.

Advanced Reactor Program

• Eighty percent of the position

• Lead planning and execution of assigned advanced reactor programs, establishing integrated scopes, deliverables, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and performance measures. Manage risks, dependencies, and changes, and resolve issues affecting delivery.

• Coordinate technical and project management teams across PNNL, partner laboratories, industry, and government. Integrate research, engineering, procurement, and quality assurance activities with demonstration and deployment objectives.

• Lead internal and external performance reporting, sponsor reviews, and communication of accomplishments, resource needs, and emerging risks. Develop corrective actions and recommendations for program leadership.

• Support the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy and Department of War Advanced Reactor Programs.

• Manage activities addressing advanced reactor development, siting, deployment, redeployment, and decommissioning, including defense applications. Coordinate expertise in regulatory and policy frameworks, transportation and logistics, fuel and spent fuel management, and end-user requirements.

• Work with line managers to obtain qualified staff and resources, mentor technical and project leaders, and promote a collaborative work environment. Ensure assigned work follows applicable safety, security, quality, and compliance requirements.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA in nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, systems engineering, or a related field and 13 years of relevant nuclear energy technology and program development leadership experience -OR-

• MS/MA or higher nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, systems engineering, or a related field and 11 years of relevant nuclear energy technology and program development leadership experience.

• Demonstrated experience in nuclear energy technology and program development leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced reactor program delivery: Demonstrated success managing complex advanced reactor programs involving multiple organizations. Experience executing integrated scopes, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, risk assessments, and sponsor reporting, with a record of delivering technical milestones.

• Demonstration and deployment: Experience coordinating reactor research, engineering, procurement, quality assurance, and demonstration activities. Familiarity with advanced reactor siting, deployment, redeployment, decommissioning, and the operational needs of commercial or defense end users.

• Industry strategy and business development: A record of developing and executing nuclear industry strategies, identifying emerging opportunities, preparing competitive proposals, and securing funding. Ability to translate sponsor needs and market trends into programs that use and expand laboratory capabilities.

• Partnerships and sponsor engagement: Established relationships with nuclear developers, utilities, suppliers, federal agencies, and national laboratories. Experience working with DOE nuclear energy programs, defense sponsors, and private industry.

• Nuclear systems and regulatory understanding: Knowledge of the interfaces among reactor design, fuels, materials performance, manufacturing, instrumentation and control, and licensing. Familiarity with risk-informed or performance-based approaches, transportation, nuclear material management, and the back end of the fuel cycle.

• Relevant program experience: Experience with federal advanced reactor programs or comparable reactor research and demonstration programs. Experience supporting policy or regulatory development for advanced reactor deployment.

• Leadership and communication: Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across organizational boundaries, negotiate priorities, resolve technical and programmatic issues, and mentor staff. Excellent proposal writing, executive briefing, and technical communication skills.

• Strategic and execution judgment: Ability to balance strategy development with direct program delivery and connect long-term capability development with near-term sponsor needs. Experience within the DOE national laboratory system and coordinating resources with line and sector management.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

• Work in radiological areas, including the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory (RPL), requiring applicable training and adherence to facility access, radiation protection, and safety requirements.

• Travel up to 20% of the time to support sponsor engagement, program execution, and collaboration with partner organizations.

Additional Information

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.

A security clearance background investigation includes review of your employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with you and your personal references, neighbors, and co-workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States. The investigation also examines your foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.

Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship

• Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.

• Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months cannot be demonstrated.

Testing Designated Position

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.

About PNNL

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.

Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity

Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at [email protected] .

Drug Free Workplace

PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.

If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements

As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement thereafter, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment. The tier of federal background investigation required to obtain the PIV credential will be determined by job duties at the time you become eligible for the PIV credential.

Mandatory Requirements

Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of employment.

Rockstar Rewards

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

• Research Associates excluded.

**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.

Click Here For Rockstar Rewards (https://careers.pnnl.gov/rockstar-rewards)

Notice to Applicants

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual’s relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.

Minimum Salary

USD $194,900.00/Yr.

Maximum Salary

USD $329,000.00/Yr.