Senior Program Director, Battery Workforce Challenge

Argonne’s Transportation and Power Systems Division seeks applicants for a Senior Program Director to lead a comprehensive workforce development program that builds a diverse North American battery workforce for in-demand positions in EV and battery manufacturing and engineering. The Battery Workforce Challenge will support North America’s global competitiveness in battery manufacturing, while strengthening the domestic economy and clean energy supply chains. Executed in partnership with Argonne’s Li-Bridge alliance, the Battery Workforce Challenge will help enable the alliance’s mission to accelerate the development of a robust and secure domestic supply chain for lithium-based batteries and advance U.S. battery technology leadership through scientific R&D, STEM education and workforce development.

The selected candidate lead a comprehensive workforce development program that includes regional workforce training for vocational and transitional workers, a high-impact student battery competition for vocational and university students, STEM education for youth and high school students, and a learning management system that enables equitable and accessible learning for all learners across the education system. Emphasis will be focused on recruitment, retention and matriculation of women and underrepresented minorities as well as reskilling and upskilling transitional workers for future clean energy and mobility positions, utilizing research and learning pedagogy that benefit these and other underserved groups.

The Senior Program Director will serve as the director and group leader for a multidisciplinary team of technical subject matter experts, program managers and educational specialists and will build a North American consortium of government and industry sponsors and stakeholders, academic institutions and community based organizations, and partner with other U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne workforce development programs, to design and implement the program’s key initiatives and ensure the program meets the industry’s workforce needs. The candidate will also partner with national battery trade associations to track, collect and analyze industry workforce data across multiple sectors to identify skills gaps and emerging workforce opportunities.

The selected candidate will also utilize their prior experience in battery technology research and development and/or manufacturing to deliver the latest cutting-edge technologies, tools, processes, best practices and industry standards to the program. The position will also lead program development and proposal writing for the program, develop goals and objectives to support the success and growth of the program and team, and will ensure the team achieves the program’s strategic objectives, timeline and stakeholder expectations.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s and 12+ years, Masters with 7+ years, or Doctorate and 6+ years’ experience.

• The successful candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of experience in battery manufacturing, battery R&D or electric vehicle engineering and with leading a multidisciplinary team.

• Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Knowledge of advanced batteries and battery safety best practices.

• Knowledge of advanced powertrains including battery electric vehicles, vehicle components and controls, as well as test equipment.

• Knowledge of engineering processes, best practices, and industry standards.

• Knowledge in training and/or educational instruction, including learning pedagogy for different learning profiles.

• Knowledge of Learning Management System (LMS) tools and other educational technology, including tools for delivering e-learning.

• Knowledge of design for equity and user-centered design principles.

• Skills in program management, including managing a project team, project schedules, budgets and meeting project goals and objectives.

• Skill in leadership, time management and working as a team member.

• Skill in fundraising and interacting with senior-level external sponsors.

• Skilled oral and written communications, including professional presentations and technical writing.

• Skill in MS Word, Excel, Project, Access, and PowerPoint computer software.

• A successful candidate must have the ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

Job Family

Research Development (RD)

Job Profile

Electrical/Electronics Engineering Ldr 1

Worker Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employe