Senior Programs and Planning Specialist

UT-Battelle; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

UT-Battelle, located in Oak Ridge, TN, seeks a Senior Programs and Planning Specialist focused on financial management and reporting to align expenditures with budgets and expiration dates. You will collate requirements from program managers and ensure sponsor reporting for DoD and Congress.

Join ORNL's National Security Sciences Directorate to collaborate with budget analysts, program managers, and procurement specialists, delivering compliant financial analysis and timely reports while

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree and 8–12 years of accounting experience.
• Experience with SAP, Ariba-SAP, and Business Intelligence software.
• Ability to identify requirements, define system solutions, and deliver results with minimal supervision.
• Strong project management and stakeholder communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead program budget analysis and management to keep sponsor informed.
• Prepare analyses for program reviews and sponsor reporting.
• Coordinate federal reporting deliverables monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Support audits, reviews, and compliance tracking.
• Collaborate with budget analysts, PMs, and procurement staff.

Skills

Budget analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Communication

Leadership

Education

BS/BA degree in accounting or related field

Tools

SAP

Ariba-SAP

Business Intelligence

PowerBI

Advanced Excel

Job description

Overview

The Defense Manufacturing Program Office (DMPO) within the National Security Sciences Directorate (NSSD) invites candidates to apply to join our team as a Senior Programs and Planning Specialist with a focus on financial management and reporting. This role will play crucial role in collating requirements from the program managers for the project subcomponents and ensuring the projects expenditures and schedules align with budget allocations and their expiration dates. In addition, this role will focus on reporting financials accurately and in compliance with sponsor’s requirements. This will require communications and interpersonal skills to collaborate with several budget analysts, program managers, and procurement specialists both within ORNL and with federal sponsors.

Join ORNL and help enable world-class science and innovation by supporting projects in support of National Security. This is your opportunity to work alongside global leaders in several disciplines including datacenters and computing in the development of new infrastructure supporting our National Security Missions.

As part of our team, you will be joining a vibrant group of professionals eager to provide premier customer service to ensure people and information technology remain secure. The team is collaborative and strives to ensure security practices and procedures are understood, implemented, and enforced. All team members deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.

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.

Major Duties/Responsibilities

• Program budget analysis and management:
  • Lead program discussions regarding budget, costs, and programming to ensure management and the sponsor are routinely informed on budget/program execution.
  • Prepare analysis of the programs and budget to prepare management for program reviews with the federal sponsor.
  • Prepare analysis for the sponsor in support of their reporting requirements to DoD and Congress.
  • Ensure all funding control requirements are met.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Ensure all stakeholders are informed on potential schedule and budget issues.
  • Ability to work independently with all stakeholders with equities in the project.
  • Analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve issues identified by stakeholders including senior program managers and federal sponsors.
• Research
• Federal Project Reporting & Compliance
• Prepare and coordinate federal reporting deliverables (monthly, quarterly, annual)
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of submissions
• Support audits, reviews, and compliance tracking

Basic Qualifications

• A BS/BA degree and 8-12 years of accounting experience preferred.
• Practical experience in utilizing the following software SAP, Ariba-SAP, Business Intelligence

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to identify requirements, define system solutions, and deliver results with minimal supervision.
• Proven skills in project management, task prioritization, and effective time management in dynamic environments.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to interface confidently with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency at PowerBI and Advanced Excel (PowerPivot, PowerQuery)
• Understanding of Federal Strategic Partnership Projects and associated funding documents.

Special Requirements

• Visa sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements: Q clearance with SCI: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Compartmented Information (SCI) 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. In addition, due the SCI, you may also be subject to random polygraph testing.

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.