Director, Energy Programs Portfolio

Science, Energy & Innovation Directorate (SEI)

Director-level leader to oversee the laboratory’s research portfolio aligned with the DOE applied energy programs.

This position is responsible for strategic coordination, growth, and disciplined execution of Savannah River National Laboratory SRNL’s programs across DOE applied energy mission areas, including the Office of Electricity, the Office of Nuclear Energy, the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, and ARPA-E. The Director will work in close collaboration with program leads, division leadership, and principal investigators to drive strategic alignment across these mission areas.

The Director will provide strategic leadership for transformative research initiatives by fostering collaboration, defining priorities, ensuring strong execution, and shaping themes for proposal development. This role will play a crucial role in driving cross-cutting opportunities that span multiple technical disciplines, sponsors, and programs across SRNL.

This senior-level role will report to the Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) for Science, Energy & Innovation (SEI).

Role Scope

• Leads a team responsible for day-to-day engagement with individual DOE program offices.
• Ensures consistency in sponsor engagement quality, program management rigor, and portfolio reporting.
• Drives portfolio growth aligned with SRNL core capabilities.
• Integrates scientific programs with facilities, advanced manufacturing assets, and technical divisions.
• Proactively elevates issues requiring ALD or laboratory leadership attention.

Authority is exercised through strategic leadership, governance processes, and sponsor accountability.

This role does not serve as the primary relationship owner for every DOE office but ensures alignment, performance, and strategic cohesion across them.

 

1. Portfolio Strategy & Alignment

• Develop and implement an integrated strategy for SRNL’s energy programs portfolio.
• Identify growth opportunities, mission-adjacent expansions, and cross-office initiatives.
• Align program plans with SEI strategic priorities and laboratory objectives.
• Lead annual portfolio planning, forecasting, and roadmap development.

2. Matrix Leadership & Coordination

• Partner with division directors and program leads to align priorities and performance expectations.
• Facilitate regular portfolio reviews to assess financial health, execution status, and risk.
• Promote shared best practices in program management and sponsor engagement.
• Resolve cross-organizational friction points impacting portfolio execution.

3. Sponsor Engagement & Coordination

• Maintain working-level and senior-level sponsor relationships.
• Personally engage on strategic initiatives and high-impact opportunities.
• Coordinate laboratory responses to funding opportunities, lab calls, and major proposals.
• Represent SEI in cross-laboratory working groups when appropriate.

4. Portfolio Execution & Stewardship

• Ensure disciplined financial management and reporting integrity.
• Monitor performance metrics and milestone delivery.
• Identify risks early and implement mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with DOE requirements and laboratory policies

5. Cross-Directorate Integration

• Coordinate with technical divisions, facilities leadership, and business systems.
• Promote collaboration across scientific areas to avoid siloed growth.
• Align program growth with workforce development and infrastructure planning.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD and 10+ years of relevant experience; or
• Master’s degree and 13+ years; or
• Bachelor’s degree and 16+ years.

Experience managing federal research programs or technical portfolios is required.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing or supporting DOE-funded research programs.
• Proven ability to lead through influence and structured delegation.
• Strong understanding of DOE funding mechanisms and national laboratory dynamics.
• Experience overseeing multi-million-dollar annual research portfolios.
• Strong financial management and program reporting skills.
• Excellent communication skills suitable for sponsor and leadership engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience within a DOE national laboratory or federally funded research organization.
• Track record of growing research portfolios.
• Background aligned with SRNL technical strengths (nuclear materials, isotopes, fusion-related science, advanced manufacturing, computational science, environmental systems, etc.).
• Experience leading multi-institution collaborations.

"We put science to work!" 

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is a multi-program laboratory applying state of the art science and practical, high-value, cost-effective solutions to complex technical problems to protect the nation. Located at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken SC, the laboratory develops and deploys innovative technologies to address some of the nation’s environmental, energy, and national security challenges.

Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA) is constantly assessing trends to provide the best possible benefits to our workforce. We also negotiate cost effective premiums that will meet the needs of our evolving workforce. 

Some of the *Benefits offered to employees include:

*Benefits vary based upon employment status

• Highly competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision options including HSA options with company provided seed
• Short- & Long-Term Disability (company paid)
• Life Insurance Non-Contributary 1X salary (company paid)
• AD&D Non-contributary 1x salary (company paid)
• Savings & Investment plan:
• • Qualified Non-Elective Company Contribution of 5% each pay period with immediate vesting
  • Company match 50 cents/dollar up to 8% (5 yrs. vesting in company match)
• Contributory Life Insurance up to 5x Salary with $1M Cap
• Contributory AD&D (employee, spouse and children)
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Plan
• SRNL offers a competitive relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. 

For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the “About” tab at www.srnl.doe.gov.

BSRA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. BSRA is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. Please email us at SRNLRecruiting@srnl.doe.gov with any questions regarding the hiring process or to request an accommodation.