Job – Geothermal Project Manager, NREL, Golden, Colorado/ U.S.

Golden, Colorado campus of NREL (source: NREL)

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking to fill a position of Geothermal Project Manager at its location in Golden, Colorado in the U.S.

The Geothermal Project Manager will work in the Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences (MTES) directorate at NREL supporting the geothermal program and its projects across the laboratory. The MTES directorate at NREL drives technological innovation in the areas of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power. MTES provides engineering and scientific expertise to a variety of federal agencies, including the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Science, and ARPA-E, as well as university and industry partners.

Working in collaboration with other project managers across the lab, and project controllers within the directorate, this Project Manager will be an integral member of program and project team(s). The Project Manager will be expected to provide day-to-day program management and organization functions to assure professional program planning and execution, delivery of technical products and services, project team management, client management, planning, and other program leadership responsibilities. The successful candidate will also support the geothermal program organizing proposal submissions, organizing programmatic presentation, tours, visits and other efforts that help to build and grow the program.

This position will also directly support NREL geothermal project leaders in managing large and small projects (up to multi-year, multi-million-dollar projects with varying levels of complexity) sponsored by a variety of clients with a focus on transformative international clean energy practices. The Project Manager will work in collaboration with project leaders to provide effective project management, including budgeting and planning, financial management, deliverables tracking, management reporting, client reporting, evaluation, and closeout. The successful candidate will support geothermal projects and other projects within the Thermal Energy Science & Technologies Group at NREL.

The Project Manager will work in collaboration with both the Geothermal Laboratory Program Manager (LPM) and geothermal project leaders to help plan, coordinate, implement, and assess project activities according to program and project objectives and deadlines, while assisting in keeping all project milestones/deliverables on time and within budget.

Geothermal Program Operations (50%), which may include:

• Plan, implement, improve, and develop business systems and procedures to enable smooth and compliant operations, and coordinate activities and events with geothermal program staff.
• Communicate relevant decisions and other information to management and staff to keep them informed of approaching deadlines, deliverables, program opportunities, and requests from NREL and client management.
• Manage the annual operating plan development process, including scheduling, coordination of internal project reviews and workshops, and uploading to DOE client SharePoint site, to meet all client deadlines and the change-control process.
• Lead the development of internal and external award nominations for staff.
• Provide financial analysis as needed, including cash flow, uncosted carryover, cost projections, end-of-year uncosted reconciliation.
• Manage the client monthly tracking/reporting process for financials and milestones; develop/review financial reports for the client as requested; and track and manage funding actions in coordination with the client.
• Collect and provide input for mid-year and year-end reviews with client, and for responses to requests from clients and NREL Management as needed (financials, deliverables, travel, publications, awards, etc.)
• Coordinate development of the program’s annual Performance Self-Assessment for the client
• Manage proposal process including schedule development, templates, forms, document compliance, reviews, budgets, and upload to DOE EERE Exchange
• Manage special projects as needed (coordinate new website design, develop lab tours for guests, LDRD briefing)
• Manage budgets and develop dashboards for reporting to meet the geothermal program manager’s needs, including tracking and reporting progress toward business, operational, and programmatic goals.
•  Coordinate seminars, foreign and domestic visits, workshops, large and small meetings, and other visits as needed; coordinate meetings, assist with agendas, notes, action items, and follow-up activities.
• Lead responses to various programmatic needs, such as peer reviews, proposal submissions, program presentations, opportunity tracking, including scheduling, dry run reviews, meeting client deadlines, and client commitments and information requests.
• Act as delegate for LPM as needed
• Understand and adhere to Laboratory policies and procedures.

Support the project team with project management activities (50%), which may include:

• Track milestones and project financial status, coordinating with PIs
• Create schedules, monitor progress against deliverables, track expenditures, and help plan and manage budgets
• Complete regular assessments of project progress and finances and make recommendations for improvements
• Identify, assess, and minimize project schedule and budget risks until successful project completion
• Assist with reports, disclosures, and presentations as part of required reporting to internal and external stakeholders
• Contribute to development of materials required to meet project milestones and deliverables
• Assist with planning, organizing, and executing project activities, such as webinars, conferences, teleconferences, and workshops
• Assist with procuring and managing project subcontracts
• Oversee project marketing activities, including website management, creation of targeted newsletters and other marketing collateral, and outreach/correspondence to external project stakeholders

Basic Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science or related field.

Or, Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science or related field and 2 or more years of relevant experience.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Source: NREL