Division Director, Experimental Operations and Facilities

argonne; Lemont (IL); On-site; USD 253,997 - 396,235; Full time

Job summary

Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, IL, seeks the Director, Experimental Operations and Facilities (EOF) to guide a 60–70 person division that delivers engineering and experimental support for accelerator and radiation‑generating facilities. The role focuses on long‑term strategy, project oversight, and cross‑directorate collaboration.

The EOF Division Director reports to NTNS leadership and drives safety, compliance, and operational excellence across complex research labs, with a strong

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering or related field with 15+ years experience in engineering leadership.
• Experience leading managers within a matrix organization.
• Strong leadership, communications, and stakeholder relationship skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the EOF division and align goals with directorate and laboratory strategies.
• Develop long‑range plans and oversee accelerator facility upgrades and operations.
• Foster collaboration across divisions and manage safety, compliance, and operations.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Stakeholder management

People management

Education

Master’s degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Directorate Overview

The Nuclear Technologies and National Security (NTNS) directorate supports a secure and resilient society by advancing nuclear energy and delivering innovative, objective science- and engineering-based solutions to inform decision making. We focus on enduring and emerging challenges in nuclear reactors and fuel cycles; nonproliferation; infrastructure risk and resilience analysis; intelligence and vulnerability analysis; and emergency and disaster preparedness.

What makes us unique? Its people—our world-renowned scientists and engineers and dedicated support staff. This highly capable team pursues big, ambitious ideas that address our country’s most pressing energy and security challenges. Our research takes a multidisciplinary approach to solving complex challenges and developing useful technologies that can transform the marketplace and change the world.

Basic Purpose

The Division Director, Experimental Operations and Facilities (EOF), is responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the division, short and long-term goals of the division, as well as enabling world‑class science and engineering. The EOF division provides engineering and experimental technical support services to a variety of partners across Argonne and manages the directorate’s accelerator and some radiation generating device facilities. The EOF Division Director anticipates accelerator facility upgrades and operational concerns in order to formulate long‑range plans and strategies that focus on supporting the science and engineering completed within the directorate. This position also acts as a responsible Division Director for some NTNS Nuclear Materials management.

As a member of the NTNS directorate leadership team and the Lab’s extended leadership team reporting to the NTNS Directorate Operating Officer, the EOF Division Director is a strategic partner in aligning division strategic goals to the directorate’s and the Laboratory’s strategic goals. Fosters and develops inter‑divisional, inter‑directorate, and cross‑directorate collaborations within the Laboratory, specifically with the Infrastructure Services directorate and Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality directorate. The EOF Division Director leads a division with 60‑70 employees, including union employees, with less than ten direct reports — this requires supervisory administrative duties and activities (e.g., training, timecards, performance evaluations, etc.). The EOF Division Director interacts with other Argonne leadership teams in the planning, coordination, integration, and enhancement of research labs and facilities operations.

Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection: All activities, as they apply to work performed by self or by personnel under supervision, will be executed in compliance with ES&H and security responsibilities established by the Laboratory's ES&H policies, Safeguards and Security policies, work rules, and safe practices.

Position Requirements

• Master’s degree (preferred) in an engineering, facilities management, or related field, supplemented by no less than fifteen years’ experience including relevant, demonstrated accomplishments in engineering leadership and management.
• Experience leading next‑level managers and supervisors who oversee operations within a matrixed organizational structure.
• Strong leadership and management skills in attracting, managing, and sustaining a highly competent and diverse interdisciplinary staff and maintaining an open and collegial environment.
• Experience developing and implementing methods and standard operating procedures, including those for safety, facility, and accelerator operations.
• Comprehensive skills and abilities in acquiring and maintaining relationships with multiple sponsors/stakeholders across the Laboratory.
• Considerable skill in oral and written communications and the ability to work with high level internal and external contacts while displaying the ability to adapt knowledge to complex situations, communications and leadership issues.
• Considerable skill in interpreting technical documents. Reviews operating procedures and work control documents for work to be performed in experimental areas.
• Provides oversight for any complex or high hazard work evolutions in experimental areas.
• Considerable skill in understanding the planning and execution of experimental work.
• Knowledge of DOE, OSHA, NEC, NFPA, and/or NEPA regulations is preferred.
• Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

Job Family: Research Development (RD)

Job Profile: R&D Multi‑Functional Leader 4

Worker Type: Regular

Time Type: Full time. The expected hiring range for this position is $253,997.00 - $396,235.71.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.

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