Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
Position Summary:
Berkeley Lab is seeking a dynamic scientific leader with a national and international reputation and record of accomplishment to serve as the Division Director of the Materials Sciences Division. Throughout history, advances in materials have been the basis for advances in civilization. Materials that we cannot now imagine will form the basis of devices and applications in a future about which we can now only dream. The Materials Sciences Division (MSD) is dedicated to designing, synthesizing, and characterizing the new materials, and discovering and understanding the new phenomena that will propel us into the future. In the process, this research will advance our understanding of nature, provide the basis for technology development, and help U.S. industry continue its leadership in high technology.
The Materials Sciences Division Director is responsible for providing scientific leadership for the Division's research programs and for maintaining the quality of research in the division by working with Division staff, the Associate Laboratory Director for Energy Sciences, and the Laboratory Directorate to enhance existing programs and develop new programs in materials sciences, condensed matter, experimental and theoretical physics, materials chemistry, and biomolecular materials. MSD is also home of the Center for X-ray Optics (CXRO), a unique, world-renowned facility working to further the science and technology of short wavelength optical systems and techniques. CXRO’s research activities are primarily funded by semiconductor industries, but it also operates several beamlines at the Advanced Light Source, a third-generation synchrotron national scientific user facility that attracts scientists from around the world. MSD also houses the Materials Project, part of the broader Materials Genome Initiative - an effort to compute the properties of all known inorganic materials and beyond, and make that data, along with novel online analysis and design algorithms, available to the research community. In addition, MSD will lead Berkeley Lab’s effort in the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), a collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, Berkeley Lab, and other institutions, has the objective of overcoming fundamental scientific challenges and enabling next-generation, beyond-lithium-ion energy-storage systems.
The Division Director is expected to build collaborative programs with UC Berkeley and other research institutions, and act as a spokesperson for the Division in interactions with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and other government agencies. With a budget of over $35 million and approximately 600 staff and guests, the Division Director has full responsibility for all areas of management within the Division, including operations, finance, human resources, and environmental health and safety. The Division Director is also expected to work as team member with other parts of Laboratory management to ensure the smooth operation and long-term prospects of the Laboratory as a whole.
Specific Responsibilities:
Provide scientific leadership for the Division's research programs and for maintaining the quality in the division through management of existing programs and development of new ones in materials sciences, condensed matter, experimental and theoretical physics, materials chemistry, and biomolecular materials.
Build collaborative programs with UC Berkeley and other research institutions and develop cooperative programs with industry to the mutual benefit of Berkeley Lab and its partners.
Establish and communicate MSD policy, mission, goals and accomplishments to division staff, division sponsors, within LBNL, and to the broader research community.
Make substantial contributions to the formulation and direction of Laboratory programs that enhance LBNL's preeminence as a National Laboratory.
Serve as a key liaison to the Department of Energy officials in the Materials Sciences and related areas, and be expected to influence and implement DOE policies as they impact MSD.
Address management and resource challenges of a growing organization; guides strategies for hiring, retaining and developing diverse staff.
Participate in formulating the research policy and long-term direction of the Laboratory as a whole and provide consultation to the Laboratory Director, Deputy Director, and Associate Laboratory Director regarding new initiatives for the strategic direction of MSD.
Work as a team member with other scientific and operational Division Directors, the Associate Laboratory Directors, and the Laboratory Directorate to advance the interests of LBNL and assure efficient, effective, and safe operation of the Laboratory.
Responsible for all areas of management within the division including operation, environmental health and safety, administration, budget and human resources.
Lead by example to proactively promote principles of diversity and ensure compliance with EEO/AA requirements and best practices.
Perform work in a manner that protects the health and safety of fellow employees and the public, and preserves the quality of the environment aligned with Laboratory policies.
Required Qualifications:
Ph.D. and or equivalent education/experience in a scientific discipline relevant to MSD and an internationally recognized record of research accomplishments in that scientific discipline.
Recognized as a respected expert and leader in respective scientific, engineering, technical, or operational field. As applicable, well regarded by peers at national laboratories, within the DOE complex, in the UC system, and/or other relevant national and international organizations.
Significant experience and demonstrates competence in the management of large-scale scientific projects and collaborative science.
Ability to interact effectively with funding agencies such as the Department of Energy, and demonstrates ability to initiate substantial new research efforts and collaborations.
Demonstrated scientific and strategic leadership applicable to running a large, diverse, team-oriented organization with a multidisciplinary group of scientists that includes chemists, chemical engineers, physicists, biologists, and materials scientists.
Demonstrated experience in effective management and administrative oversight, creativity in decision making and problem solving, experience in human resource management and a commitment to mentoring and career development.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to interact at the highest level of management, both internally and externally, in a constructive and collaborative manner and in way that appropriately represents the Laboratory.
The posting shall remain open until the position is filled.
Notes:
Full-time, M-F, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
Salary is commensurate with experience.
This position is subject to the financial disclosure requirements of the California Political Reform Act of 1974. The successful candidate for this position will be required to file financial interest statements upon assuming this position, annually while holding this position, and when leaving this position.
Equal Employment Opportunity: Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. Berkeley Lab is in compliance with the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4. Click here to view the poster and supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law."
