Directorate Chief Operations Officer, Environmental & Legacy Management

Savannah River National Laboratory; Aiken (SC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Savannah River National Laboratory seeks a high‑caliber Director of Chief Operations to serve as the senior operational executive for the Environmental & Legacy Management Directorate. The DCOO will translate strategic vision into executable programs, integrating people, facilities, infrastructure, governance, and processes into a unified enterprise that enables world‑class science.

This role requires broad operational leadership across divisions, governance, workforce development, risk

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business, public administration, or related field.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible leadership in the DOE complex, a national lab, or similarly regulated environment.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary organizations integrating research, operations, facilities, and business functions.
• Experience implementing strategic initiatives and translating vision into operational execution.
• Experience managing organizational performance, operational risk, safety, quality, and compliance.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Partner with ALD to execute the ELM Strategic Plan and translate long‑term vision into measurable operational outcomes.
• Serve as operational integrator across divisions, Mission Support, and Laboratory leadership for strategic alignment.
• Develop long‑range operational strategies supporting workforce growth and infrastructure modernization.
• Coordinate directorate planning activities to position ELM for sustained scientific excellence and mission growth.
• Lead all operational aspects of the directorate with safety, security, and compliance oversight.
• Develop operational metrics and KPIs to support continuous improvement and data‑informed decisions.
• Oversee workforce planning, talent development, and organizational capability growth.
• Lead digital transformation and Lean initiatives to improve efficiency and agility.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business administration, public administration, or a related discipline

Job description

Description

The Directorate Chief Operations Officer (DCOO) serves as the senior operational executive for the Environmental & Legacy Management (ELM) Directorate at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and is a key member of the directorate leadership team. Reporting directly to the Associate Laboratory Director (ALD), the DCOO is responsible for translating strategic vision into operational execution by integrating people, facilities, infrastructure, business systems, governance, and organizational processes into a unified enterprise that enables world-class science. Working collaboratively with Division Directors, Mission Support organizations, and Laboratory leadership, the DCOO ensures the directorate has the operational capabilities, organizational agility, and institutional partnerships necessary to execute today’s mission while positioning ELM for future growth and emerging Department of Energy (DOE) priorities. The DCOO serves as the principal operational advisor to the ALD and provides executive leadership for operational excellence, organizational performance, workforce development, strategic planning, enterprise risk management, digital transformation, and continuous improvement. The position is responsible for building the operational foundation that enables scientific innovation, accelerates mission delivery, and strengthens SRNL’s leadership across the DOE complex.

About Environmental & Legacy Management: ELM is one of SRNL’s multidisciplinary research organizations. The directorate develops and deploys scientific and engineering solutions that address some of the nation’s most significant environmental cleanup, nuclear materials, and energy challenges. ELM integrates environmental science, radiochemistry, analytical chemistry, process engineering, advanced separations, environmental monitoring, waste treatment, robotics, artificial intelligence, digital engineering, advanced manufacturing, and deployable field systems to deliver technologies that reduce environmental risk, accelerate cleanup, improve operational performance, and enable future national security and energy missions. The directorate supports multiple DOE program offices—including DOE’s Office of Environmental Management, Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Science, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and other federal agencies—through research that spans fundamental science, technology development, engineering demonstration, and field deployment.

ELM believes exceptional science requires exceptional operations. Operational excellence is not separate from scientific excellence—it is the foundation that enables it. ELM is committed to creating an environment where scientists and engineers can focus on solving nationally important technical challenges because the organization’s people, facilities, infrastructure, business systems, governance, and operational processes function as an integrated enterprise. The DCOO plays a central role in bringing this philosophy to life.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Integration

• Partner with the ALD to execute the ELM Strategic Plan and translate long‑term vision into measurable operational outcomes.

• Serve as the operational integrator across scientific divisions, Mission Support organizations, and Laboratory leadership to ensure organizational alignment with strategic priorities.

• Develop long‑range operational strategies supporting workforce growth, facility modernization, infrastructure investment, and future DOE mission opportunities.

• Coordinate directorate planning activities that position ELM for sustained scientific excellence and mission growth.

Operational Excellence

• Lead all operational aspects of the directorate, ensuring research is conducted safely, securely, efficiently, and in full compliance with DOE requirements and SRNL policies.

• Foster a culture of operational excellence built upon SRNL’s Safe Conduct of Research principles.

• Establish governance processes that promote accountability, transparency, disciplined decision‑making, and organizational effectiveness.

• Develop operational performance metrics and key performance indicators that support continuous improvement and data‑informed decision‑making.

Mission Enablement

• Ensure people, facilities, laboratories, equipment, infrastructure, and business systems effectively support scientific research and technology deployment.

• Lead operational readiness activities that enable successful execution of research programs and emerging mission opportunities.

• Coordinate closely with Mission Support organizations to improve operational services supporting scientific and engineering staff.

• Remove organizational barriers that limit research productivity and mission execution.

Risk Management and Organizational Assurance

• Lead directorate operational risk management, assessment programs, corrective actions, and assurance activities.

• Identify organizational risks and implement strategies that improve resilience, operational reliability, and mission continuity.

• Provide executive oversight for operational issues affecting safety, security, compliance, facilities, and organizational performance.

Workforce and Organizational Development

• Lead workforce planning initiatives supporting succession planning, talent development, recruitment, and organizational capability growth.

• Champion employee engagement and professional development initiatives that strengthen organizational performance.

• Lead organizational change initiatives that improve effectiveness while maintaining a culture of trust, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Digital Transformation and Innovation

• Lead modernization initiatives that leverage artificial intelligence, digital engineering, automation, advanced analytics, and data‑driven decision‑making to improve organizational effectiveness.

• Improve operational efficiency through Lean principles, process optimization, and technology‑enabled business transformation.

• Promote innovative operational practices that strengthen research productivity and organizational agility.

Strategic Partnerships

• Serve as the principal operational representative of the ALD with Laboratory Operations, DOE sponsors, Mission Support organizations, and external partners.

• Build collaborative relationships across SRNL, the DOE laboratory complex, universities, industry, and other federal agencies.

• Represent the directorate during operational reviews, strategic planning efforts, external assessments, and institutional initiatives.

Accountabilities

The DCOO is accountable to the Associate Laboratory Director for:

• Safe, secure, compliant, and effective execution of directorate operations.

• Successful operational implementation of the ELM Strategic Plan.

• Organizational integration across divisions and Mission Support organizations.

• Operational excellence, continuous improvement, and organizational effectiveness.

• Enterprise risk management and operational assurance.

• Workforce capability, operational readiness, and enabling infrastructure.

• Stewardship of directorate operational resources.

• Development of an organizational culture that supports innovation, collaboration, and scientific excellence.

Authorities

The DCOO is delegated authority by the ALD to:

• Represent the ALD on operational matters across the directorate.

• Direct actions necessary to ensure safe, secure, compliant, and effective operations.

• Commission operational assessments, performance reviews, and organizational improvement initiatives.

• Coordinate operational priorities across divisions and Mission Support organizations.

• Recommend investments supporting workforce capability, infrastructure modernization, facilities, and operational systems.

• Develop and implement directorate operational policies, governance frameworks, and business processes.

• Lead cross‑functional initiatives supporting strategic growth and organizational transformation.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business administration, public administration, or a related discipline.
• Twelve or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience within the DOE complex, a national laboratory, federally funded research organization, or another highly regulated scientific or technical environment.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary organizations that integrate research, operations, facilities, infrastructure, and business functions.
• Experience implementing strategic initiatives and translating organizational vision into operational execution.
• Demonstrated experience managing organizational performance, operational risk, safety, quality, and compliance.
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and develop high‑performing teams.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance, for which U.S. citizenship is legally required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in engineering, science, business administration, or a related discipline.
• Leadership experience within the DOE National Laboratory system or another complex research organization.
• Experience supporting Environmental Management, National Nuclear Security Administration, Nuclear Energy, Office of Science, or comparable federal research missions.
• Experience leading organizational transformation, digital modernization, or enterprise operational improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with nuclear research operations, radiological laboratories, Hazard Category nuclear facilities, or complex scientific infrastructure.
• Demonstrated success building strategic partnerships across government, academia, and industry.
• Experience applying data analytics, digital technologies, or artificial intelligence to improve organizational or operational performance.

Why Join Environmental & Legacy Management?

ELM is executing a strategic transformation that builds upon decades of leadership in environmental cleanup while expanding capabilities in artificial intelligence, digital engineering, advanced process technologies, intelligent sensing, nuclear materials, critical minerals, and deployable scientific solutions. The DCOO has a unique opportunity to help shape this future.

Working alongside internationally recognized scientists, engineers, and technical leaders, the successful candidate will build the operational enterprise that enables breakthrough science, accelerates cleanup, advances national security, strengthens U.S. energy leadership, and positions SRNL to solve some of the nation’s most complex environmental and technological challenges for decades to come.