Division Director, CEBAF Accelerator

Jefferson Lab; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 267,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Jefferson Lab seeks a Division Director for the CEBAF Accelerator to lead the CEBAF Accelerator Division in safe, reliable, and high‑performance operation. You will shape long‑term direction, manage budgets, and coordinate with DOE and international partners.

The role emphasizes safety culture, staff development, and alignment with laboratory goals. Recruitment and relocation support are provided as part of the package.

Qualifications

• 20+ years in particle accelerator operations, construction, and R&D.
• 3+ years leading multi-disciplinary research groups or organizations.
• Education above minimum may not be substituted for experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all functions of the CEBAF Accelerator Division, including operation, maintenance, improvement, and long‑term development of the CEBAF accelerator complex.
• Lead the Accelerator Division’s inputs to laboratory strategic planning and budget formulation, setting Accelerator Division priorities and aligning them with the CEBAF Directorate and laboratory goals.
• Direct and manage the division’s financial, human, and material resources, including budgets, personnel, and procurement.
• Lead accelerator readiness, documentation, and safety compliance by coordinating with ES&E and Experimental Physics.
• Drive accelerator reliability, availability, and performance to meet or exceed M&O contract commitments and DOE expectations.
• Direct research, development, and production activities that improve CEBAF performance and reliability and extend its operational life.
• Partner with the CEBAF Experimental Physics Division to define beam requirements and assist in the development of experiment schedules.
• Ensure clear communication, timely coordination, and alignment of division goals with laboratory priorities.
• Represent the division and lab to the national and international accelerator community.

Skills

Accelerator science knowledge

Leadership experience

RF systems knowledge

Beam diagnostics

Training and coaching

Effective communication

Education

Ph.D. in Physics or related field

Job description

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Title: Division Director, CEBAF Accelerator

Location: Newport News, Virginia, US, 23606

Category: Science and Research

Classification: Principal Staff Scientist

At Jefferson Lab,you’llchampioncutting-edgescience and operational excellence while shaping the future of discovery. Join us and make your mark – where excellence meets purpose, andgreat mindstrulymatter.

The good-faith pay range for this role is $169,000 - $266,800 per year. Actual compensation may vary and may be above the posted range based on factors such as a candidate's skills, experience, education, certifications, and work location.

Company-provided relocation assistance will be offered for this position.

What your job will be like:

The Division Director, CEBAF Accelerator, leads the CEBAF Accelerator Division in safe, compliant, reliable, and high‑performance operation of the CEBAF accelerator, ensuring delivery on mission‑critical commitments under the laboratory's M&O contract and meeting DOE expectations for accelerator reliability, availability, and uptime. Reporting to the Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) for CEBAF, the Division Director provides strategic and operational leadership for the division's departments, staff, programs and resources, and shapes long-term direction in alignment with laboratory goals.
The Division Director manages the division budget, multi-year program priorities, and cross-department initiatives. The role fosters a strong culture of safety and operational discipline. It ensures staff have the training, tools, and information to work safely and effectively, and it maintains compliance with institutional policies, the Contractor Assurance System, and applicable regulations. This work includes guiding the development and implementation of accelerator technologies for CEBAF; and steering long-term growth of CEBAF capabilities aligned with laboratory strategic plans.
The Division Director contributes to laboratory-wide strategic planning and policy development. Working closely with the international user community, the Division Director represents the division and the laboratory to senior scientific stakeholders, partner organization and the DOE Site Office. This includes ensuring timely response to technical requests and escalating critical issues in coordination with the ALD and Director's office.

In this job you will:

• Lead and manage all functions of the CEBAF Accelerator Division, including operation, maintenance, improvement, and long‑term development of the CEBAF accelerator complex.
• Lead the Accelerator Division’s inputs to laboratory strategic planning and budget formulation, setting Accelerator Division priorities and aligning them with the CEBAF Directorate and laboratory goals.
• Direct and manage the division’s financial, human, and material resources, including budgets, personnel, and procurement. Operate within allocated targets, support FWP planning and DOE reporting, and remain accountable to the CEBAF ALD.
• Lead accelerator readiness, documentation, and safety compliance by coordinating with ES&E and Experimental Physics. Ensure safe operation within the approved safety envelope and promote strong safety and environmental stewardship.
• Drive accelerator reliability, availability, and performance to meet or exceed M&O contract commitments and DOE expectations, ensuring that operational goals and uptime targets are achieved consistently.
• Direct research, development, and production activities that improve CEBAF performance and reliability and extend its operational life through suitable machine upgrades.
• Partner with the CEBAF Experimental Physics Division to define beam requirements and assist in the development of experiment schedules that support timely, efficient program execution.
• Ensure clear communication, timely coordination, and alignment of division goals with laboratory priorities, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Represent the division and lab to the national and international accelerator community, maintain strong relationships with staff, users, and stakeholders, and coordinate with the DOE Site Office.

Lead - Supervisory - Management

• Serve as acting ALD for CEBAF when designated.
• Provide effective leadership and management of the staff and resources for Accelerator Division.
• Actively engage in professional development, mentoring and succession planning for Accelerator Division.

Experience

• Required: 20 or more years In particle accelerator operations, construction, and research and development.
• Required: 3 or more years leading multi-disciplinary research groups or organizations.

Education

• Required: Ph.D. in Physics or other relevant field

Experience and Education Exchange

Education above the minimum may not be substituted for experience. Relevant experience may not be substituted for education.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of the broad field of accelerator science and technology along with a vision for the future evolution of accelerator science and technology.
• Ability to lead the efforts of the Division and model behaviors which will ensure excellence in daily operations and execution of the scientific program.
• Functional knowledge of bean dynamics in accelerators and accelerator systems, including RF, magnets, beam diagnostics, control systems, superconducting cavities, etc.
• Skilled at training, and coaching staff and acting decisively when performance or behaviors deviate from the organization’s high standards.
• Presents and expresses ideas and information clearly and in a manner appropriate for the audience to facilitate the open exchange of information.

About Jefferson Lab

Join a community with a common purpose of solving the most challenging scientific and engineering problems of our time. The Jefferson Lab campusis located insoutheasternVirginiaamidst a vibrant and growing technology community.

A career at Jefferson Lab is more than a job. You will be part of “big science” and work alongside top scientists and engineers from around the world unlocking the secrets of our visible universe. Managed by SURATech, LLC, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is entering an exciting period of mission growth and is seeking new team members ready to apply their skills and passion to have an impact. You could call it work, or you could call it a mission. We call it a challenge. We do things that will change the world.
Total Rewards at Jefferson Lab

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Care Plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time-off and Leave Programs (Paid Parental, vacation, holidays, and sick leave)
• Tuition Assistance, Training and Professional Development Programs
• Live near the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay region with access to nearby beaches, mountains, and all major metropolitan centers on the East Coast

SURATech, LLC manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). SURATech is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
SURATech is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities (unless doing so will result in an undue hardship). If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] or contact Human Resources by calling [phone] and selecting option 1 between 8 am – 5 pm EST to provide the nature of your request.

Employment with SURATech is conditional upon DOE approval if at any time during your employment you are participating in a Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Program or Affiliated activity. Generally, such programs/activities include any foreign-state-sponsored attempt to acquire U.S.-funded scientific research through programs run or funded by the government that target scientists, engineers, students, academics, researchers, and entrepreneurs of all nationalities working or educated in the United States. This includes positions or appointments, both domestic and foreign, titled academic, professional, or institutional appointments whether or not remuneration is received and whether full-time, part-time or voluntary.

THOMAS JEFFERSON NATIONAL ACCELERATOR FACILITY IS MANAGED BY SURATech, LLC FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | jlab.org | 12000 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA