Requisition Id 16471
Overview:
As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems.
We are seeking a Group Leader for Operational Products in the Application Development Division of ORNL’s Information Technology Services Directorate (ITSD). ITSD provides the digital tools, systems, and services that enable ORNL staff to be productively engaged in world-class research and operational excellence.
The Group Leader reports to the Division Director for Application Development and provides strategic and operational leadership for approximately 40 staff organized across four teams: RESolution; Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality; Access; and Facilities & Operations. This role owns the full lifecycle of approximately 50 applications serving various capabilities across ORNL.
This role is at the leading edge of ITSD’s evolution from fragmented applications to standardized strategic platforms—and from static reporting to AI-native, real-time institutional intelligence. As one of three product group leads within the Value Delivery pillar of Application Development, this position is part of ITSD’s mission to move ORNL from hundreds of fragmented, aging applications toward a smaller set of reliable, well-owned products that are faster, safer, and easier to use—contributing directly to ITSD’s role as ORNL’s digital backbone. The role ensures every application in the Knowledge portfolio has a named business owner, a defined lifecycle disposition (Tolerate, Invest, Migrate, or Eliminate), and an auditable compliance posture. The role translates ORNL’s SMART Services strategic objectives into measurable outcomes through product ownership, portfolio rationalization, and continuous modernization—delivering fewer, better products that are faster, safer, and easier to use.
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
Leadership & Strategy:
- Lead, mentor, and develop approximately 40 staff across four teams.
- Establish a clear vision and execution strategy for the Operational Products portfolio aligned with ORNL’s SMART Services objectives and ITSD’s product-aligned operating model.
- Manage group resources, staffing, and the portion of the Application Development division budget allocated to Operational Products, ensuring delivery within defined scope, schedule, and cost parameters.
- Set clear performance goals, provide regular feedback, and drive staff development through coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure all activities are performed safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL’s ESH&Q policies, SBMS requirements, and HR standards.
- Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.
Product Ownership & Portfolio Management:
- Own the full application lifecycle for ~50 Operational Products applications, ensuring each has a named business owner, a documented T.I.M.E. disposition, and a modernization roadmap.
- Build and sustain productive partnerships with business owners across ORNL directorates—particularly ESH&Q and F&O —ensuring application priorities reflect actual operational needs.
- Apply a build-vs-platform discipline to all new demand—evaluating whether enterprise platforms (SharePoint, Power BI, existing collaboration tools) can meet the need before committing to bespoke development, consistent with ITSD’s commitment to reduce portfolio sprawl and redirect technical capacity toward higher-value work.
- Drive portfolio rationalization toward the 25% application reduction target by 2030, identifying consolidation opportunities across duplicative content management and collaboration tools.
- Coordinate with the Transformation Program to ensure 100% of new work requests flow through unified ServiceNow intake, enabling capacity planning and transparent prioritization.
- Provide regular portfolio health reporting to ITSD leadership, including application risk posture, modernization progress, T.I.M.E. disposition status, and alignment to ORNL’s PEMP.
Quality, Experience & Modernization:
- Partner with User Experience & Quality (UXQ) to establish application health scorecards on the portfolio’s highest-impact systems and drive toward the +20 point UX satisfaction improvement target in priority workflows by FY27.
- Champion the Coefficient design system and UX standards within the Knowledge portfolio, ensuring consistent, accessible, and user-centered interfaces.
- Support the 30% feature lead time reduction target by FY27 by adopting standardized technology stacks aligned with Application Architecture guidance.
- Support AI governance by ensuring responsible integration of AI capabilities within knowledge management and analytics applications, aligned with the AI for Operations program.
- Ensure the portfolio maintains compliance with DOE prime contract IT governance and cybersecurity obligations flowing from DOE Orders 200.1A and 205.1D.
Basic Qualifications:
- BS degree in computer science, information technology, software engineering, or a related field.
- 10 years of relevant experience in software development, application management, or IT portfolio management, including at least 3 years in a people-leadership role with hiring, performance management, and team development responsibilities.
- Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of enterprise applications across their full lifecycle, including modernization, rationalization, and retirement.
- Experience managing team budgets, contractor resources, and capacity planning.
- Working knowledge of IT governance frameworks applicable to DOE or federal contractor environments.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in a related field.
- Experience in research, government, or similarly complex stakeholder environments.
- Familiarity with collaboration platforms (SharePoint, Confluence), CMS platforms (Drupal, WordPress), business intelligence tools, and records management systems.
- Experience implementing or governing AI/ML capabilities within enterprise applications.
- Knowledge of design systems, accessibility (Section 508/WCAG compliance), and user experience standards.
- Strong collaboration, communication, and change management skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication and analytical and problem-solving skills.
Special Requirements:
- Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.
For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.
To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes 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) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.
About ORNL
As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.
ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.
Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.
If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov
This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.
We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.
If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.
