US ITER Project Controls Manager

UT-Battelle; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site fitness

Relocation assistance

Health benefits

Job summary

UT-Battelle in Oak Ridge, TN, seeks a skilled Project Controls Manager to lead a team of project controls specialists on the US ITER project. The role requires directing cost and schedule baselines, risk management, change control, and EVMS compliance within DOE/ORNL governance frameworks.

Candidate will mentor CAMs, prepare Earned Value Management reports, and collaborate with senior leadership to drive project success in a multibillion-dollar program.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in project or construction management, business, engineering or a related field.
• Five years of supervisory personnel experience.
• Ten years of experience performing project controls duties for major projects within the DOE or DOD.
• Significant EVMS experience compliant with O413.3B and EIA-748.
• Strong communications skills with senior leadership and DOE/project reviews.

Responsibilities

• Direct and lead the project controls team and develop control strategies.
• Establish cost and schedule baselines and track performance.
• Identify and manage risks, change control, and EVMS compliance.
• Prepare status reports including EVM-based reports.
• Provide training on project controls for CAMs and staff.
• Support project reviews and funding analysis.
• Develop reports to highlight issues and opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project controls

Risk management

Education

BS/BA in project management or related field

Tools

Oracle Primavera

Deltek Cobra

Job description

Overview

The US ITER Project of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks a skilled Project Controls Manager to manage a team of project controls specialists for the multi‑billion dollar US ITER project.

Overview

The US ITER Project of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks a skilled Project Controls Manager to manage a team of project controls specialists for the multi‑billion dollar US ITER project.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the largest US Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. Our diverse capabilities span a broad range of scientific and engineering disciplines, enabling the Laboratory to explore fundamental science challenges and to carry out the research needed to accelerate the delivery of solutions to the marketplace.

US ITER is a $6.5 Billion, Department of Energy multi‑laboratory project that executes the United States (US) contributions to the international ITER fusion project now under assembly in France. The US is a non‑host partner in the world’s largest and unprecedented scientific partnership to design and construct an experimental fusion facility aimed at establishing the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy. The US ITER project is managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee. Partner labs are Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).

Major Duties/Responsibilities

The Project Controls Manager is responsible for directing and leading the project controls team and executing comprehensive control strategies that align with overall project objectives and budget and schedule targets. This role requires close collaboration with project leadership and cross‑functional teams to establish a cost and schedule baseline, track performance, identify/manage risks, handle change requests, and enforce compliance with DOE and ORNL requirements. Key responsibilities include:

• Providing leadership and mentorship to project controls staff.
• Developing and maintaining the project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and accompanying dictionary, along with logic‑driven, resource‑loaded schedules and detailed cost estimates.
• Identifying and managing risks, including overseeing the performance of Monte Carlo simulations and other forms of quantitative risk analysis.
• Managing change control processes.
• Preparing various status reports, including those based on Earned Value Management (EVM), and ensuring compliance with ORNL and DOE project management governance.
• Conducting project management process and systems training for all relevant project staff, with a specific focus on technical control account managers (CAMs).
• Supporting project reviews, such as project status reviews, stage gate reviews, and earned value system surveillance/compliance reviews.
• Leading funding analysis and developing strategies for handling shortfalls or surpluses.
• Developing reports and meeting structures as needed to highlight potential issues and areas of positive impact for exploitation.
• Providing guidance and counseling regarding schedules, budgets, and EVMS processes to senior project leadership.
• Delivering 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

• BS/BA in project or construction management, business, engineering or a related field
• Five years of supervisory personnel experience.
• Ten years of experience successfully performing project controls duties as noted above for major project(s) within the DOE or Department of Defense (DOD).
• Significant project experience working within an EVMS environment compliant with O413.3B and EIA‑748, including setting baselines, incorporating baseline changes, producing monthly reports, and conducting variance analysis.
• Complete understanding of project controls best practices regarding scope, time, cost, and change management.
• Significant hands‑on experience with: Oracle Primavera, Deltek Cobra or similar cost processors, change control applications, and custom report development.
• Strong communications skills and the ability to interact successfully with senior project leadership, DOE, project review committees, and senior laboratory management.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS in project or construction management, engineering, business, or equivalent.
• Fifteen years of experience successfully performing project controls duties as noted above for research‑based or construction project(s) within the DOE Office of Science within a national laboratory environment.
• Fifteen years of project experience working within an EVMS environment compliant with EIA‑748; to include setting baselines, incorporating baseline changes, producing monthly reports and variance analysis.
• Experience in training on project management principles or tools, specifically CAM training.
• Solid understanding and DOE Office of Science project management best practices.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or equivalent project management certification.

Special Requirements

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements: 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 a 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.

For Foreign National Candidates

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three‑year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

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 background 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.
• 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
• 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.