Research Operations Support Professional

UT-Battelle; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site fitness facilities

Flexible work hours

Employee discounts and benefits

Job summary

UT-Battelle at ORNL seeks an operations support professional to enhance operational excellence for cutting-edge science. You will join an integrated team handling work control, facility management, and project coordination to support safety, compliance, and research objectives.

The role emphasizes collaboration with researchers, facilities users, and operations staff, ensuring effective space utilization, regulated processes, and hazard analysis within DOE and ORNL policies.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in a science, engineering, health and safety, operational discipline or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant technical work in operations, research, quality, etc.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Division work control POC/Work Planner for hazard identification and control documents.
• Coordinate work control reviews with peer and SME input for timely approvals.
• Act as Facilities Operations Manager for selected facilities ensuring leases, space use, access control and emergency preparedness.
• Assist research staff with hazardous materials management and chemical inventories.
• Promote Battelle Safe Conduct of Research and safety culture across tasks and teams.
• Identify and implement opportunities to increase operational efficiency and safety practices.
• Coordinate facility operations and prioritize infrastructure improvements.
• Align actions with ORNL core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety and Service.

Skills

SharePoint

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Team player

Project coordination

Education

BS/BA in science/engineering/operational field

Tools

SharePoint

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an operations support professional to meet expanding needs for operational excellence to accomplish the ORNL cutting-edge scientific research mission. This position will work as part of an integrated team that has responsibility for operations and facility management tasks associated with work control and facility operations in support of science and engineering activities. Additionally, these positions will provide operational and project management support to research staff to maintain compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws, DOE Orders, and ORNL policies and procedures regarding work control, space utilization, and facility operations management. This position resides in the Integrated Research Operations Support group in the Work Management Division (WMD) and will be matrixed to support the Chemicals Sciences Division (CSD) of the Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Requisition Id 16961

We are seeking an operations support professional to meet expanding needs for operational excellence to accomplish the ORNL cutting-edge scientific research mission. This position will work as part of an integrated team that has responsibility for operations and facility management tasks associated with work control and facility operations in support of science and engineering activities. Additionally, these positions will provide operational and project management support to research staff to maintain compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws, DOE Orders, and ORNL policies and procedures regarding work control, space utilization, and facility operations management. This position resides in the Integrated Research Operations Support group in the Work Management Division (WMD) and will be matrixed to support the Chemicals Sciences Division (CSD) of the Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Major Duties/Responsibilities

• Serve as a Division work control point-of-contact (POC)/Work Planner for work control documents for hazard identification and control (i.e. Research Safety Summaries (RSSs), Activity Plans, activity based hazard analysis (ABHA), etc.). In so doing, coordinates work control reviews to ensure sufficient peer and subject matter expert (SME) review and to ensure all documents are approved and authorized within the proper timeframe.
• Facilitate completion of the operational activities deemed necessary through the work control process or as requested by researchers to enable research objectives in a manner that ensures the safe and compliant execution of the research mission.
• Serve as a Facilities Operations Manager (FOM) for select facilities to ensure the facility is maintained within facility use agreement boundaries, facility work orders/statements of work are submitted to support research objectives, operated in accordance with approved lease agreements for leased facilities, space is efficiently and effectively used, access control is maintained, and emergency preparedness requirements are met.
• Serve as a Hazardous Materials Management representative to assist research staff with maintaining, organizing, and reconciling chemical inventories.
• Abide by and promote the Battelle Safe Conduct of Research principles including being personally responsible for ensuring safe operations, raising safety concerns, using a questioning attitude, considering hazards for every task and where learning never stops.
• Continually seek ways to increase operational efficiencies and improve safety culture in support of the research mission and champion initiatives to do so.
• Coordinate facility operations and prioritize infrastructure improvements.
• 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 BS/BA degree in a science, engineering, health and safety, operational discipline or relevant technical field (e.g. chemical/physical sciences, health and safety, industrial hygiene, environmental management, project management, engineering, operations, etc.).
• A minimum of 2 years relevant technical work experience in operations, research, quality, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with various software platforms such as Share Point, Power BI, Microsoft Office applications, etc.
• Experience working as a team player in an ever-changing, multi-discipline, multi-task and integrated/functional organizational environment which requires interfacing with management, researchers, facility users/visitors and operations staff.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary R&D environment or supporting industrial, radiological, nuclear or secure facilities and operations.
• Knowledge and background in chemical/material identification and evaluation along with experience in hazard analysis and exposure assessment activities.
• Demonstrated excellence in leadership, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Experience with work control processes in a research and development environment and/or industrial environment.
• Ability to work independently, under pressure, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize work and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and time management skills and ability to meet inflexible deadlines on own initiative.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast‑paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• Experience in the DOE system and ORNL systems such as the Research Hazard Analysis and Control System, Integrated Safety Management, SAMS, the Facility Service Center, and the Hazardous Material Management Information System.

Special Requirements

• Work involves various physical requirements and working conditions. As such, a pre-hire physical will be required after offer.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.

For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain an federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

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.

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.