Laboratory Director / Alliance CEO & President

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory seeks a Laboratory Director/Alliance CEO & President to lead its mission of advancing energy technologies and fostering partnerships. The role requires a visionary leader with expertise in energy technologies and organizational management. Based in Golden, CO, the director will oversee a workforce of over 3,700 employees and manage an annual budget of approximately $1 billion, driving innovation and economic growth in the energy sector.
The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Alliance) is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as the Director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). Managed by the Alliance—a partnership between MRIGlobal and Battelle—the director also serves as the Alliance CEO/President and reports to the Alliance Board of Directors. This role requires a visionary leader to guide NREL’s impactful mission of advancing energy technologies, fostering global partnerships, and driving innovation that catalyzes the transformation to a resilient and sustainable energy future.

NREL’s workforce includes over 3,700 employees and 500 contractors, dedicated to delivering scientific discoveries, engineering breakthroughs, and systems innovations to integrate energy systems at all scales. The laboratory supports an annual operating budget of approximately $1 billion and maintains over 1,100 active partnerships with organizations across 49 states and 37 countries. These collaborations accelerate technology development, commercialization, and deployment, driving economic growth and enhancing energy resilience. Each year these alliances and other NREL activity pump as much as $1.9 billion into the U.S. economy, make U.S. industries more competitive, and support job creation and economic growth across rural and urban communities.

Learn more about NREL here.

NREL operates two major research campuses and other smaller facilities. The 327-acre South Table Mountain (STM) campus near Golden, Colorado, houses capabilities to support research in foundational materials, biology, and advanced energy systems, including solar, bioenergy, geothermal, renewable fuels, and energy-efficient technologies. It is home to the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF), which offers unique hardware-in-the-loop experimental capabilities, high-performance computing, and research for secure, efficient energy systems. The NREL Flatirons Campus (FC), located near Boulder, Colorado specializes in validating prototype megawatt-scale wind turbines, blades, and control systems, as well as hybrid energy systems and storage research, with a controllable grid interface for studying integration challenges.

The next NREL director will be a dynamic leader with expertise in energy technologies, a proven record of managing complex organizations, and the ability to engage diverse stakeholders. As the face of NREL, the director will inspire innovation, champion partnerships, and uphold the laboratory’s commitment to safety, inclusivity, and operational excellence while advancing DOE’s mission and global energy goals.

Key Responsibilities

Inspire & Engage
• Lead NREL as a world-class research institution, driving innovation and excellence.
• Represent NREL as a thought leader in energy technologies nationally and internationally.
• Foster alignment with DOE leadership, stakeholders, and laboratory staff.

Develop People and Foster a Safe Environment
• Build and lead a high-performing executive team.
• Promote a safe, inclusive, and innovative work culture.
• Attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent in science, engineering, and operations.
• Be a model of integrity and inspire action through authentic leadership.

Set Vision & Strategy
• Develop and implement a visionary strategy to achieve global energy impact.
• Enhance research infrastructure and sustain NREL’s status as a premier institution.
• Ensure operational excellence, manage risks, and maintain high performance standards.

Build Collaborations & Partnerships
• Strengthen relationships with DOE, Alliance Board, national labs, industry, academia, and government entities.
• Engage effectively with elected officials at local, state and national level.
• Expand connections with local, regional, and global communities.

Enhance Institutional Reputation
• Serve as a credible and respected leader, representing NREL with technical depth.
• Build recognition for NREL’s contributions to energy transformation, resiliency, and impact.
• Uphold high standards for quality, objectivity, and credibility.

Personal Competencies
• Credibility & Integrity: Earn trust through honesty and transparency.
• Compassion and Empathy and Sensitivity: Foster a supportive, inclusive environment.
• Critical Decision Making: Make sound, timely decisions.
• Coach and Develop Others: Empower staff growth and development.
• Courage: Act decisively and persevere under pressure.
• Communication: Convey ideas clearly and effectively across all audiences.

Procedure for Candidacy

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as two separate documents, a CV (or resume), and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this position description. Professional references are not requested at this time. Applications may be submitted at NREL Lab Director.
• Application Deadline: For full consideration, submit candidate materials by April 18, 2025.
• Projected Start Date: Target start date for the successful candidate is October 1, 2025.

Any inquiries may be directed to: LDsearch@nrel.gov.

Basic Qualifications

• Applicable PhD in science or engineering and/or an advanced technical degree relevant to technical credibility in energy technologies.

• Exceptional record as an executive leader in a complex technical and/or research organization.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance.

• Ability to travel extensively both nationally and internationally.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Preferred Qualifications

The preferred candidate will possess many of these qualifications:
• Experience in balancing mission and operational requirements and demonstrated skill to align an organization for success in a changing environment.
• Background in energy technologies, markets, and infrastructure.
• Extensive familiarity with DOE missions.
• Experience building public-private partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to foster and commercialize innovation.
• Demonstrated managerial courage, political awareness, and business acumen.
• Effective communicator with strong relationship-building skills.