Senior Operations Advisor to the CIO

Requisition Id 15911 

Overview  

The Senior Operations Advisor to the CIO serves as a critical tactical and operational leader within the IT Directorate, enabling efficient execution of CIO priorities, modernizing internal operations, and accelerating the secure adoption of AI and digital technologies. This role acts as a force multiplier—ensuring alignment between strategic vision and day-to-day execution, while managing cross-functional initiatives that support ORNL's mission.  

Serving as a trusted proxy to the CIO, the Advisor oversees operational rhythms, leads continuous improvement efforts, supports technology modernization, and advances organizational readiness for emerging IT capabilities, especially AI. The role is well-suited for an experienced IT professional and organizational strategist familiar with secure and classified environments, capable of driving results in a complex, multidisciplinary R&D ecosystem. 

Major Duties/Responsibilities 

1. Strategic Execution & Operational Alignment 

• Translate CIO strategic goals into executable roadmaps and annual operating plans. 

• Drive delivery of high-priority initiatives (e.g., secure infrastructure, AI adoption, cloud strategy) by coordinating across divisions without formal line authority. 

• Track key performance indicators (KPIs), project milestones, and organizational health metrics to assess progress. 
• Anticipate execution risks and proactively align resources to address gaps.

2. Tactical Operations & Performance Oversight 

• Lead continuous improvement and tactical response initiatives across IT operations. 

• Oversee directorate-level governance (e.g., risk management, assessment commitments, policy tracking). 

• Streamline workflows and business processes to optimize responsiveness to mission demands. 

• Ensure performance accountability through structured meeting cadences, action tracking, and escalation paths. 

• Support incident management activities ensuring prompt response and follow through with lessons learned and continuous improvement via Directorate wide deployment of improvements. 

3. AI & Emerging Tech Enablement 

• Champion the operational integration of AI/ML into IT services (e.g., AI-assisted development, automation, anomaly detection). 

• Identify opportunities for AI augmentation across ITSD operations in both classified and unclassified domains. 

• Coordinate staff upskilling efforts related to AI-readiness and emerging technology literacy.

4. Governance, Decision Support & Communications 

• Facilitate CIO decision-making through structured intake, prioritization, and follow-through of critical actions. 

• Prepare high-impact executive briefings, leadership communications, and performance dashboards. 

• Coordinate directorate participation in Lab-wide data calls, audits, and planning updates (e.g., PEMP, Lab Agenda).

5. Project Stewardship & Light Oversight 

• Provide stewardship over major initiatives—ensuring alignment, defining success criteria, and closing feedback loops between technical teams and leadership. 

• Support budgeting, resource planning, and vendor engagement in partnership with division leads. 

6. Cross-Divisional Liaison & CIO Proxy 

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between IT domains and mission organizations to ensure alignment and seamless integration of initiatives. 

• Represent the CIO in meetings, committees, or vendor engagements  

• to ensure effective representation and alleviate administrative and decision-making workload. 

• Translate external directives (e.g., Lab Leadership, NLCIO) into actionable internal responses. 

7. Organizational Culture & Change Management 

• Lead or support change management activities for organizational transitions, restructuring, or new tech adoption. 

• Foster a transparent, performance-oriented culture through employee recognition, engagement planning, and feedback loops. 

• Deliver 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.

Key Competency Areas 

Why This Role Matters 

This position empowers the CIO to focus on strategic transformation, while ensuring high operational tempo and enterprise alignment. The Advisor ensures that AI adoption, infrastructure modernization, and secure IT practices evolve at the pace of mission needs. As ORNL advances toward a next-generation digital posture, this role will be instrumental in enabling success. 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in information systems, computer science, engineering, or related field. 

• 12+ years of progressive IT experience with demonstrated leadership in secure or regulated environments. 

• Proven ability to operationalize technology strategy and support enterprise modernization initiatives. 

• Familiarity with AI/ML technologies and their integration into IT workflows. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in IT, Business, Public Administration, or related field. 

• Experience in federal R&D environments (DOE, NNSA, national labs) with understanding of classified computing and cybersecurity mandates. 

• Strong executive communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills. 

• Background in roles such as Chief of Staff, Strategy Advisor, or Business Operations Leader. 

• Familiarity with NIST 800-53, DOE Orders (e.g., O 205.1), and federal compliance frameworks. 

• Knowledge of hybrid and cloud-native architectures, Agile/DevOps practices, and enterprise governance. 

• Certifications: PMP, ITIL v4, Lean Six Sigma, or AI/ML credentials (e.g., NVIDIA DLI, MIT AI Strategy, etc.). 

Special Requirement

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain 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.

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.

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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.