Climate Physics Program Specialist III

Position Description: This position reports to the Climate Physics Manager and serves as a resource to the Climate Physics Manager and technical staff to ensure objectives are achieved and carried out consistently in the following areas: business and program management, contracts, finance, quality assurance, environmental health and safety, security and safeguards, acquisitions, and sales. The incumbent will provide management and oversight of high level operational issues and will manage the contracts and acquisitions related to field campaigns for the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Aerial Vehicles Program. Routine external contacts include staff at DOE-RL, DOE Headquarters and other clients, as well as vendors and collaborators at universities and other federal agencies.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities:  The primary responsibilities of the incumbent are to provide business and project management support for the Climate Physics Group within the Atmospheric Science and Global Change (AS&GC) Division. The technical group manages 25-30 projects and writes 25-35 proposals per year. This position supports 10 project managers; is responsible for ~$2M per year in contractual acquisitions; provides management oversight of the business operations for the Climate Physics group; provides program management for selected major projects and programs within the Group; and translates and communicates key policies/procedures to management and staff. On behalf of and as delegated by the group manager, the incumbent has authority for the business management for the group and to respond to and resolve contractual, financial, program and business management related issues. The incumbent supports projects throughout their life cycle from the proposal stage to the performance of the work and delivery of the product to close out. The incumbent works with the group manager, project managers, the division specialist, and the division director to carry out the tasks. The incumbent generates baseline budget requirements in the annual business planning process in conjunction with the group manager; develops group overhead budgets; and analyzes group overhead expenditures and impacts of budget changes. Within the technical group, the projects are primarily principal investigator projects. The incumbent provides proposal development and project management support. The incumbent carries out advanced detailed logistical planning in support of field campaigns, manages acquisitions, and provides detailed cost control, as well as directs the activities of scientific and support staff in the context of logistics (acquisitions and operations) for the campaigns. He/she identifies opportunities and risks associated with field campaigns, identifies and implements process improvements, and provides alternative solutions to complex problems.

The incumbent will manage the proposal process, including finalize statements of work, prepare cost proposals, complete Prep and Risk documents, coordinate the complete proposal package with the project manager and the contracts specialist, obtain necessary approvals, and coordinate and participate in risk assessment meetings. The incumbent will establish the work breakdown structure (WBS); assist with project schedule and spend plan; analyze impact of budget changes; develop, maintain, and analyze monthly budget reports; monitor spending to control project costs; provide the interface with Contracts for acquisitions; draft statements of work and sole source justifications; manage spending on some tasks; write capital acquisition requests; manage the accrual process at year end for assigned projects; and manage project closeouts. He/she will prepare in-depth analysis of project status in order to assess trouble areas that might jeopardize PNNL relative to overrunning project costs or failing to meet client milestones. The incumbent will become familiar with the general technical aspects of the projects in order to make informed decisions required to complete the tasks.

Position Level Requirements

Professional Expertise: Act independently with limited direction from management; direct activities of specialists and administrators to ensure successful proposal submittals; possess expertise in various business systems; be a valued resource to specialists and administrators within the laboratory; set a positive example for productive teamwork; act for the ACRF Program Specialist and the AS&GC Division specialist when necessary.

Work-related Experience: Possess knowledge of government contracting principles, finance and accounting principles; demonstrate initiative and a proactive approach to tracking operational, contractual, financial and business management requirements and financial status for the group; analyze program and group spending, understand different categories of spending, clearly communicate these differences to management and staff in the group and work effectively with the division business office; understand and communicate to others a variety of policies procedures including PNNL and Battelle; understand PNNL and Battelle organizational structure, and financial, contractual and management systems; understand DOE organizational structure, institutional relationships, and funding procedures.

Breadth of Relevant Specialized Knowledge and Skills: Demonstrated organizational, written, and verbal communication skills; demonstrated proficiency and skills in (1) managing a complex work environment, including a wide variety of external contacts; (2) contracts and finance budgeting and tracking; (3) Microsoft Project, Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Ability to learn a wide variety of PNNL support systems.

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in business or related discipline with 4 years of related experience or advanced degree plus 2 years of related experience required. Additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree, as per management discretion.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and supports diversity in the workplace. Applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or sexual orientation.

If you have an interest in this position, please apply at www.jobs.pnl.gov, reference 115854.  For current information related to our organization you may view the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and FCSD Home Pages at:

http://www.pnl.gov - PNNL Home Page

http://www.pnl.gov/science/ - FCSD Home Page

http://www.pnl.gov/atmospheric/research/physics.stm - Climate and Cloud Physics Home Page