Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has an exceptional opportunity for a senior operations leader to serve as Deputy Chief Operating Officer at one of the world’s leading research institutions.

Reporting to the Deputy Laboratory Director for Operations/Chief Operating Officer (DLD/COO), the Deputy COO is a critical partner in shaping and advancing the Lab-wide operational strategy. This high-impact role provides the strategic and technical leadership to ensure high-quality, efficient, and compliant operations that directly enable our scientific mission. The Deputy COO is responsible for Laboratory-wide integration, providing an institutional perspective, leading strategic problem-solving across Operations and Science divisions, and enabling the Laboratory’s 30 Division Directors to execute their operational responsibilities effectively and consistently.

This position requires a leader with strong strategic judgment, credibility across technical and scientific communities, and the proven ability to advance complex institutional priorities and consistently improve Operations performance within a highly regulated environment. In this role, the successful candidate will strengthen the coherence, consistency, and effectiveness of our work and business processes, safeguarding the Laboratory's long-term "license to operate" under the ‘GOCO’ model and mitigating institutional risk to levels acceptable to the Department of Energy (DOE) and the public.

In addition, the Deputy COO will play a key role in institutional planning, integrated governance, and high-level engagement with DOE, the University of California (UC), and peer institutions, ensuring operational systems consistently support world-class scientific productivity.

This is an exciting career opportunity for a senior leader to make substantial contributions that advance Berkeley Lab’s fundamental mission of providing world-class science, forging important internal and external partnerships, and pursuing operational excellence to meet Laboratory performance goals. Come be a part of something extraordinary at Berkeley Lab!

Berkeley Lab is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory managed by the University of California and designated a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). The Laboratory conducts groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research.

Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. “Team Science” remains an integral part of Berkeley Lab’s DNA, where research is carried out across multiple scientific disciplines.

Berkeley Lab has a dynamic workforce of 4,000 employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $1.3 billion. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for DOE’s Office of Science. About 95% of the Laboratory’s funding comes from federal and state taxpayers, which highlights the importance of stewardship and trust with the public.

• Operations Strategy and Lab-wide Execution: Serve as a key member of the Operations Leadership Team, acting as a designee for the DLD/COO to enable and implement institutional operational strategies and priorities. Coordinate Lab-wide enterprise-wide coordination of major operational initiatives, resolve crosscutting challenges, and oversee high-visibility, Lab-wide strategic projects. Develop high-impact briefings on operational posture, risks, and progress for senior leadership and internal and external stakeholders.
• Institutional Performance and
  
  Risk Management:
  
  In partnership with the DLD/COO and Operations leadership, monitor institutional-level performance indicators to anticipate, detect, and mitigate emerging risks and trends that could negatively affect mission execution, compliance expectations, or…