Associate Project Management Specialist - Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate

Requisition Id 12394 

 

Overview:

The Project Management Office (PMO) of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks a Project Management Specialist to support the project efforts on either large-scale scientific research and development projects or large scientific instrument projects.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the largest US Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. Our diverse capabilities span a broad range of scientific and engineering fields, enabling the Laboratory to explore fundamental science challenges and to carry out the research needed to accelerate the delivery of solutions to the marketplace.

The Performance Engineering Group within the Data and AI Systems Research Section at the ORNL seeks a business professional to facilitate building optimized data applications and systems with an emphasis on reliability, security, and scalability to enable accelerated discovery. The Performance Engineering Group resides within the Computer Science and Mathematics Division within the Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate and goes beyond traditional approaches to develop new methods for meeting user needs across a wide range of domains.

The Project Management Specialist will provide business process support for an existing, high-profile regulatory data system and other projects supported by the group. The position will facilitate communication and help maintain an environment where project goals are met and mission is accomplished.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Support principal investigators or project directors in facilitating and coordinating project activities, project reporting, sponsor communication and field work coordination.
• Work with project staff to develop and maintain schedules, cost estimates, assist with risk identification, and change control.
• Provide day-to-day support to the project with schedule and cost maintenance and status, and forecasting and assist in generating monthly reports on project status and performance
• Perform ad-hoc activities as advised by the project manager, principal investigator or project director.
• Support the project management staff in preparing for various project reviews, including internal and external project status reviews.
• Assist project task leader with the preparation of budgets and spending plans for periods of performance to include cost projections for both labor and other direct costs (ODC).
• Interact with vendors to acquire quotes for ODC procurements which includes tracking of procurements and occasional handholding to make sure that critical purchases are made timely.
• Track spending and complete variance analysis for both labor and ODCs using custom tools and spreadsheets.
• Manage and track project hardware inventory which includes interaction with sponsor to release obsolete property items then coordinate and track excess of released items.
• Interact with project system administrators and cybersecurity personnel to ensure adherence to established policies and procedures.
• Assist with the preparation of monthly progress reports.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by encouraging a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A BS/BA degree with a minimum of two years of relevant experience.
• A high level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Project.
• Proficiency with other Microsoft Office tools including Word and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Outstanding organizational skills.
• A BS/BA degree in project or construction management, business, science, or an engineering related field.
• Completed project management training and/or certification.
• Some hands-on experience with: Oracle Primavera, Deltek Cobra or similar cost processors, risk analysis and simulation software, change control applications, and custom system and report development.
• Previous experience with similar projects, in a DOE National Laboratory or other research and development environment.
• Experience with procurement systems and other enterprise-level applications.
• Very strong communications skills, with the ability to successfully interact with DOE, project reviewers, senior laboratory management and senior project staff members.

Special Requirements:

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this pos