Center Director-Computational Sciences

National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Colorado; Hybrid; USD 187,000 - 311,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Pension benefits

401(k)

Paid holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) seeks a Center Director to lead the MCCS Computational Science Center. The role drives strategic direction for high‑performance computing, AI, data, visualization, and related capabilities, aligning with the lab’s mission and CMEI collaboration.

The Center Director will manage staff, budgets, and programs, partner across the laboratory, and ensure secure, reliable, and cutting‑edge computing environments for energy research and development.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated breadth of knowledge across computational science and advanced computing.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience in a research environment.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership addressing DOE and CMEI needs.
• Guide the Center’s technical direction and ensure capabilities remain current and competitive.
• Integrate six groups, foster cross-group collaboration, and resolve dependencies.
• Lead and direct personnel with diverse skills and values, directly and through managers.
• Manage staffing, finances, performance reviews, and administrative functions.
• Oversee production computing and visualization capabilities and facility needs.
• Develop programs, capabilities, and partnerships to advance computing efforts.

Skills

Computational science

Advanced computing

Leadership

Communication

Education

PhD in Computational Science

Master’s in Computational Science

Job description

About the Position

Posting Title Center Director-Computational Sciences. Location CO - Golden. Position Type Regular. Hours Per Week 40. Working at NLR NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth. At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

The Material, Chemical, and Computational Sciences (MCCS) directorate is seeking a Center Director (CD) to lead the MCCS Computational Science Center (CSC), https://www.nlr.gov/computational-science at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). The CSC stewards the largest HPC environment in the world dedicated to advancing energy technologies https://www.nlr.gov/hpc and is seeking an accomplished leader to provide strategic and operational leadership for the Center. NLR’s Computational Science Center conducts world-class research enabling NLR's applied energy mission and advancing the science of computing through the activities of its six groups: Advanced Computing Operations Advanced Computing Solutions AI, Learning & Intelligent Systems Data, Analysis & Visualization Digital Twins & Scalable Workflows Scalable Algorithms, Modeling & Simulation. The CD will develop, maintain, and progress the technical capabilities of the center, including people, equipment, and facilities, to ensure world-class research and development in computational sciences. They will work closely with the Lab Program Manager for Advanced Computing to evolve and execute on the strategic plan for high performance computing at NLR.The successful candidate will report to the Associate Lab Director (ALD) of MCCS and lead CSC with a focus on excellence in organizational management and in developing strategic capabilities and programs in support of the directorate’s and lab’s vision, strategy, and mission execution. This will require partnering with peers across the laboratory to fully leverage advanced computational capabilities on behalf of the mission work of NLR. The CD will work closely with the Cybersecurity and Resilient Infrastructure & Security Centers within the Energy Security & Systems Integration Directorate to coordinate and sustain the integrated research, controlled, and classified computing environments required to support NLR’s energy security mission. More broadly, the CD will maintain strong connections across NLR to ensure that computational science, modeling and simulation, AI, data, visualization, and advanced computing function as cohesive, cross-cutting capabilities supporting the lab’s full mission portfolio.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership that addresses the needs of DOE, the DOE Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), and other constituents to position CSC for future success.
• Maintain broad and current knowledge of computational science, high‑performance computing, AI, visualization, and relevant computing topics in order to guide the Center’s technical direction, identify emerging opportunities and risks, and ensure that it’s capabilities, workforce, and research remain relevant and competitive.
• Integrate the Center’s six groups by establishing shared priorities, cross-group collaboration, and resolving organization and technical dependencies.
• Engage fully as a member of the MCCS leadership team.
• Lead and direct personnel with diverse skills, work styles and values, both directly and through subordinate management.
• Effectively manage CSC with respect to staffing, finances, performance review, and other administrative functions necessary for proper execution.
• Lead and ensure effective execution of CSC research, operational, and capability-development portfolio.
• Ensure reliable and user-focused operation of the Center’s production computing and visualization capabilities, balancing operational continuity, research innovation, facility requirements, and the evolving needs of lab programs and external partners.
• Steward and continually advance the Center’s enduring capabilities, including its workforce, scientific software, computing platforms, data and visualization environments, facilities and institutional expertise.
• Play a leading role in developing computational science programs, technical capabilities, and strategic partnerships to advance and support NLR’s computing efforts.
• Lead development of strategic technical capabilities that differentiate NLR’s computing effort while maintaining alignment with CMEI.
• Represent NLR's computational science and advanced computing efforts nationally and internationally.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships internally to NLR and externally with sponsors and research partners.
• Ensure center compliance with DOE and NLR safety, security, and operational requirements and policies, while fostering a strong safety and security culture.
• Provide leadership and mentorship in the areas of professional and technical development to group managers, projects leads and technical staff.
• Provide personnel management for all members of the Center. This includes career development, performance management, job satisfaction, safe and working environment, conflict resolution, and policy management.
• Recruit, develop, train, and motivate staff to produce world-class R&D results.
• Model commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Personal Competencies

• Courage: Act decisively to tackle difficult problems and persevere in the face of adversity.
• Critical Decision Making: Make sound choices in a timely manner.
• Credibility: Earn and maintain trust by influencing with integrity, honesty, and transparency.
• Coaching: Provide guidance and support to help others develop, learn, and grow.
• Compassion: Show genuine interest, sensitivity, and empathy to employees’ needs.
• Communication: Speak, write, and listen clearly and consistently.

Location and Working Arrangement

This position is based in Golden, Colorado, at the South Table Mountain Campus. The successful candidate will be expected to reside in CO and work primarily on site, with partial hybrid options available.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in Computational Science, Computer Science, or the Physical, Mathematical or Engineering Sciences or related technical discipline/degree and thesis work in advanced computing and 7 years of related experience.
• Or a master’s degree Computational Science, Computer Science, or the Physical, Mathematical or Engineering Sciences or related technical discipline/degree and 9 years of related experience.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Security Clearance.

Eligibility Requirements

To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen. See DOE O 472.2A for additional information. Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Security Clearance.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated breadth of knowledge across computational science and advanced computing, with deep expertise in one or more relevant areas and a record of remaining current with rapidly evolving technologies, research methods, and computing architectures.
• Demonstrated experience in management, budget, administrative, program strategy development and implementation experience in a research and development environment.
• Past leadership accomplishments, to include success in managing major technical efforts, execution in delivering products or services, and developing new programmatic funding.
• Exceptional leadership potential to include conceptual thinking ability; excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent interpersonal skills, collaborative, and negotiating skills; ability to motivate personnel and model critical leadership skills and values.
• Ability to engage effectively with both computational and analysis communities; takes initiative and has creativity, and communication skills necessary to effectively propose new or expanded research efforts to the DOE as well as industrial and academic partners.
• Established relationships across the Federal establishment and/or industry.

Annual Salary Range

Center Director I / Annual Salary Range: $172,700 - $310,900

Benefits Summary

• 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
• tuition reimbursement*
• performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component
• relocation expense reimbursement
• Limited-term positions are not eligible for long‑term disability or tuition reimbursement

* Based on eligibility rules

• Badging Requirement: NLR 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

NLR 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 NLR, 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.

Equal Opportunity 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.

Reasonable Accommodations

E‑Verify: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.