Directorate Chief Operations Officer, Environmental & Legacy Management
About the role
The Directorate Chief Operations Officer (DCOO) serves as the senior operational executive for the Environmental & Legacy Management (ELM) Directorate at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and is a key member of the directorate leadership team. Reporting directly to the Associate Laboratory Director (ALD), the DCOO is responsible for translating strategic vision into operational execution by integrating people, facilities, infrastructure, business systems, governance, and organizational processes into a unified enterprise that enables world-class science.
Responsibilities
Partner with the ALD to execute the ELM Strategic Plan and translate long-term vision into measurable operational outcomes.
Serve as the operational integrator across scientific divisions, Mission Support organizations, and Laboratory leadership to ensure organizational alignment with strategic priorities.
Develop long-range operational strategies supporting workforce growth, facility modernization, infrastructure investment, and future DOE mission opportunities.
Carefully coordinate directorate planning activities that position ELM for sustained scientific excellence and mission growth.
Lead all operational aspects of the directorate, ensuring research is conducted safely, securely, efficiently, and in full compliance with DOE requirements and SRNL policies.
Foster a culture of operational excellence built upon SRNL’s Safe Conduct of Research principles.
Establish governance processes that promote accountability, transparency, disciplined decision-making, and organizational effectiveness.
Develop operational performance metrics and key performance indicators that support continuous improvement and data-informed decision-making.
Ensure people, facilities, laboratories, equipment, infrastructure, and business systems effectively support scientific research and technology deployment.
Lead operational readiness activities that enable successful execution of research programs and emerging mission opportunities.
Coordinate closely with Mission Support organizations to improve operational services supporting scientific and engineering staff.
Remove organizational barriers that limit research productivity and mission execution.
Lead directorate operational risk management, assessment programs, corrective actions, and assurance activities.
Identify organizational risks and implement strategies that improve resilience, operational reliability, and mission continuity.
Provide executive oversight for operational issues affecting safety, security, compliance, facilities, and organizational performance.
Champion employee engagement and professional development initiatives that strengthen organizational performance.
Lead organizational change initiatives that improve effectiveness while maintaining a culture of trust, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
Lead modernization initiatives that leverage artificial intelligence, digital engineering, automation, advanced analytics, and data-driven decision-making to improve organizational effectiveness.
Improve operational efficiency through Lean principles, process optimization, and technology-enabled business transformation.
Promote innovative operational practices that strengthen research productivity and organizational agility.
Serve as the principal operational representative of the ALD with Laboratory Operations, DOE sponsors, Mission Support organizations, and external partners.
Build collaborative relationships across SRNL, the DOE laboratory complex, universities, industry, and other federal agencies.
Represent the directorate during operational reviews, strategic planning efforts, external assessments, and institutional initiatives.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business administration, public administration, or a related discipline.
Twelve or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience within the DOE complex, a national laboratory, federally funded research organization, or another highly regulated scientific or technical environment.
Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary organizations that integrate research, operations, facilities, infrastructure, and business functions.
Experience implementing strategic initiatives and translating organizational vision into operational execution.
Demonstrated experience managing organizational performance, operational risk, safety, quality, and compliance.
Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Proven ability to lead organizational change and develop high-performing teams.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance, for which U.S. citizenship is legally required.