Director Advanced Mobility Program for Advanced Energy Technologies

At Argonne National Laboratory, we work in support of the US Department of Energy’s missions to ensure America’s security and prosperity by pursuing its energy, environmental, and economic opportunities and addressing challenges through transformative science and technology (S&T) solutions. The Advanced Energy Technologies (AET) directorate at Argonne, one of five S&T directorates, seeks to enable a sustainable, secure, and prosperous energy future for the U.S. AET comprises 3 Divisions and several cross-cutting initiatives that are focused on solving the most pressing energy, mobility, materials, and manufacturing challenges using the laboratory’s world-class scientific and engineering expertise and facilities. The AET team collaborates with internal and external partners on cutting-edge research, development, demonstration, and deployment of advanced energy technologies.

Argonne’s advanced mobility program director will be responsible for performing business development and execution for Argonne’s science and engineering contributions across its transportation and mobility topics consistent with Argonne’s strategic goals. The position reports to the Associate Laboratory Director for advanced energy technologies. The person is responsible for laboratory wide coordination, planning, and execution. The responsibility includes business development for government offices and programs and state agencies including U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Transportation section, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), DOE-DOT Joint Office, and state and local organizations that represent transportation systems and systems management, and private industry in the transportation and mobility segments. The position includes facilitation and coordination of business development efforts, coordination of project execution, and coordination with other national laboratories on these described topics. Functions and aspects of the business development efforts can be delegated as needed. The position is expected to coordinate with other laboratory relationship managers to enable synergies where expertise is complimentary.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Develop and grow research and development programs focused on mobility, mobility systems, and components of mobility systems.

• Coordinate across all sponsors (DOE DAS-T including Vehicle Technologies Office, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, Bioenergy Technologies Office, DOE-DOT Joint Office, DOT).

• Support Argonne leadership in developing program engagement strategies and provide input into long range strategies.

• Serve as liaison with government agencies and offices, to ensure optimized, consistent engagement across research efforts, and managing deliverables to ensure projects goals are met on time and within established budget parameters.

• Develop, maintain, and present plans and presentations to inform Argonne management of status and success action plans, including ad hoc updates as appropriate.

• Organize project or program review meetings with federal work sponsors to promote and ensure success of research and development thrusts, including timelines for completion of work and budget status updates.

• Represent Argonne signature strengths and related scientific capabilities related to these programs.

• Identify gaps and/or shortfalls within Argonne’s mobility space and identify solutions to meet the needs of sponsors, to include potential partnerships with other National Laboratories, universities, federal agencies or private industry.

• Build and maintain a working knowledge of appropriate Argonne policies and procedures for formal institutional and DOE approval of proposed work, and management of special project efforts.

• Prepare annual sponsor white paper(s) in coordination with directorate communications staff and Chief Science & Technology Officer.

• Responsible for providing coordination for a major science and technology area consisting of multi-disciplinary activities working directly with Associate Lab Director(s), other senior managers, and key stakeholders across the laboratory.

• Leads coordination of interactions with identified sponsor(s). In partnership with the Associate Laboratory Director, Chief Science and Technology Officer, and other leaders, participates in defining strategic directions in the sponsor(s)’ programmatic domain and contributes to long-range strategic planning. Serve as primary interface for the development and maintenance of funding base to support Argonne R&D research activities with the identified sponsor(s).

• Maintain a strong commitment to the implementation and perpetuation of Argonne Core Values.

Position Requirements

• Advanced degree in a technical discipline or related research field with a minimum of 12 years of experience in program development, research and development, and business development, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience in related activities.  

• Working knowledge of research thrust areas and strategies, and general comprehension of leading-edge research/scientific capabilities. 

• Successful experience in the management or integration of research programs. 

• Demonstrate expertise in strategic planning for program development. 

• Successful applicant must be fluent in English and possess superior interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, along with an ability to work effectively adapt to management of competing program priorities. 

• Possess considerable initiative, artful organizational skills, and the ability to drive convergence and resolution to challenges of substantial importance to Argonne. 

• Demonstrated skills and experience in complicated multi-organizational research, development and demonstration programs and requires the capability to work with researchers and engineers at all experience and educational levels. 

• Skills in developing and maintaining effective relationships with a diverse set of programmatic sponsors, influencing future directions, and pursuing funding opportunities.

• Knowledge of and recognition in one or more technical areas in the relevant sponsor domains.

• Knowledge of laboratory capabilities and the availability and technical skills of personnel required for program development and execution.

• Knowledge of the Laboratory’s organizational structure and funding sources.

• Knowledge of Laboratory and DOE policies and procedures.

• Interpersonal skills and the ability to function effectively either as a leader or team member.

• Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.

• Ability to make our laboratory a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environment where all can thrive.

An on-site presence at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois is preferred. 

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Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

Salary : $184,306 - $299,502