Wind Energy Laboratory Program Manager

Posting TitleWind Energy Laboratory Program Manager

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LocationCO - Boulder

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Position TypeRegular

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Hours Per Week40

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Working at NRELNREL’s 305-acre Flatirons Campus is the nation’s premier wind energy, water power, and grid integration research facility. Nestled south of Boulder, Colorado, and north of NREL’s main South Table Mountain campus, Flatirons sits adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and countless acres of open space and parks with stunning views of the Flatirons rock formations.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.

Job Description

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Laboratory is seeking a Laboratory Program Manager (LPM) to coordinate NREL's wind energy activities across the laboratory. NREL’s National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) conducts world-class research in the areas of wind energy and energy integration and is situated in Boulder,Colorado where this position will be located. This position reports to the Associate Lab Director of the Mechanical & Thermal Engineering Science Directorate but will be based at NREL's Flatirons Campus in Boulder, Colorado.

Specific duties related to this position include:

• Manage all aspects of NREL’s relationship with DOE in the Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO), maintain a strategic partnership with WETO, and achieve a high level of customer satisfaction by WETO.
• Lead all aspects of NREL’s wind energy program activities, including long-term strategic planning and development of project plans, new project proposal/development, and a comprehensive Annual Operating Plan (AOP).
• Team with NREL Centers and Offices, particularly the National Wind Technology Center, to ensure distinctive core competencies and effective resource planning and allocation that contribute to the WETO mission, including operation and enhancement of DOE’s world-class research infrastructure at the Flatirons Campus. 
• Manage NREL’s broad wind energy research, development, and deployment (RD&D) portfolio, cross-cutting activities, project management, and operations support to ensure a balanced and integrated portfolio, to efficiently and effectively plan, integrate, implement, control, report, and market NREL’s work activities in accordance with the annual operating plan (AOP) and multiyear plans, and to provide strategic support to WETO and other DOE national laboratories and strategic partners supporting the wind energy program.
• Provide expert direction for staff working on complex and impactful program assignments and issues.
• Oversee new budget authority from WETO that exceeds $30 million annually.
• Coordinate NREL’s response to all wind-related Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) and Lab Calls for which NREL is eligible to submit proposals to the EERE WETO and associated DOE offices.
• Support NREL Center Directors to ensure compliance with NREL health, safety, and environmental policies and procedures to maintain a safe work environment.
• Partner with relevant NREL Associate Lab Directors (ALD), Centers and NREL Business Development Managers to advance NREL’s Laboratory Agenda and develop impactful industry partnerships in wind energy RD&D that are aligned with WETO priorities and leverage EERE investments.
• Maintain effective relationships with U.S. and international research organizations, universities, and industry partners.
• Provide final approval of all proposals submitted to EERE WETO FOAs and Lab Calls to ensure technical quality and eliminate potential duplication with existing AOP work.
• Approve NREL’s wind energy publications to ensure a rigorous review process, further the laboratory's mission, ensure effective use of federal funds, and protect NREL’s intellectual property, information, reputation, and relationships.
• Coordinate activities and collaborate with other DOE national laboratories supporting WETO.
• Interact effectively with industry, universities, states, associations and other federal agencies to represent NREL in WETO-related matters and develop/strengthen relationships with external stakeholders.
• Provide technical and programmatic leadership in growing the wind energy program with DOE and non-DOE program/partners.
• Plan, arrange, and host visits and meetings at NREL by DOE-EERE-WETO program managers, industry representatives, and university teams to strengthen relationships and enhance NREL’s WETO program.
• Provide expert knowledge of wind energy and related disciplines, industry, and market.

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Basic QualificationsRelevant PhD and 9 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 12 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 14 or more years of experience.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Often exhibits an exceptional degree of ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically considering the big picture and effectively lead strategic planning whilst building consensus towards a vision and strategy.
• Expert knowledge within wind energy research.
• Outstanding interpersonal, conflict resolution, teaming and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and oversee complex and high-impact technical programs, and to design/implement effective work breakdown structures with an effective hierarchy of task leaders, project leaders, and sub-program managers.
• Ability to propose and develop new/novel concepts and approaches where little or no precedents exist.
• Ability to make difficult decisions and capable of working independently when needed.
• Highly effective teaming skills, including a proven ability to form and lead high-impact, cross-organizational teams.
• NREL LPMs must be able to work effectively with NREL Executive Management, Center/Office Directors, other LPMs, and the leadership and technical staff at DOE EERE and WETO.
• Moderate travel may be required in this position, including frequent travel to Washington DC.
• This position requires an onsite hybrid work arrangement in Boulder,CO and is not open to remote applicants.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding and application of project management principles, concepts, practices and standards. 
• Deep knowledge of technical field and related disciplines. Understands the context within which the program is conducted and how outcomes contribute to the customer's success. 
• Previous experience working within a national laboratory
• Familiarity and experience with international peer wind energy research institutions

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)Job Profile: Laboratory Program Manager II / Annual Salary Range: $165,100 - $297,200

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits SummaryBenefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging RequirementNREL 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 required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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