Technical Project Manager - National Security

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking a Technical Project Manager for the National Security Research Office in Golden, CO. This role involves managing a multi-year funding portfolio, coordinating with various stakeholders, and supporting project performance tracking in classified and unclassified environments. The position aims to enhance the resilience and security of the nation's energy system through strategic partnerships and effective project management.
Posting Title
Technical Project Manager - National Security

Location
CO - Golden

Position Type
Regular

Hours Per Week
40

Working at NREL

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 Office (NSRO) within the Energy Systems Resilience Integration (ESRI) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate is hiring a Technical Project Manager with significant experience working within or directly with the national security sector.

The successful candidate will use knowledge and experience to develop and maintain a dynamic, multi-year portfolio funding plan by funding source to ensure the most efficient and effective use of available funding. This position will work closely with line managers, business managers, financial analysts, project controllers, business development leads, and technical research staff. Close coordination with peer management and program leads is required to ensure alignment with parallel efforts.

The incumbent will work in classified and unclassified environments to support coordination, reporting, and planning for strategic partnerships with agencies of the National Security sector. The successful candidate will be driven by the prospect of a positive impact on the resilience and security of our nation's future energy system.

Job duties and responsibilities may include:
• Supporting development of program requirements, proposals, and final pricing and statement of work.
• Contributing to the development of new practices for managing projects and processes in a dual classified/unclassified work environment.
• Tracking project performance to include funding, financial costing, and progress toward milestones.
• Leading or coordinating technical project teams.
• Develop and maintain project control documents, and coordinate between multiple funding sources and multiple internal performers/task leads.
• Support development and implementation of technical processes such as change control management.
• Organizing mission priorities across a portfolio of projects.
• Evaluating research workforce and resource needs.
• Monitoring and maintaining approval and publication processes for research publications.
• Preparing and delivering progress reports and presentations incorporating summaries of project progress, issues, and mitigations using verbal and written communication skills.
• Communicating with project sponsors and partner.
• Experience in project and portfolio management.
• Supporting planning and execution of visits, meetings, and events.
• Occasional travel (less than 10%) may be required.

Basic Qualifications
Relevant PhD or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Advanced understanding and application of project management principles, concepts, practices and standards. Advanced knowledge of technical field and related disciplines. Contributes to the development of new principles and concepts. Excellent interpersonal, conflict resolution, teaming and communication skills.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications
• Existing security clearance at TS or Q level including the ability and willingness to maintain it. Ability to obtain and maintain SCI access. SCI access may require a polygraph examination. To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order DOE O 472.2A for additional information.
• This role requires an onsite presence of at least 3 days per week at the South Table Mountain Campus, in Golden, CO. Relocation assistance is provided for those living 50 miles or more away from the campus.
• Significant experience working in classified settings and communicating on classified systems.
• Strong understanding and application of project management principles, concepts, practices and standards.
• Demonstrated experience using project management tools such as Jira, Kanban, MSProject, or SmartSheets and business tools such as Microsoft Office Suite and SharePoint.
• Experience interfacing with enterprise-wide software applications.
• Experience supporting proposals in response to funding opportunity announcements.
• Experience working with DOE and/or other federal agencies.
• Basic or higher-level understanding of the federal budget and finance process.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Interest and experience in energy systems and/or national security.

Preferred Qualifications
• Formal training and certification in project management, such as PMP or CAPM.
• Familiarity with national laboratory environments.
• Demonstrated experience with dual classified and unclassified programs.
• Technical acumen, such as can be demonstrated through training and/or a degree in a STEM subject, or program management of programs in a science or engineering discipline.

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: Project Manager III / Annual Salary Range: $81,500 - $146,700

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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