About this role
Requisition Id 17253 Overview: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a well-recognized and highly collaborative Energy-Water Research and Partnerships Lead to provide scientific and strategic leadership at the intersection of energy and water systems. As a senior consultant, the successful candidate will grow and manage a robust portfolio of technical projects; establish strong, long-term working relationships with government, industry, utilities, academic institutions, community partners, and other stakeholders; and apply advanced scientific and engineering insights to develop practical, real‑world solutions for complex energy‑water challenges. This position will guide technical strategy and partnership efforts that address the interconnected challenges of energy production, water availability and quality, infrastructure reliability, climate resilience, environmental stewardship, and the equitable deployment of advanced technologies. The Energy-Water Lead will identify emerging engineering and operational opportunities, secure and manage major technical initiatives, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and serve as a trusted technical authority and external representative for ORNL. The ideal candidate brings exceptional technical expertise in energy‑water systems along with a strong history of building collaborations across multiple organizations, securing and managing sponsored technical programs, mentoring engineering and scientific staff, and conveying complex technical insights to policy, technical, and general audiences. Major Duties/Responsibilities: Strategic Technical Leadership Define and drive a nationally and internationally influential technical strategy for energy‑water systems, aligned with ORNL’s mission, sponsor priorities, and stakeholder needs. Lead original, high‑impact technical work in areas such as energy‑water systems engineering, water use in energy infrastructure, water treatment and reuse technologies, desalination systems, hydropower and cooling innovations, grid‑water interactions, industrial water solutions, climate‑resilient infrastructure, or related fields. Grow and sustain a strong, externally funded portfolio of technical programs, including major multi‑year and multi‑institutional engineering initiatives. Identify emerging technology, market, policy, and deployment opportunities that advance sustainable, resilient, affordable, and equitable energy‑water systems. Guide the development of technical roadmaps, engineering strategies, proposals, white papers, and investment priorities. Partnership Development and External Engagement Build and sustain strategic partnerships with federal, state, tribal, and local governments; energy and water utilities; industry; universities; national laboratories; nonprofit organizations; and community stakeholders. Serve as a principal technical representative in high-level stakeholder discussions, workshops, advisory groups, professional societies, and conferences. Develop technical collaboration agreements, consortia, and demonstration partnerships that advance solutions from concept to validation, deployment, and operational impact. Support productive engagement among partners with differing priorities, ensuring all activities are technically rigorous, transparent, and responsive to stakeholder needs. Communicate technical findings and strategic recommendations clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences, including sponsors and senior leaders. Program and Team Leadership Lead and mentor interdisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, analysts, project managers, and early‑career technical professionals. Provide technical review, quality assurance, and strategic oversight across energy‑water technical programs. Manage program scope, schedules, budgets, risks, deliverables, and stakeholder expectations for complex technical initiatives. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, safe, and high-performing environment. Recruit, develop, and retain necessary talent while supporting succession planning and the growth of future leaders. Basic Qualifications: M.S. in engineering, physical science, environmental science, water resources, energy systems, public policy, economics, or a closely related discipline, along with at least 16 years of practical, technically focused experience in a related area. Strong record of technical or engineering accomplishment in energy‑water systems or a closely related field, demonstrated through impactful technical reports, deployed technologies, patents, major engineering deliverables, awards, invited technical presentations, or other recognized contributions. Significant experience leading complex, multidisciplinary technical programs and teams. Demonstrated success developing and managing externally funded technical initiatives, including competitive proposals and large or strategic engineering partnerships. Established professional network and demonstrated ability to build productive collaborations across sectors and institutions. Experience communicating complex technical issues to sponsors, executive leaders, policymakers, industry partners, and other nontechnical audiences. Demonstrated commitment to scientific integrity, inclusive leadership, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving. Preferred Qualifications: Recognition as a leader in energy‑water technical innovation, demonstrated through sustained high‑impact engineering contributions, leadership of major technical initiatives, professional honors, advisory or technical committee roles, or other industry‑wide achievements. Experience working with U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, state energy or water agencies, utilities, or other relevant sponsors. Experience leading public‑private partnerships, multi‑institutional technical consortia, field demonstrations, or technology deployment and commercialization effort. Expertise in one or more of the following areas: Water use and management in power generation, hydrogen, bioenergy, carbon management, or industrial decarbonization Hydrologic, energy-system, technoeconomic, or integrated assessment modeling Climate adaptation, drought, flood, and infrastructure resilience Water quality, environmental justice, and community-centered infrastructure planning Data science, artificial intelligence, sensing, digital twins, or decision-support systems for energy-water management Water treatment, reuse, desalination, and resource recovery Energy efficiency and electrification in water and wastewater systems Experience converting technical insights into policy guidance, standards, operational practices, or commercially relevant applications. Experience mentoring senior technical staff and developing organizational technical capability. Special Requirements: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws. About ORNL: As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation. ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience. Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts. This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired. We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment. If you have trouble applying for a position, please email [email protected]. ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.