Strategy Execution Officer

Overview

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that are referred to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex, real‑world threats to our nation and the world.

The Chief Science and Technology Office within NSD plays a pivotal role in identifying relevant and compelling national security science and technology challenges, as well as developing a cohesive directorate strategy to establish and differentiate PNNL's science and technology capabilities and leadership. The Office leads collective efforts to maintain a timely, compelling, and actionable strategy that elevates leadership through mission impact.

It ensures that NSD supports and aligns with Laboratory strategy while facilitating effective communication of that strategy both within and outside of the Laboratory. Additionally, the Chief Science and Technology Office oversees efforts to maintain a robust pipeline of internal investments and proposals, fostering world‑class capabilities and supporting strategic objectives.

The Chief Science and Technology Office is responsible for formulating strategy and managing internal R&D investments for NSD. These activities are led by the Chief Science and Technology Officer (CSTO), with the active support of a full‑time Strategy Execution Officer (XO). The XO is tasked with implementing the strategic elements developed by the CSTO and the NSD Leadership Team and reports directly to the CSTO.

In partnership with the CSTO, the XO efficiently implements elements of NSD’s S&T strategic planning process and oversees the execution of internal strategic investments. The CSTO represents NSD’s strategy to the Directorate and Laboratory Leadership Teams, the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program, and advisory committees featuring national luminaries. Feedback from these engagements informs the development of NSD’s long‑term S&T strategy and supports the effective execution of NSD’s strategic plan.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a Strategic Execution Plan to accompany and enable the successful execution of NSD’s S&T strategy and successfully complete all associated annual milestones.
• Partner with the CSTO and the Directorate Leadership Team to refine Directorate S&T strategy, supporting alignment with laboratory‑level strategy, Directorate business development and capability development strategies, and associated plans.
• Support the Directorate Leadership Team in planning and stewarding internal investments, including outlining Research Organization Overhead (ROO), Program Development and Management (PDM), and LDRD funding requests, to meet the Directorate’s strategic goals, evolve our strategy, and enhance the national‑level impact of our science and technology capabilities.
• Manage the NSD internal investment portfolio, which includes LDRD, PDM, and ROO allocations, interface with the PNNL LDRD Program, execute the NSD LDRD Mission Seed calls for proposals and NSD’s TARDIS investments, and steward the accompanying projects, managing associated budgets and coordinating proposal and project reviews.
• Conduct robust, inspirational engagement with staff interested in furthering NSD’s strategy to elicit new ideas, encourage ideation of new concepts, reinforce directorate thought leadership, and bolster staff struggling with the expected but often unforeseen outcomes of forward‑leaning research and development.
• Support the CSTO with interaction with the Directorate Advisory Committee and preparation for periodic strategic retreats.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Knowledge of the federal sponsor landscape, particularly within the Department of…