Group Leader - Stable Isotope Chemical Research and Processing (SCRP)

UT-Battelle; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

On-site facilities and wellness

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN seeks a Group Leader for the Stable Isotope Chemical Research and Processing (SCRP) Group. You will provide technical, operational, and people leadership for safe, scalable chemical-processing capability and enriched material handling.

The role requires directing 8–15 professionals, developing processes, ensuring safety, and driving capacity growth in collaboration with EMIS and ESSD leadership.

Qualifications

• PhD, MS, or BS in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience including leading technical personnel, projects, or production activities.
• Demonstrated experience operating, improving, scaling, or deploying chemical/process systems.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to safety, quality, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct line management for SCRP staff, including staffing, performance management, mentoring, and development.
• Lead safe, secure, efficient, and high-quality chemical processing and harvesting of enriched material.
• Guide R&D, qualification, and deployment of chemical-processing methods for new elements and isotope campaigns.
• Establish scalable processes, work instructions, and staffing plans to support growth in chemistry-processing capacity.
• Apply Lean/continuous-improvement methods to improve yield, throughput, safety, and cost.
• Coordinate with EMIS operations, researchers, engineering, and program leadership.
• Develop work scope, schedules, resource plans, and cost estimates supporting group operations and capability growth.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, quality, and security requirements.
• Maintain stewardship of facilities, equipment, chemicals, and isotope materials.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strong communication

Process engineering

Safety & quality

Project management

Staff mentoring

Education

PhD, MS, or BS in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering/Materials Science

Job description

Overview

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Group Leader for the new Stable Isotope Chemical Research and Processing (SCRP) Group within the Electromagnetic-Enrichment and Stable Isotope Science Division (ESSD).

ESSD supports the DOE Office of Isotope R&D and Production (DOE-IRP) by advancing the nation’s stable-isotope capabilities and delivering enriched stable isotopes, purified isotopic gases, and customized isotope materials for national security, research, medicine, industry, and emerging needs. As part of this mission, ESSD and DOE-IRP are rebuilding a domestic supply chain for enriched stable isotopes through modern electromagnetic isotope separation (EMIS) facilities. ESSD also uses engineering, automation, and data-driven methods to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, flexibility, and cost effectiveness. The SCRP group is a key part of these efforts, harvesting enriched materials, purifying them, and converting them into usable chemical forms. Building on ORNL’s 80 years of expertise in low-loss chemistry, the SCRP group leader will help develop a modern chemical processing facility to support ORNL’s growing enrichment capacity.

The Group Leader will directly supervise 8 to 15 research and technical professionals. The successful candidate will provide technical, operational, and people leadership for safe, reliable, scalable chemical-processing capability.

Major Duties/Responsibilities

• Provide direct line management for all SCRP staff, including staffing, recruitment, performance management, mentoring, workload prioritization, employee development, and retention.
• Lead the safe, secure, efficient, and high-quality execution of chemical processing and harvesting of enriched material.
• Guide research and development, qualification, optimization, and deployment of chemical-processing methods for new elements and isotope-production campaigns.
• Establish scalable processes, work instructions, equipment needs, staffing plans, quality practices, and operating methods to support significant growth in chemistry-processing capacity.
• Apply process engineering, manufacturing, operations, and continuous-improvement methods to improve material recovery, yield, throughput, quality, safety, reliability, and cost effectiveness.
• Coordinate closely with EMIS operations, EMIS researchers, process management, engineering, isotope materials and dispensing, gaseous chemistry, quality, safety, and program leadership.
• Lead the safe, secure, efficient, and high-quality execution of customer-driven chemical conversions of existing isotopically enriched inventories.
• Develop work scope, schedules, resource plans, cost estimates, technical documentation, and proposals supporting group operations, R&D, and capability growth.
• Ensure work is performed in compliance with applicable environmental, safety, health, quality, security, and operational requirements.
• Maintain stewardship of assigned facilities, equipment, chemicals, high‑value isotope materials, and workspaces.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications

• A PhD, MS., or BS in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field
• A minimum of 4 years (PhD), 7 years (MS), or 8 years (BS) of relevant industry, manufacturing, process‑engineering, chemical‑operations, or materials‑processing experience for candidates
• A minimum of 5 years of leadership experience, including leadership of technical personnel, projects, production activities, process‑development efforts, or operations.
• Demonstrated experience operating, improving, scaling, or deploying chemical, material, manufacturing, or process systems.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry experience in chemical processing, process engineering, manufacturing, chemical operations, materials processing, or production operations.
• Experience moving laboratory, pilot‑scale, or developmental processes into repeatable production or operational use.
• Experience in inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, separations, low‑loss chemical methods, materials conversion, purification, or recovery of high‑value materials.
• Experience with process controls, standardized work, quality systems, configuration control, inventory/materials accountability, or production planning.
• Experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, root‑cause analysis, statistical process control, or similar continuous‑improvement practices.
• Experience with hazardous chemicals, radiological materials, gloveboxes, vacuum systems, pressure systems, or other high‑hazard processing environments.
• Experience recruiting, mentoring, and developing technical staff.

Special Requirements

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre‑placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

About ORNL

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80‑year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well‑being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on‑site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

Relocation: Moving can be overwhelming and expensive. UT-Battelle offers a generous relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. If invited to interview, be sure to ask your Recruiter (Talent Acquisition Partner) for details.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.