Project Controller II/III - National Security Research Oversight Office

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is seeking a Project Controller II/III for its National Security Research Oversight Office in Golden, CO. This role involves managing project budgets, subcontract management, task planning, and documentation. The Project Controller will collaborate with project managers and financial analysts to ensure successful project delivery and support national security initiatives. The position requires a commitment to effective project management and adherence to organizational goals.
Posting Title

Project Controller II/III - National Security Research Oversight Office

Location

CO - Golden

Position Type

Regular

Hours Per Week

40

Working at NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NREL stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NREL, you’ll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Learn about NREL’s critical objectives: NREL's Mission and Vision.

Job Description

The National Security Research Oversight (NSRO) Office is adding to our team. Staff in NSRO oversee complex, cutting-edge national security initiatives and depend on Project Controllers to support the effective management of projects to maximize impact. We are seeking a Project Controller for project and program budget review and monitoring, subcontract management (SOW development, execution, accruals, approving invoices, tracking and meeting deliverables), task planning and scheduling, documentation management (including contributing to writing and leading editing of memos, emails, job aids, and procedures), internal reporting, and documenting and tracking requirements. Specific project requirements may vary depending on project type and structure. 

This position will coordinate closely with management, project managers, and financial analysts to ensure successful project delivery in support of organizational goals. The position may also interact closely with the NSRO Director, laboratory program managers, and various NREL departments.

The primary responsibility of this role is to work with national security project managers to provide project management and financial support on national security efforts. The Project Controller will work under the general supervision and guidance of project leaders and senior-level staff to support planning, coordinating, implementing, and assessing project activities according to project objectives and deadlines, while assisting to keep project milestones/deliverables on time and within budget.

 

The successful candidate will support project and program budget review and tracking, financial review and analysis, project task planning and scheduling, documentation management, client reporting, and subcontract administration and management (e.g., statement of work development and deliverables tracking). Specific project requirements may vary depending on project type and structure.

 

Job Duties May Include But Are Not Limited To
• Supporting the project team with project management activities: create schedules, monitor progress against deliverables, track costs against plans, and manage budgets
• Completing regular assessments of project progress and finances and update plans when indicated
• Researching, assembling and evaluating information/data and developing solutions to issues
• Contributing to and preparing reports, presentations, and group communications to internal and external stakeholders
• Planning, organizing, and executing project activities such as webinars, client meetings, workshops, and conferences
•  Preparing project documentation including budget tracking and reporting
• Assisting in the preparation of project management documentation
• Manage and coordinate subcontracting and procurement procedures and serving as lead/technical monitor when needed
• Track the milestones and progress of projects as well as associate project costs against the budget
• Provide input to assessing progress towards meeting project financial goals
• Draft project documents (e.g. deliverables, quarterly and annual reports) and coordinating team and management reviews and approvals
• Interact with various NREL departments to support the development of proposals, subcontracts, legal agreements, communications for publication, etc.

Note: This position requires a Hybrid or On-Site work arrangement, including regular in-person work at NREL's South Table Mountain Campus in Golden, CO, and is not eligible for 100% remote work arrangements.

Basic Qualifications

Level III:

Relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant PhD or equivalent relevant education/experience. or, relevant JD or equivalent relevant education/experience. Complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Considerable knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to a specific field. Strong leadership, project management and problem solving skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.

Level II

Relevant Bachelor's Degree and 2 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree or equivalent relevant education/experience. General knowledge and application of technical standards, principles, theories and techniques. Frequent application of industry concepts and principles. General knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Skilled in problem solving, written and verbal communication. Ability to use various computer software programs.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

PC II:
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Security Clearance

Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen. See DOE O 472.2A for additional information.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• A high degree of professionalism, curiosity, and ethical conduct is required
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Thrives in a fast-paced, innovative environment
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite (MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and other computer software programs needed to effectively track and manage a projects

Pc Iii

All of the above PCII requirements, plus:
• Initiates projects, works unsupervised, completes tasks independently, solves problems, and supports the team to drive results
• Strong conflict resolution and collaboration skills
• Strong preparation of materials and experience presenting
• Knowledge and application of project management principles and practices
• Strong knowledge using Microsoft Office Suite (MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and other computer software programs needed to effectively track and manage a projects

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with project management methodologies, including experience in finance and business processes
• Prior experience with data analysis tools such as Power BI
• Prior experience with business tools including SharePoint and Salesforce
• Ability to understand NREL financial systems (EPM, NQuIRE, Pricing Tool, iProcurement, etc.) to gather and interpret data
• Strong ability to problem solve and take initiative
• Excellent prioritization and ability to manage multiple projects
• Ability to prepare professional communications that are appropriate for internal and external stakeholders
• Familiarity with online collaboration platforms (e.g., Webex, MS Teams, Zoom, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain trusting relationships with team members and project leaders 
• Desire to continually develop project management skills, including learning how to use and apply new project management tools or using existing tools to meet project management needs 
• Experience in administering project sites in tools such as SharePoint and Microsoft Teams
• Knowledge of national laboratory structures and processes
• Active security clearance

Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Professional III / Annual Salary Range: $74,900 - $123,600

Job Profile: Professional II / Annual Salary Range: $65,100 - $107,400

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.
• Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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