RMAL Group Leader - Senior R&D Staff

Requisition Id 13553 

Overview:  

We are seeking an experienced radiochemist and senior researcher to lead the Radioactive Materials Analytical Laboratory (RMAL) group within the Nuclear Analytical Chemistry (NAC) Section of the Chemical Sciences Division (CSD) at the Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD) of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This role focuses on developing and analyzing radiological constituents across various matrices, including bulk nuclear materials, environmental samples, safeguards, nonproliferation efforts, and other process applications. As the R&D Group Leader, you will oversee a highly skilled team with the primary goal of achieving global scientific leadership in analytical sciences. Your responsibilities will include maintaining current programs, establishing relationships, writing proposals, and developing new research areas to strengthen capabilities. You will lead an organization with a strong service component and will be expected to build research and development initiatives to create novel methods, innovative measurement devices, and advanced methodologies for gamma spectroscopy, alpha spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and radiochemistry to address complex analytical challenges.

In this role, you will also support a variety of ORNL projects and programs, including environmental stewardship initiatives, nuclear fuel cycle research, and chemical operations related to the production and purification of radioisotopes. You will lead projects aimed at developing instruments and measurement methodologies to address risks and deficiencies. Your work will be pivotal in advancing the group’s capabilities in the analysis of actinide series elements, enhancing nuclear material characterization, and contributing to critical evaluations of nuclear material protection, proliferation risk mitigation, and medical isotope production. Additionally, you will champion ORNL’s culture of safety and scientific excellence, foster staff development, and scale up their impact on projects. Working closely with the section head and other group leaders, you will implement the group’s scientific vision, improve quality systems to maintain ISO 17025 accreditation, and continually enhance the group’s radiological programs and capabilities. The ideal candidate will be a subject matter expert in material handling, isotopic/assay analysis, gamma spectroscopy, and familiar with inorganic mass spectrometry and radiological material protocols.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Develop and implement a cohesive group research strategy to ensure the success of new and ongoing projects and position the group for future success.
• Participate in or lead the initiation of new research directions and the development of research proposals to secure internal and external funding.
• Lead collaborations with other scientists and technical personnel in a fast-paced, flexible work environment.
• Attract and hire a diverse pool of high-quality candidates committed to world-class R&D and aspiring to be leaders in their field.
• Assist staff in setting performance goals aligned with the group’s strategy and members’ long-term career goals and provide timely feedback on performance issues.
• Oversee the technical quality of the group’s products and services.
•  Provide input to support with staff development and offer direct, impactful mentorship regularly.
• Lead by example according to ORNL’s “Research Code of Conduct” for proposing, performing, and communicating research.
• Ensure all work is carried out safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL’s ESH&Q policies, standards, and procedures.
• Enhance the group's reputation and standing through collaboration, Professional Society leadership, and organizing technical events.
• Maintain effective communication about scientific efforts both internally and externally, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at scientific meetings.
• Travel as required to brief sponsors, conduct field exercises, and attend scientific conferences.
• Align behaviors, priorities, and interactions with ORNL’s core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace.
• Collaborate with staff to address novel and complex technical issues.
• Perform and guide radiochemical determinations of materials.
• Independently operate a suite of radioanalytical instruments.
• Conduct laboratory tests to develop, modify, and refine operational and experimental procedures.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. with a minimum of 6 years relevant experience, a M.S. with a minimum of 12 years relevant experience, or a BS with a minimum of 15 years of experience.
• Proven experience leading R&D and/or technical teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in the knowledge, use, and troubleshooting of high-purity germanium gamma detectors and associated software. Knowledge of Canberra’s Apex Gamma and Genie 2000 software is preferred.
• Expertise in the knowledge, use, and troubleshooting of low-background proportional counters (both gas-flow and solid-state) and associated software. Knowledge of Canberra’s Apex Alpha/Beta software is preferred.
• Expertise in the knowledge, use, and troubleshooting of liquid scintillation detectors and associated software. Knowledge of Perkin Elmer’s Quantasmart© software is preferred.
• Expertise in the knowledge, use, and troubleshooting of alpha spectrometry detectors and associated software. Knowledge of ORTECS’s AlphaVision© software is preferred.
• Proficiency in elemental ICPMS quadrupole maintenance, setup, and operations. Knowledgeable in fully quantitative, semi-quantitative, and high-precision isotope ratio measurements for quantifying radiological isotopes in highly radioactive sample streams.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with modern sample preparation methods used in isotopic and elemental characterizations, with an emphasis on nuclear materials and experience in the chemistry and separations of lanthanides and actinides.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working in C-zone laboratories, using glove boxes and radiochemical hood enclosures, and adhering to safety practices associated with handling radioactive materials.
• Demonstrated collaborative research experience in academic, industry, or government agencies.

• 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.

Special Requirements:

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a 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. 

 Reference Letters

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to psdrecruit@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
• View Profile
• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

Benefits at ORNL: 

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for 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.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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.