Operations & Events Lead - Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage (ACCESS)

Argonne National Laboratory; Lemont (IL); On-site; USD 61,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, IL seeks an Operations and Events Lead to plan and execute ACCESS events from concept to completion, including conferences, workshops, and site visits. You will develop timelines, budgets, and logistics, coordinating with program leads and external vendors.

You will establish systems to improve consistency and efficiency, support subaward tracking, and assist with OSELP program logistics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of coordinating events, projects, or programs from planning through execution.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills with multiple deadlines.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment with limited direction.
• Experience developing schedules, workplans, trackers, budgets, and other tools.
• Experience coordinating vendors, contractors, or service providers.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across boundaries.
• Ability to follow detailed administrative processes and policies.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to learn lab systems such as PARIS.
• Model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Own the planning and execution of ACCESS events from concept through completion.
• Develop event plans, timelines, budgets, and logistics for conferences, workshops, and site visits.
• Coordinate with program leads and stakeholders to define objectives and responsibilities.
• Manage external vendors and service providers, including quotes and logistics.
• Track budgets and expenditures and ensure timely financial processing.
• Establish systems and templates to improve consistency and efficiency across activities.
• Coordinate with the Executive Assistant and Events Coordinator for seamless execution.
• Serve as operational point of contact for event-related questions and issues.
• Support subaward administration, records, and stakeholder follow-up.
• Coordinate information and deliverables across diverse stakeholders for ACCESS projects.
• Assist with OSELP program logistics, meetings, site visits, and communications.
• Identify operational issues and determine next steps within policies and resources.
• Ensure compliance with Argonne and DOE policies and procedures.

Skills

Event coordination

Project coordination

Vendor management

Stakeholder communication

Microsoft Office

PARIS knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

PARIS system

Job description

Job Description

The Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage (ACCESS) is seeking a highly motivated Operations and Events Lead to provide operational, project, and event support across a diverse portfolio of ACCESS activities. Reporting to the Deputy Director for Operations, this position will have responsibility for independently planning and executing events and coordinating operational activities that support ACCESS programs and initiatives. The Operations and Events Lead will own events from conception through execution, translating programmatic objectives into practical plans and managing the operational details required for successful delivery. This includes developing timelines and workplans; coordinating internal and external stakeholders; managing vendors and event logistics; tracking budgets and expenditures; and establishing and maintaining effective operational systems and processes. This position will also provide operational support across ACCESS activities (e.g., LENS Consortium and Li-Bridge), including subaward management and tracking, coordination of information and deliverables across stakeholders, and support for projects requiring follow‑through with internal and external stakeholders. Additionally, the position will assist with execution of the Oppenheimer Science and Energy Leadership Program (OSELP), a national laboratory leadership program stewarded by Argonne, including coordination of program activities, meetings, site visits, and other program logistics. The successful candidate will work with considerable independence, exercise sound judgment in setting priorities and resolving routine and moderately complex operational issues, and ensure that activities are completed accurately, on schedule, and in accordance with laboratory policies and procedures. The successful candidate will:

Own the planning and execution of ACCESS events from initial concept through completion, including conferences, workshops, meetings, site visits, and other internal and external events. Develop event plans, timelines, task lists, budgets, and logistical requirements and ensure that activities remain on track through execution. Coordinate with program leads and stakeholders to understand objectives, develop event approaches, establish responsibilities, and drive timely completion of deliverables. Coordinate and manage external vendors and service providers, including soliciting information or quotes, confirming requirements, managing logistics, and monitoring performance. Track event budgets, commitments, and expenditures and coordinate with appropriate stakeholders to ensure compliance and support accurate and timely financial processing. Establish and maintain systems, templates, processes, and tracking tools that improve consistency, visibility, and efficiency across ACCESS‑led activities. Coordinate closely with the Executive Assistant and Events Coordinator to ensure effective division of responsibilities and seamless execution of ACCESS events and operations activities. Serve as an operational point of contact for event‑related questions and coordinate solutions to issues that arise during planning and execution. Support subaward administration and tracking, including maintaining records, monitoring status and deliverables, coordinating required information, and following up with internal and external stakeholders as appropriate. Coordinate information, schedules, deliverables, and actions across diverse stakeholders and organizational units for ACCESS projects and activities. Assist with the execution of the Oppenheimer Science and Energy Leadership Program (OSELP), including coordination of program meetings, site visits, events, communications, participant logistics, and other activities in support of the program. Identify potential operational issues and independently determine appropriate next steps within established policies, procedures, and available resources. Ensure that events and operational activities are conducted in accordance with Argonne and DOE policies, procedures, and applicable requirements. Provide clear and timely status updates to the ACCESS Director, Deputy Director for Operations and other ACCESS staff and stakeholders. Contribute to continuous improvement of ACCESS operational practices, particularly in event planning, project coordination, tracking, and execution.

Job Details

This job description documents the general nature of the work but is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, and responsibilities required of the job incumbent. Consequently, the job incumbent may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience independently coordinating events, projects, programs, or other complex activities from planning through execution.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent activities, deadlines, stakeholders, and priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and determine appropriate approaches to completing assignments with limited direction.
• Experience developing and maintaining schedules, workplans, trackers, budgets, and other operational tools.
• Experience coordinating vendors, contractors, service providers, or other external partners.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively coordinate across organizational boundaries and establish productive working relationships.
• Ability to understand and follow detailed administrative processes, policies, procedures, and applicable laboratory requirements.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to anticipate issues, identify solutions, and follow through to resolution.
• Demonstrated attention to detail while maintaining awareness of "big picture" objectives and timelines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other tools used for project, event, and operational management; ability to learn systems such as PARIS and other laboratory business systems.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional environment while taking individual ownership for assigned activities.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, procedures, and technologies.
• Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

Job Family

Professional Administrative (PA) Job Profile Administration Multi-Functional 2 Worker Type Regular Time Type Full time

Salary and Benefits

The expected hiring range for this position is $60,750.00 - $94,770.00. 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Security, Background Check, and Government Access Authorization

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. All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case‑by‑case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

Additional Information

To learn more about the exciting science going on at Argonne, visit our Science and Technology page. To learn more about Argonne's benefits programs, amenities, and other employee programs, visit our main Careers site. To request a reasonable accommodation or for other application support, contact us anytime at [e-mail] or 630-252-2336.