Overview:
At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer 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 Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management.
The Energy Processes and Materials Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, creates and delivers real world solutions that support the Department of Energy’s goals for national energy security. We deliver new technologies that connect fundamental science to applications in areas such as energy storage, advanced materials manufacturing, applied catalysis, advanced separations, biomass conversions, carbon capture and utilization, and hydrogen production and storage. We employ a systems perspective that includes discovery, technology development, and scale-up as well as economic, regulatory, and market acceptance issues necessary for successful technology commercialization.
Rockstar Rewards:
Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
- Research Associates excluded.
**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.
Click Here For Rockstar Rewards
Responsibilities:
Join our team as the administrator for the Energy Processes and Materials Division, providing direct support to the Director and working with and leading the division administrative team to coordinate all administrative support within the Division.
The Energy Processes and Materials Division includes over 250 scientists, engineers, postdoctoral researchers, and support staff. The Division Administrator will manage the division office, including being a leader of the division’s administrative team, and partnering with the Division Director in their management activities.
Primary duties for this position include:
- Strategic Partnership: Serves as a strategic partner by anticipating organizational needs, proactively identifying opportunities for improvement, and taking initiative to drive actions that strengthen executive alignment, increase operational efficiency, and advance organizational goals.
- Confidentiality & Integrity: Demonstrates the highest level of discretion and trusted judgment in stewarding sensitive and confidential information, ensuring absolute integrity in handling materials and decisions.
-
Process Management and Improvement: Strategically partner to manage and recommend process improvements and innovations for the Division and Directorate including division files, SharePoint sites, materials, staff development files, and other confidential records.
-
Operational Workflow Management: Independently manages routine to complex business issues, handles complex email/calendars/travel/schedules, exercising sound judgment, navigating ambiguity, and demonstrating strong follow‑through and attention to detail while advising, monitoring, and coordinating activities across the organization.
-
Elevate Division and Director with: Assisting in preparation for meetings, presentations, internal and external reports, reviews, weekly division newsletter, and other documents; assist with hosting visitors, interviewees, onsite workshops, seminars and other related events
-
Onboarding new staff; manage office space and equipment inventory
-
Effectively lead the administrative team by providing training and support, and assisting with balancing workloads across the team
-
Partner with administrative counterparts across EED and PNNL, and other organizations, as appropriate.
Additional competencies include but are not limited to:
-
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
-
Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population, including high level managers and sponsors.
-
Effective use of AI tools.
-
Extensive working knowledge of division and PNNL policies, procedures and practices.
-
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and organize work under tight deadlines and changing priorities.
-
Use experience and good judgment to take initiative in facilitating programs, policies and procedures.
-
Deal professionally with sensitive and confidential matters and materials.
-
Manage day-to-day administrative processes associated with office and team coordination with little to no supervisory input.
-
Ability to provide oversight, guidance, and training to less senior or new staff when necessary.
-
Demonstrated experience with standard office equipment, including MS Office Suite
-
Demonstrated ability to anticipate potential issues and recommend solutions as well as identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
-
Exceptional discretion and good judgement
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
-
High school diploma/GED and 12 years of relevant experience in an administrative environment -OR-
-
AA degree or higher and 10 years of relevant experience in an administrative environment.
-
Experience in planning meetings and coordinating travel
Preferred Qualifications:
-
Experience supporting a director or Executive level manager strongly preferred.
-
A minimum of three years of PNNL administrative experience.
-
Bachelor's degree
-
A record of effectively performing complex administrative tasks with competing priorities; tracking and initiating actions efficiently and appropriately for a wide diversity of assignments; and working effectively in a dynamic, demanding, and sensitive environment.
-
Experience in planning meetings, coordinating travel and formatting presentations.
-
Experience base should clearly demonstrate high proficiency in office management, administrative skills, attention to detail, responsiveness, organization, work prioritization, judgement, discretion, conflict resolution, hosting senior visitors, and independent action and follow-through.
-
Strong interpersonal skills to positively interact and team with a wide variety of staff and sponsors are crucial to this position.
-
The ability to handle confidential information is essential to success.
Testing Designated Position (TDP):
This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
About PNNL:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!
At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity:
Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at
[email protected].
Drug Free Workplace:
PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
HSPD-12 PIV Credential Requirement:
As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.
For foreign national candidates:
If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement thereafter, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment. The tier of federal background investigation required to obtain the PIV credential will be determined by job duties at the time you become eligible for the PIV credential.
