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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 Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate (EBSD) leads critical research in four areas: Atmospheric, Climate & Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Molecular Sciences, and Global Change. Our vision is to develop a predictive understanding of biological and Earth systems in transition. We aim to understand energy and material flows within the integrated Earth system; to understand, predict, and control the response of biosystems to environmental and/or genomic changes; and to   Model the Earth system from the subsurface to the atmosphere.

The Biological Sciences Division has 17 collaborative, interdisciplinary biology-based teams to tackle major challenges in ecosystem sustainability, bioenergy, human health, and national security. Teams use unique field sites, advanced instrumentation, and integrated computational approaches to explore molecular-scale processes. Strategic efforts focus on advancing molecular measurement capabilities, uncovering the structure and function of molecular dark matter, identifying control points in complex systems, and developing domain-aware AI to accelerate discovery and hypothesis-driven research.

Responsibilities

PNNL stewards the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility ( www.arm.gov ), one of the world’s premier atmospheric research facilities. ARM has produced more than 30 years of continuous, globally extensive atmospheric measurements to benefit the global scientific community.

ARM provides critical measurements of clouds, aerosols, precipitation, radiation, and other atmospheric parameters across a network of fixed ground observatories (in the U.S. Southern Great Plains, the North Slope of Alaska, and the Eastern North Atlantic), mobile field observational facilities to sample additional diverse meteorological regimes, and from aerial measurement platforms that complement the ground-based observatories. Through its high-performance computing, data analytics, and modeling capabilities, ARM transforms raw observations into community-accessible data products and large-eddy simulations, enabling scientists around the world to better understand atmospheric processes, improve Earth system models, and estimate impacts to energy systems and resilience.

The **ARM Director** reports to the Associate Laboratory Director for Earth and Biological Sciences and provides overall scientific leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the ARM enterprise, which spans a consortium of nine DOE National Laboratories. The Director guides scientific priorities; leads complex operations across multiple observatories and platforms (ground-, mobile-, and aerial-based); stewards data quality and critical infrastructure; and collaborates closely with DOE, other DOE user facilities, national laboratories, academic institutions, and the broader scientific community. This role requires strong scientific credibility, a forward-looking scientific vision, and demonstrated organizational leadership and management acumen to advance ARM’s mission, ensure sustainable operations, and deliver high-impact science and capabilities.

Job Duties:

+ **Strategic Science Vision and Direction:** Provide strategic science leadership to define and advance ARM’s scientific mission and vision in the context of evolving atmospheric research challenges within the context of the broader DOE Office of Science mission.

+ The new Director will also play a central role in developing and executing ARM’s new 10-year strategic plan, working in close collaboration with the Atmospheric research community, ARM staff, and the Department of Energy Office of Science program sponsors.

+ **Operational Stewardship:** Coordinate ARM facility operations, including fixed observatories, mobile facilities, aerial platforms, instrumentation, data services, modeling, and computing infrastructure, along with coordination of ARM operations, development, and planning activities across the 9-lab consortia.

+ Working with the Associate Director for Operations, the ARM Director provides oversight of field operations including the review and implementation of field campaigns. These include deployment of the ARM mobile facilities to locations around the world.

+ A key strategic responsibility of the Director is to lead the alignment of organizational and operational structures to effectively integrate and sustain ARM’s expanding aerial capabilities, including a highly instrumented unmanned aerial system (UAS) and the uniquely modified crewed research aircraft – a Challenger 850.

+ Working with the Associate Director for Research, the ARM Director provides oversight of R&D and new capability development including the procurement and modification of instrumentation as well as software development in support of operations and data products.

+ Foster a sense of community by ensuring collaboration and coordination with the approximately 300 ARM staff distributed across nine DOE laboratories and other institutions.

+ **Data Management:** Ensure ARM produces high-quality, reliable, and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data products for the global research community.

+ **Resource Allocation:** Optimize and direct resource planning and allocation, budgeting, procurements, and property and instrument management.

+ Including annual operational execution of atmospheric user research, facility management and operations including data archive and products maintenance, as well as forward looking premier research capability building and sustainment through internal S&T R&D.

+ **Stakeholder and Community Engagement:** Engage with the user community by coordinating advisory groups, organizing workshops, reviewing proposals for field campaigns, managing user calls, and maintaining a science-forward, welcoming culture that supports innovation and access. Represent ARM to DOE leadership, funding sponsors, the ARM User Executive Committee and external stakeholders and communicate scientific achievements, facility status, and future directions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

+ A strong record of scientific leadership and excellence in atmospheric science, environmental science, Earth system science, or related fields.

+ Knowledge of atmospheric observations, instrumentation, remote sensing, data management, or computational modeling.

+ Demonstrated ability to develop and implement a strategic vision, organizational agility, and capacity to lead complex operations and long-term planning.

+ Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders and sponsors.

+ Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

+ Experience in operations, deployment, and sustainment of ground-based meteorological instrumentation and advanced aerial atmospheric measurement platforms, for example unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and crewed aircraft within DOE aviation requirements.

+ A demonstrated commitment to collaboration, transparency, and scientific openness.

+ Passion for facilitating broad community access to data and enabling impactful science at national and international scales.

+ Ability to travel to ARM field sites, including areas in remote locations with potentially extreme physical conditions.

+ Project management experience including development of budgets and schedules.

+ Knowledge of and commitment to best practices in human performance, safety, security, quality, environment and health.

+ Strong communication skills and the ability to foster the flow of information in all directions in the organization.

+ Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

+ Excellent listening skills and the ability to build effective relationships vertically and horizontally in a complex highly matrixed organization.

+ Skills in creating and articulating a strategic vision and developing, motivating, and empowering staff in executing on the vision.

+ The ability to create a positive learning environment in which all staff can excel.

+ The temperament and desire to encourage and support teamwork and positively motivate the members of the technical groups.

+ The ability to interact at the highest level of management, both internally and externally, in a constructive and collaborative manner and in way that appropriately represents the Laboratory.

+ The ability to interact effectively with funding agencies (DOE) and other national and international research agencies.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

+ BS/BA and 10 years of relevant experience -OR-

+ MS/MA or higher and 8 years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science or a related discipline.

+ 10 years of technical program management experience.

+ Demonstrated experience managing large, distributed, multi-institutional research or technical programs.

+ Experience in direct and matrix line management of technical, scientific, and operational personnel.

+ Experience managing large scale projects on the order of $80-$100M annually.

+ Knowledge of DOE, specifically BER, research priorities and sponsor relationships.

+ Experience with ES&H compliance and oversight of laboratory operations.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Not Applicable

Testing Designated Position

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

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 $177,900.00/Yr.

Maximum Salary

USD $266,900.00/Yr.