Accelerator Division Director

Brookhaven National Laboratory; Ridge (NY); On-site; USD 210,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

Brookhaven National Laboratory seeks an Accelerator Division Director to lead a 75-person multidisciplinary team and drive the long-term strategy for RHIC and future EIC readiness. The role requires shaping organizational priorities, managing a $60 million annual budget, and aligning activities with DOE priorities and project objectives.

The Director will partner with Project leadership, ensure safety and reliability, and advance modernization efforts while sustaining scientific operations and

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Physics, Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience in accelerator science, engineering, or operation of complex scientific facilities, including at least eight (8) years in leadership roles.
• Proven track record delivering safe, reliable accelerator facility operations with compliance to safety and conduct requirements.
• Experience managing accelerator infrastructure modernization initiatives and lifecycle replacement.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and engage senior leadership and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, scientific, technical, operational, and financial leadership for the Accelerator Division.
• Align Division activities with Laboratory priorities, DOE mission, and EIC project objectives.
• Direct operations planning, maintenance, and outage coordination to maximize facility availability.
• Lead organizational development, governance processes, and performance metrics.
• Partner with EIC Project leadership to ensure smooth transition from RHIC to EIC commissioning and ongoing operations.
• Oversee stewardship of accelerator infrastructure, utilities, and facility assets.
• Represent the Division in interactions with DOE officials, leadership, and user communities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational excellence

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in Physics, Engineering, or related discipline

Job description

Brookhaven National Laboratory is entering a transformative period as the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) transitions to support the commissioning and operation of the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), a next-generation scientific user facility that will enable groundbreaking discoveries into the fundamental structure of matter. The Accelerator Division plays a critical role in this transition by ensuring the reliability, readiness, modernization, and long-term operation of the accelerator complex that will support the EIC scientific mission for decades to come.

The Accelerator Division, within the Fundamental Interactions and Particles (FIP) Directorate, is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation, maintenance, and modernization of the existing accelerator complex, including the hadron injector chain and RHIC infrastructure that will form the foundation of future EIC operations. The Division provides the operational stewardship, technical expertise, and infrastructure management necessary to maintain world-class accelerator performance while preparing the complex for EIC commissioning and long-term scientific operations.

Position Summary

The Accelerator Division Director serves as a key member of the Fundamental Interactions and Particles (FIP) Directorate leadership team and is responsible for aligning Division activities with Laboratory priorities, EIC project objectives, and Department of Energy mission requirements.

The Accelerator Division consists of approximately 75 scientific, engineering, technical, and operations professionals and manages an annual operating budget of approximately $60 million. The Director reports to the Associate Laboratory Director for the Fundamental Interactions and Particles Directorate and works closely with EIC Project leadership, Technical Division leadership, Laboratory management, user communities, and funding agencies to ensure successful delivery of the Laboratory's accelerator operations mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Direction

• Provide overall scientific, technical, operational, and strategic leadership for the Division, ensuring alignment with the Lab’s strategic objectives, the Fundamental Interactions and Particles (FIP) Directorate, the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) Project, and the U.S. Department of Energy mission.
• Develop and communicate a long-term vision for the Division that advances operational excellence while positioning the accelerator complex for successful EIC commissioning and sustained scientific operations.
• Establish organizational priorities, performance expectations, governance processes, and management systems that enable effective execution of Division responsibilities.
• Serve as a member of the FIP Directorate leadership team, contributing to Laboratory-wide planning, resource allocation, strategic initiatives, and institutional decision-making.
• Identify emerging scientific, operational, and technological opportunities and develop strategies that strengthen the Laboratory's accelerator capabilities and long-term competitiveness.

Accelerator Operations and Operational Excellence

• Provide executive leadership for the safe, reliable, secure, and efficient operation of the RHIC accelerator complex, hadron injector chain, and supporting accelerator infrastructure.
• Ensure accelerator systems consistently achieve operational availability, reliability, performance, and readiness objectives required to support scientific programs and future EIC operations.
• Direct operational planning, scheduling, maintenance, outage coordination, and recovery activities to maximize facility availability while minimizing operational risk.
• Foster a culture of operational discipline, continuous improvement, accountability, and excellence consistent with DOE Conduct of Operations principles.
• Establish and monitor operational performance metrics, key performance indicators, and reliability measures to evaluate Division effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.

EIC Transition and Operational Readiness

• Partner closely with the EIC Project, Technical Division, and other Laboratory organizations to ensure successful transition from RHIC operations to EIC commissioning and long-term operations.
• Develop and execute operational readiness strategies supporting installation, integration, commissioning, startup, and sustained operation of EIC accelerator systems.
• Ensure operational procedures, staffing models, maintenance programs, infrastructure capabilities, and technical competencies evolve to meet future EIC operational requirements.
• Coordinate operational interfaces among project organizations, facility operations, engineering, maintenance, and scientific stakeholders to ensure seamless transition activities.

Infrastructure Stewardship and Asset Management

• Provide executive oversight for stewardship of accelerator infrastructure, utilities, technical systems, and facility assets essential to accelerator operations.
• Develop and implement long-term infrastructure modernization strategies that improve system reliability, resilience, maintainability, and operational performance.
• Direct lifecycle asset management programs, including reliability engineering, preventive and predictive maintenance, equipment replacement planning, configuration management, and infrastructure renewal.
• Prioritize capital investments and modernization initiatives that support long-term operational sustainability and scientific mission requirements.
• Ensure infrastructure investments are aligned with Laboratory priorities, budget constraints, risk management objectives, and future EIC operational needs.

Engineering, Maintenance, and Reliability

• Oversee accelerator maintenance, engineering support, and reliability improvement programs that maximize equipment performance and operational availability.
• Promote implementation of reliability-centred maintenance principles, asset health monitoring, predictive maintenance technologies, and data-driven operational decision-making.
• Ensure effective planning and execution of maintenance outages, equipment refurbishment, system upgrades, and lifecycle replacement activities.
• Evaluate operational risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize unplanned downtime and improve accelerator reliability.

Safety, Security, and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all Division activities are conducted in accordance with Laboratory policies and applicable Department of Energy requirements governing safety, environmental protection, quality assurance, cybersecurity, and Conduct of Operations.
• Maintain a strong safety culture that emphasizes personal responsibility, operational discipline, hazard recognition, continuous learning, and proactive risk management.

Financial and Resource Management

• Direct the planning, management, and stewardship of the Division's approximately $60 million annual operating budget.
• Develop multi-year operating plans that align financial resources with strategic priorities, operating requirements, infrastructure investments, and workforce needs.

Workforce Leadership and Organizational Development

• Lead, inspire, and develop a multidisciplinary workforce of approximately 75 scientific, engineering, technical, and operations professionals.
• Build a high-performing organization that values collaboration, accountability, innovation, inclusion, operational excellence, and continuous learning.
• Partner with HR to develop workforce strategies supporting recruitment, retention, succession planning, leadership development, knowledge transfer, and technical capability growth.
• Mentor future scientific, technical, and organizational leaders while fostering employee engagement and professional development.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative work environment that encourages diverse perspectives and supports organizational excellence.

Scientific and Technical Leadership

• Provide scientific and technical guidance supporting accelerator operations, modernization efforts, and future technology development.
• Maintain awareness of emerging accelerator technologies, operational practices, and industry best practices to enhance Division capabilities.
• Encourage innovation, research, and technical collaboration that improve accelerator performance, operational efficiency, and future facility capabilities.

Stakeholder Engagement and External Relations

• Represent the Division and the Laboratory in interactions with Department of Energy officials, Laboratory leadership, advisory committees, user communities, collaborating institutions, professional organizations, and external stakeholders.
• Prepare and deliver executive-level briefings, technical presentations, strategic reports, and organizational updates to senior leadership and external sponsors.
• Support reviews, audits, advisory committee meetings, and program evaluations by effectively communicating Division performance, strategic direction, and operational priorities.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ph.D. in Physics, Engineering, or a closely related scientific or technical discipline.

Minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience in accelerator science, accelerator engineering, or operation of complex scientific facilities, including at least eight (8) years of leadership, management, and supervisory experience within a Department of Energy laboratory, major scientific user facility, or equivalent research or technical organization.

Demonstrated success leading and managing large, mission-driven scientific, technical, engineering, and operational organizations, including responsibility for strategic planning, workforce management, fiscal oversight, and organizational performance.

Proven record of delivering safe, reliable, and efficient accelerator facility operations while maintaining compliance with applicable safety, environmental, and Conduct of Operations requirements.

Demonstrated experience managing accelerator infrastructure modernization initiatives, reliability improvement programs, lifecycle replacement activities, and long-term asset stewardship for complex technical systems.

Demonstrated experience developing and implementing operational readiness, maintenance, and reliability strategies that support high-performance scientific facilities.

Internationally recognized accomplishments in accelerator physics, accelerator engineering, accelerator operations, or a closely related discipline, as evidenced by scientific publications, technical achievements, invited presentations, professional recognition, and leadership within the accelerator community.

Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and achieve organizational objectives through effective staff development, collaboration, consensus building, strategic decision-making, and resolution of complex technical and operational challenges.

Experience engaging effectively with senior laboratory leadership, funding agencies, advisory committees, user communities, and external stakeholders while representing organizational priorities and institutional interests.

Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences and develop executive-level presentations, reports, and strategic recommendations.

Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing workplace culture that supports employee engagement, professional development, and organizational excellence.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. Department of Energy programs, policies, and the mission, operations, governance, and management of National Laboratories and large scientific user facilities.
• Familiarity with DOE project management requirements, including DOE Order 413.3B, Critical Decision processes, project governance, risk management, and project performance management systems.
• Experience supporting the design, commissioning, operation, maintenance, or modernization of hadron accelerators, collider facilities, injector complexes, or other large-scale accelerator systems.

Other Information:

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, as required.
• This is an on-site position.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualifications, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to employee success and we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Review more information at BNL | Benefits Program

Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory – view more information atwww.bnl.gov/real-id . This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federalREAL ID Act . Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews.

As a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory requires employees to obtain and maintain a DOE Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) credential in accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) requirements. The credentialing process is completed as part of onboarding and enables access to DOE facilities and information systems. As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a UPIV credential. These requirements are established under DOE Order 206.2 Chg. 2, Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM- Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) ), and DOE Order 473.1A- Physical Protection Program- Physical Protection Program .

About Us

Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory .

Guided by our core values of integrity, responsibility, innovation, respect, and teamwork, Brookhaven Science Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer-Vets/Disabled. We are committed to fostering a respectful and collaborative environment that fuels scientific discovery. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. *VEVRAA Federal Contractor

Delivering discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is a multidisciplinary research facility focused on transformative science and technology, advancing the nation's security and energy solutions for over 70 years.

Research Services Professional Services

Company size 1,001–5,000 employees

Company type Government agency Founded 1947