Job Description

Description

Overview Do you want to be an influential part of the world’s largest fusion experiment? The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as the PPPL Head of ITER Projects and ITER Diagnostic Team Lead. Reporting to the PPPL Associate Laboratory Director for Engineering and (via Memorandum of Understanding) the US ITER Project Engineering Technical Director at ORNL, this position comes with the opportunity to grow and advance international research initiatives, lead engineering projects, and influence the most complex fusion facility ever built. ITER is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject, that will be the world's largest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment studying burning plasmas for the first time. Thirty-five nations are collaborating to build and operate the ITER tokamak, located in France. In this role, you will lead a team of PPPL staff and subcontractors that are delivering U.S. diagnostic systems which have a combined budget in excess of $700M. The ideal candidate has demonstrated senior-level background and experience successfully delivering complex research or engineering projects of $100M or more. This role requires effectively collaborating with senior leadership at PPPL, U.S. ITER, the US Department of Energy (DOE), and the ITER Organization as well as leaders from the other ITER domestic agencies, in devising and executing strategies for effective integration of U.S. diagnostic activities with the international ITER project. This position has overall responsibility for cost, schedule, and technical performance in the execution of U.S. ITER diagnostic scope. Managing the development and delivery of the state-of-the-art plasma diagnostics while addressing the specific technical nuclear issues associated with ITER is on the cutting edge of fusion engineering research. As a member of PPPL’s senior leadership team, you will actively participate in Laboratory strategic planning and management functions and be a member of the Laboratory Leadership Council. Key responsibilities include: • Directing the design and fabrication of ITER Diagnostic Systems for which the U.S. is responsible. • Leading a team of PPPL and subcontractors in delivering on U.S. diagnostic responsibilities. • Executing U.S. ITER diagnostic scope within cost, schedule, and technical performance requirements. • Proactively working with senior leadership at PPPL, U.S. ITER, and the international ITER Organization in devising and executing strategies for effective integration of U.S. diagnostic activities with the international ITER project. A proud U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory managed by Princeton University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is a longstanding leader in the science and innovation behind the development of fusion energy — a clean, safe, and virtually limitless energy source. With an eye on the future and in response to national priorities, PPPL also has begun a strategic shift from a singular focus on fusion energy to a multi-focus approach that includes microelectronics, quantum information science, and sustainability science. Whether it be through science, engineering, technology or professional services, every team member has an opportunity to make their mark on our world. PPPL aims to attract and support people with a rich variety of backgrounds, interests, experiences, and cultural viewpoints. We are committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility and believe that each member of our team contributes to our scientific mission in their own unique way. Come join us! Responsibilities The PPPL Head of ITER Projects is responsible for the overall management and success of multiple diagnostic project teams, including the responsibilities of providing direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control, and completion of assigned projects, ensuring consistency with organizational strategy, commitments, and goals. This includes identification and acquisition of resources and coordination of the efforts of team members and third-party resources in order to deliver projects according to plan. This position is also responsible for defining the project diagnostics objectives and overseeing quality control throughout the project life cycle. This position is expected to frequently engage with ITER Organization, PPPL, ORNL, and DOE stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate awareness of project status and performance. As the Lab’s project portfolio expands and ITER efforts taper, this PM may also play a role in articulating, communicating, and advising on complex scopes of science and engineering work among multiple private-sector and international partners. Key project attributes leading to career progression for the PM include: project complexity, risk, team size, business volume, contract type, political/client/business sensitivities communication skills including stakeholder/sponsor management, and managing multiple projects at different stages of life cycle. Core Duties: • Collaborates with stakeholders to define project objectives, requirements and key performance parameters. • Manages project teams to achieve project requirements on time and on budget including DOE Notable Outcomes, milestones, performance and technical requirements, risk management and key performance parameters. • Engages PPPL stakeholders and subject matter experts to identify hazards, potential environmental impacts and coordinates the development of plans and controls for their mitigation throughout the project life cycle. • Provides project direction, oversight and feedback to assigned project staff. • Oversees all aspects of project execution including safety, risk, scope, cost and schedule and change control. • Identifies project issues and adverse trends and implements timely and effective recovery plan(s), when needed. • Issues timely and accurate project reports and communicates project performance to PPPL, US ITER and DOE stakeholders. • Oversees and manages project closeout including turnover to end user/operations and disposition of documents and records. • Conducts critiques and documents lessons learned that can be applied to future PPPL projects. Qualifications Education and Experience: • Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent (Major Engineering, Architecture, or Project Management) required; Advanced degree in these areas is preferred. • 15 years of relevant past experience managing complex construction projects. • Past experience at DOE labs and/or managing DOE 413.3b projects preferred. • Past experience as an Earned Value Management System (EVMS) Control Account Manager is preferred. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Minimum: • Strong leadership and supervisory skills. • Demonstrated team building skills, including the ability to work effectively with peers, other organizations, project sponsors and stakeholders and suppliers. • Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to conduct risk analysis and to make timely, risk informed decisions. • Superior communication and presentation skills to provide adequate levels of transparency to all members of the project team and stakeholders. • Excellent Computer skills (PC/Mac). • Proficient knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite including Word, Powerpoint, Excel using advanced excel functions. • Proficient with the Google Suite including Google Slides, Google Docs/Google Sheets. • Experience with Primavera scheduling software, or equivalent. • Demonstrated knowledge of work breakdown structure (WBS), sequencing, resource loading and other cost/schedule control. • Ability to adapt to external project impacts. • Excellent interpersonal skills. • Excellent communication skills. Preferred: • Experience in leading major R&D, DOE or other federally funded programs or projects highly desirable. • Ability to lead a national, multi-disciplinary engineering team as part of an international project. Certificates and Licenses: • Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification desired. • Professional Engineer Certification desired. Working Conditions: • This position is based at PPPL in Plainsboro, NJ. Frequent travel to ITER Project site in France, to U.S. ITER HQ at Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee, and subcontractor sites, as needed. 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. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS 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. Standard Weekly Hours 40.00 Eligible for Overtime No Benefits Eligible Yes Probationary Period 180 days Essential Services Personnel (see policy for detail) No Physical Capacity Exam Required No Valid Driver's License Required No #LI-CL1