Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Materials, Manufacturing, and Bioenergy Science & Technology Department Manager to work in our Energy, Environment, Science & Technology (EES&T) Directorate. Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of our Idaho Falls facility with every other Friday off. You will lead the Mineral & Molecular Separations & Analysis Department in the Energy, Environment, Science and Technology (EES&T) Directorate. The Mineral & Molecular Separations and Analysis Department conducts basic and applied R&D and maintains leadership in the development of critical and strategic materials technological solutions for government and private sponsors. Core competencies exist in geological sciences, subsurface modeling, geothermal science and engineering, chemical and molecular sciences, chemical engineering, separations science and technology, analytical sciences, nanomaterials sciences and engineering, process chemistry, catalysis, electrochemistry, polymer sciences, and water research. Responsibilities: - Collaborate with the critical and strategic materials leadership team to develop and implement the business strategy for the critical materials program. This role involves executing business and technical strategies to drive program growth, sustain core competencies, expand capabilities, and lead technical initiatives in coordination with industry, academia, national laboratories, and internal departments. - Maintain and update a talent acquisition plan—covering succession planning, required competencies, and recruitment targets—and ensuring department capabilities are aligned with evolving business goals. This encompasses research and personnel spaces, facility resources, and equipment. - Ensures the department’s core competencies and scientific capabilities are maintained and expanded to support new R&D and business opportunities. They promote innovation, integrate emerging technologies, and foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, inclusion, and research excellence. They also have discretion to pursue new research avenues and partnerships that advance business objectives and deliver technical solutions to DOE, DOD, and private sector clients. - Oversee resource allocation and project performance, coordinating with other managers to meet cross-functional goals. They ensure R&D activities are staffed with qualified personnel and supported by adequate infrastructure. As Funds Manager for over 50 research projects, they provide oversight, mentorship to Principal Investigators, and ensure responsible use of public and private funds to meet programmatic milestones and deliverables. - Lead efforts to attract, retain, and develop top-tier talent, including internal growth initiatives. This involves close collaboration with HR personnel (e.g., recruiters, compensation specialists, onboarding staff) and EES&T management. - Recruit and mentor lead professionals, provide guidance to interns and staff at all levels, and model excellence in mentoring and talent development. The Manager fosters a robust talent pipeline and promotes a culture of professional growth. - Ensure staff understand how to realistically plan, estimate, document, and communicate programmatic scope, schedule, and budget within the DOE national laboratory framework. This includes instruction on roles and responsibilities of support staff and systems such as Planning & Financial Controls, Proposal Coordinator, Procurement, Environmental, and Research Operations. - Conducts performance reviews, evaluates merit, and guides professional development, particularly for early-career staff. They help staff set and achieve career goals, articulate advancement expectations, and provide constructive feedback. In coordination with HR, the HR Business Partner, and the Division Director, they manage hiring, promotion, termination, and disciplinary actions. - Set standards for professional conduct and lead by example. They oversee the quality of all technical outputs—proposals, white papers, presentations, publications, and reports—and ensure excellence across deliverables. Additionally, they identify and assign required training to ensure safe and compliant execution of programmatic activities. - Oversee departmental assets and resources, including budgets, research and office spaces, equipment, personnel, and overall capabilities. They provide strategic leadership in planning and optimizing resource utilization to support departmental and divisional programmatic missions. - Champion the Safe Conduct of Research, lead by example, and ensure safe and compliant execution of research activities. This includes reviewing Work Control documents, coordinating with EES&T Laboratory Managers and Research Operations SMEs, and clearly communicating safety expectations to staff. - Regularly reports departmental achievements to the Division Director and EES&T Research Excellence staff, contributes to PEMP Notables and Milestones, and delivers quarterly updates to DOE-ID Technology Managers on relevant business activities. - Conduct department-wide meetings, one-on-one staff engagements, and walk-downs of research spaces to assess readiness and alignment with programmatic goals. They ensure compliance with company policies, monitor use of public and private resources, and review staff activities to maintain alignment with programmatic scope, implementing course corrections as needed. - Routine administrative responsibilities include approving travel, timecards, procurements, subcontracts, joint appointments, and security plans in support of departmental operations
