Career Center

The PPPL Deputy Director for Operations (Chief Operating Officer) has an opening for the Department Head of Planning, Assurance and Contract Management (PACM). The PACM Department Head is a member of the PPPL Lab Leadership Council and is directly accountable to the Laboratory Directorate for providing leadership, vision, management, direction, oversight, strategic and tactical planning for executing all aspects of the Laboratory’s integrated performance management and assurance including Annual Laboratory Planning, Contractor Assurance System (CAS), managing PPPLs prime contract requirements implementation, enterprise risk management, support management systems’ improvement, as well as both quality assurance and quality control.

As a valued member of the PPPL leadership team, the PACM Department Head partners with senior executives to drive Lab-wide operational and resource planning for optimizing organizational effectiveness and performance. The successful candidate must be able to collaborate and influence a diverse group of clients, fully understand the business needs, drivers, strategies, goals, and expectations of units in PPPL and adeptly work with partners to help ensure the achievement of goals and outcomes. This position coordinates closely with both DOE and Princeton University, managing expectations and communicating information to both internal and external stakeholders with a goal of enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Laboratory.

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is a world-class fusion energy research laboratory managed by Princeton University for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. PPPL is dedicated to developing the scientific knowledge and advanced engineering to enable fusion to power the U.S. and the world; advancing the science of nanoscale fabrication for technologies of tomorrow; and furthering the scientific understanding of the plasma universe from laboratory to astrophysical scales.

• Lead, coordinate and ensure the delivery of a comprehensive lab strategic and operational planning, to include, the Annual Laboratory Plan, Campus Plan, Organizational Business Plans, and associated flow-down into PPPL planning and performance assurance elements.
• Serve as the primary steward for planning and performance management
• Serve as the PPPL steward of the DOE-Princeton University M&O contract
• Maintain and continually improve the implementation of the Contractor Assurance System
• Provide programs that ensure availability, accuracy, proper control, compliance, and disposition of publications, documents, and records
• Ensure standardized performance and quality systems to enable Laboratory operating and continuous improvement activities
• Ensure institutional systematic risk management program of activities, organizations, and projects
• Ensure the quality of procured and in-house fabricated components
• Manage organizational budgets within authorized spending limits
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned the Chief Operating Officer

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field related to PPPL science, business administration, or management
• Ten years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Detailed knowledge and experience implementing planning and assurance programs at research and development organizations, associated with Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) and in particular Department of Energy National Labs
• Success at having built effective relationships with senior managers as well as internal and external constituents
• Strong and effective senior level leadership and management acumen, including proven ability to engage and develop staff, foster teamwork, diversity and inclusion, innovation, risk taking, continuous learning, and a respectful workplace
• Experience and expertise in strategic planning and assurance, risk and issues management, quality assurance and quality control
• Demonstrated strategic leadership and change management skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Expertise in budget planning and financial forecasting
• Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation and political acumen skills. Able to influence people, solve problems, trouble shoot, think creatively and resolve conflicts
• Expert analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong knowledge of industry standards, trends and/or regulatory requirements
• A passion for and demonstrated experience integrating human resources strategies with an organization’s core objectives
• Strong track record as a strategic partner for leadership
• Sound reasoning, judgment, objectivity, and ability to deal with ambiguity
• Results and metrics orientation
• Attentive to details
• Competency in project management approach to goal execution
• A reasonable acumen of modern computer-based tools
• National Lab experience is preferred.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from participation in certain foreign government talent recruitment programs. All PPPL employees are required to disclose any participation in a foreign government talent recruitment program and may be required to withdraw from such programs to remain employed under the DOE Contract.

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