NLR’s 305-acre Flatirons Campus is the nation’s premier wind energy, water power, and grid integration research facility. Nestled south of Boulder, Colorado, and north of NLR’s main South Table Mountain campus, Flatirons Campus sits adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and countless acres of open space and parks with stunning views of the Flatirons rock formations.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) has an opening for a group manager to support the Mechanical & Thermal Engineering Sciences (MTES) research operations center as well as the wider directorate. The MTES Directorate drives technological innovation in energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power. MTES provides engineering and scientific expertise to a variety of federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, Office of Science, and Advanced Research Projects Agency, as well as other federal, university and industry partners.

This position is primarily responsible for oversight, development, and strategic deployment of a team of research technicians who support field and laboratory research activities within the directorate and across the laboratory as required and will be based at our Flatirons Campus. The manager ensures technicians are properly trained, effectively allocated, and aligned with project priorities while maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational excellence.The manager serves as the primary interface between technicians, researchers, Principal investigators (PIs), and MTES Research Operations Director (ROD), and Research Operations Managers (ROMs).

This team works across the MTES Directorate to ensure safe and efficient research in fields spanning batteries development, buildings efficiency, concentrated solar, manufacturing and water power and wind energy technologies. The manager leads Plan of the Day or Plan of the Week meetings to enable collaboration with all stakeholders such as ESH&Q, facilities, researchers etc. and provides regular updates to senior leadership at the laboratory.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and overseeing field research operations at NLR’s Flatirons Campus and support the South Table Mountain (STM) campus and other offsite locations as required. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring safe conduct of research operations within the facilities located on NLR’s Flatirons Campus.

This role requires strong task management and budgeting skills, good interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, problem-solving and negotiation skills.

Key Areas of Responsibility and Associated Job Duties:

Provide leadership and direct supervision to our non-exempt Research Operations Technician team aligning team expertise with organizational and project goals at the Flatirons Campus (FC) as well as other MTES campuses or locations as needed.
Collaborate closely with the wider MTES Research Operations team to align group activities to support both the wider Directorate’s and Laboratory’s goals.
Lead workforce planning, resource allocation, and project execution for the MTES Research Operations Technicians Group including assignment of work tasks, staff coverage and coordination of work activities between research and technicians.
Coordination of field activities with FC site operations, security and EHS&Q including management of the daily plan of the day (POD) meeting
Manage group budgets, schedules, and performance metrics, ensuring accountability and alignment with strategic objectives.
Participate in performance management, hiring, compensation planning, promotions, and career development decisions.
Foster a strong safety culture in collaboration with Research Operations, research staff, Site Operations, and ESH&Q.
Ensure staff safety trainings are completed on time, manage Work Planning and Control (WPC) for Worksafe activities and work order submissions
Coordinate emergency response procedures for Flatirons facilities in partnership with the site emergency preparedness office.
Partner with the MTES Flatirons Campus Research Operations Manager (ROM) to identify lab space needs and support expansion planning.
Develop, implement and maintain a technician training matrix to enhance skill development and cross-functional capabilities.
Drive performance improvement initiatives to elevate research operations support.
Ensure compliance with DOE and laboratory policies, procedures, and safety standards.
Assist with emergency response team and procedures as and when required.

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Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree and 9 years experience in technically related research discipline; Or, Master’s Degree and 7 years experience in technically related research discipline; Or, PhD and 4 years experience in technically related research discipline. Previous management and budget adherence experience may be required. Degree in appropriate field is required. Demonstrated knowledge of legal and ethical management issues and practices. In-depth knowledge of the issues and best practices in the applicable field of expertise. Generally viewed as subject matter expert for group or work units. Excellent organization, project management, budgeting, interpersonal and communication skills. Proven problem-solving and negotiation skills. Demonstrated ability to make appropriate decisions regarding work activities and projects. Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and direct personnel with diverse skills, work styles and values.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

Knowledge of electronics and instrumentation, data acquisition systems.
Working knowledge of medium and high voltage systems at FC and ability to perform diagnostics and testing and/or repair and replacement work on medium voltage (MV) (up to 115 kV) electrical equipment as a qualified electrical worker 3 (QEW3).
Good understanding and or ability to learn the appropriate hazards that exist at the FC such as high wind, lightning conditions and other types of inclement weather conditions and be able to provide safety warnings to team staff as a result of such events.
Broad and in-depth knowledge of the issues and best practices in the research operations.
Ability to collaborate with individuals at all levels of the organization.
12+ years of related experience (skilled trades, wind manufacturing, manufacturing, engineering).
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain trusting relationships with team members.
Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution, and teaming skills.
Demonstrated significant leadership in an individual contributor role.
Clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE (Q) security clearance and SCI access. SCI access may require a polygraph examination.

Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen. See DOE O 472.2A for additional information.

Preferred Qualifications

Degree in Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a relevant technical degree.
Demonstrated ability to effectively lead, motivate and direct personnel with diverse skills, work styles and values.
Ability to promote and model ethical and professional interpersonal and business behaviors and standards.
Demonstrated ability to make appropriate decisions regarding day-to-day work activities
Working knowledge of and/or experience with hazards associated with Emergency Response activities.
Knowledge and application of Integrated Safety Management, Integrated Work Management, and other industrial hygiene and safety procedures is highly preferred.

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Group Manager II / Annual Salary Range: $120,400 - $216,700

NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR 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 required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.

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