Group Leader, Biogeochemical Dynamics

Requisition Id 13110 

 

 

Overview:

The Environmental Sciences Division (ESD), http://www.esd.ornl.gov, in the Biological and Environmental Systems Science (BESS) Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), http://www.ornl.gov, is seeking candidates to fill a Group Leader position for the Biogeochemical Dynamics Group in the Earth Systems Science section.

 

The mission of the Earth Systems Science section is to understand and predict how terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems exchange carbon, water, nutrients, and trace elements across multiple spatial and temporal scales. The Biogeochemical Dynamics Group focuses on predictive understanding of the processes that govern the fate and transformation of trace elements, nutrients, and contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems over a broad range of spatiotemporal scales to advance DOE’s energy and environmental mission. Additional details on the section and group, their mission statements, and the Environmental Sciences Division can be found at the division website: http://www.esd.ornl.gov

 

ESD is an interdisciplinary research and development organization with 60+ years of achievement in local, regional, national, and international environmental research. Our vision is to expand scientific knowledge and develop innovative strategies and technologies that will strengthen the nation’s leadership in creating solutions to help sustain the Earth’s natural resources. Our staff explore how genes, organisms, populations, and communities influence, and are influenced by, the management, health, and sustainability of ecological systems; work to understand and predict how terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems exchange carbon, water, nutrients, and trace elements across multiple spatial and temporal scales; and advance next-generation computational and data analytics to extract and transfer information to understand ecosystems and their representation in numerical models.

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

Group Leaders for the Earth Systems Science section major duties and responsibilities include:

 

Research:

• Scientists/engineers/analysts are recognized leaders in their area of technical expertise. Initiates, leads and performs independent R&D on an ongoing basis. 

 

Leadership:

• Develop a vision and implement a cohesive group research strategy to ensure the success of new and ongoing research projects to position the group for future success.  
• Develop and implement plans to exploit new opportunities and/or expand existing efforts. 
• Assist staff in setting performance goals consistent with the group’s strategy and members’ long-term career goals. Provide feedback to address performance issues in a timely manner. 
• Provide relevant input to assist the R&D Section Head with staff development while providing direct and impactful guidance to staff on regular basis. 
• Contribute to the ORNL strategic planning process at group, section, division, and directorate levels.
• Attract a quality, diverse pool of top candidates and hire staff members who are committed to world-class R&D and aspire to be the best in their field.  
• Lead by example by exercising the principles in ORNL’s “Research Code of Conduct” as a guide for proposing, performing, and communicating research. 
• Coach and mentor staff regarding Battelle’s “Safe Conduct of Research” principles  
• Lead by example in ensuring that all work is carried out safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL policies, standards, and procedures. 
• Exemplify a commitment to “One ORNL” by modeling lab expectations for excellence in research, operations, and community engagement, and by working cooperatively to leverage capabilities across the lab.  

 

Service:

• Serve as immediate supervisor for staff members in group. 
• Encourage staff to “think and dream big,” take appropriate risks in their work, and develop skills that will enable them to pursue new ideas, scientific passions, and research programs.  
• Advance the reputation of the group members and standing of the group as a whole through establishing collaborations, Professional Society leadership and involvement, and organization of technical events. 
• Support group members by consistently reviewing technical products such as proposals, publications, and artifacts to ensure high quality and consistency with ORNL standards. 
• Build strong teams across ORNL.  
• Connect staff to your scientific network and professional societies. 
• Hold regular scientific/technical group meetings and be visible in the labs and workplace. 
• Assume front-line responsib