Group Leader - Power Systems Resilience

Requisition Id 12697 

Overview: 

We are seeking a senior scientist or engineer to lead world class capabilities related to the energy science and technology associated with the ORNL and DOE mission.  Selection will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, skills, and education.

This position is within the Electrification and Energy Infrastructure Division (EEID), which houses the Grid Research Integration and Deployment Center (GRID-C) and stand-alone, intra-laboratory, and multi-laboratory research, including research supporting DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE), Office of Cybersecurity, Grid Deployment Office (GDO), Energy Security and Emergency Response (CESER) and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) on the electricity grid’s resilience and reliability, grid modeling and analysis, integration of new technologies, and identifying and validating new ways of using existing grid assets to ensure grid reliability, resilience, environmental stewardship, and affordability of energy supplies. The Power Systems Resilience (PSR) group conducts modeling, analysis and R&D specifically related to the grid and applies expertise to other technologies and generation assets, such as renewables, to develop and evaluate options and methodologies for operations, dispatch, and planning.

We are seeking a highly talented individual to lead the Power Systems Resilience (PSR) Group.  This group conducts transformational research and development for energy security and resilience through advancement of modeling, simulation, and real-time monitoring of the electric grid, develops advanced protective relay technologies, and performs leading-edge research in grid waveform analytics. The PSR Group utilizes the 52,000 square foot GRID-C to design and implement innovation solutions for energy infrastructures.

Purpose:

Provide leadership to the group that strategically advances science and technology consistent with ORNL’s aspiration to be the world’s premier R&D institution and ORNL’s science culture.

The Group Leader brings together a group of peers with the primary goal of pursuing global scientific and engineering leadership in their field, nurtures ORNL’s culture among group members, and continues to build and scale up individual excellence and impact in research and development. The Group Leader reports to and works closely with the Section Head to implement the group’s scientific vision; develops group members to enable their career advancement; establishes capabilities that enable programs to excel at the forefront of science and technology; performs R&D to advance the field of knowledge and/or technology in one’s respective specialty; sets, implements, and models standards for performance of work consistent with Environment, Safety, Security, Health, and Quality (ESH&Q) requirements and business rules; and ensures a diverse and inclusive work environment where every employee feels safe, heard, and appreciated—a workplace that sets an example for the broader community.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

Research:

The successful scientific or engineering candidate is a recognized leader in broad areas of national power grid analysis. The successful candidate will initiate, lead, and perform independent R&D on an on-going basis, and should have a depth of experience in the PSR specific research areas:

• National energy infrastructure security & interdependency modeling
• Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) modeling, simulation, and tool development
• Advanced Protective Relaying research and development
• Grid Waveform Data Analytics

Leadership:

• Develop a vision and implement a cohesive group research strategy to ensure the success of new and ongoing research projects to position the group for future success.
• Develop and implement plans to exploit new opportunities and/or expand existing efforts including providing leadership and strategic direction of concept papers, proposals, presentations, and the ability to communicate the groups vision and capabilities to broad and diverse audiences
• Assist staff in setting performance goals consistent with the group’s strategy and members’ long-term career goals. Provide feedback to address performance issues in a timely manner.
• Provide relevant input to assist the R&D Section Head with staff development while providing direct and impactful guidance to staff on regular basis.
• Attract a quality, diverse pool of top candidates and hire staff members who are committed to world-class R&D and aspire to be the best in their field.
• Lead by example by exercising the principles in ORNL’s “Research Code of Conduct” as a guide for proposing, performing, and communicating research.
• Coach and mentor staff regarding Battelle’s “Safe Conduct of Research” principles
• Lead ESH&Q by example and ensure all work is carried out safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL policies, standards, and procedures.
• Exemplify a commitment to “One ORNL” by modeling lab expectations for excellence in research, operations, and community engagement, and by working cooperatively to leverage capabilities across the lab.

Service:

• Serve as immediate supervisor for staff members in group.
• Encourage staff to “think and dream big,” take appropriate risks in their work, and develop skills that will enable them to pursue new ideas, scientific passions, and research programs.
• Advance the reputation of the group members and standing of the group as a whole through establishing collaborations, Professional Society leadership and involvement, and organization of technical events.
• Support group members by consistently reviewing technical products such as proposals, publications, and artifacts to ensure high quality and consistency with ORNL standards.
• Build strong teams across ORNL.
• Connect staff to your scientific network and professional societies.
• Hold regular scientific/technical group meetings and be visible in the labs and workplace.
• Assume front-line responsibility for safety in the group’s laboratory; mentor and empower the Laboratory Space Managers to create a strong safety culture.
• Effectively communicate the importance of protecting proprietary or sensitive information and complying with ORNL cybersecurity policies and guidelines.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• Requires a Ph.D. with a minimum of 6 years relevant experience or a M.S. with a minimum of 12 years relevant experience.
• Must have demonstrated experience in leading R&D teams.
• Must have significant practical or research experience in the areas of bulk-grid modeling, electromagnetic transient simulation and research, advanced protection systems, and grid waveform data analytics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to lead and support multi organizational R&D projects
• Experienced in grid operations, planning, integration of new energy technologies, evaluation of strategic cost-benefit, and ability to understand and develop creative- out of the box solutions and apply new thinking to a problem.
• Experience working with DOE offices including OE, GDO, CESER, and EERE.
• Extensive academic and industry network including vendors, utilities, trade organizations, and international organizations.
• Experience working with policy issues related to the energy industry
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory. 
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• Must be eligible to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.

Accountabilities:

• To group staff, for the quality and safety of their work environment and opportunity for professional growth.
• To section head, for world-leading science and technology directions, safe effective, and compliant operations, ownership of assigned staff, facilities, and equipment, and the quality of products and services.
• To customer, for the quality of products and service. 

Authorities:

• Develop a vision and implement a strategy to pursue world-leading science and technology directions for the group.
• Hold staff accountable for performance.
• Act to ensure safe and effective operations.
• Hire staff.
• Certify the technical quality of the group’s products and services.

 
For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the “About” tab at jobs.ornl.gov.

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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 [email protected].

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.