Independent Assessments (IA) Director
Portfolio Strategy
GS-15
Washington, D.C. preffered, open to various DOE locations
THE MISSION
The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) was established by Congress to manage a $25+ billion portfolio of cutting-edge demonstration projects across America that include advanced nuclear, clean hydrogen, carbon management, industrial decarbonization, long-duration energy storage technologies, and demonstration projects in rural or remote areas and on current and former mine land. OCED works with private companies – including many Fortune 500 firms – to construct large-scale, next-generation projects that can span 10 years or more and is supported by a diverse group of bi-partisan political leaders, businesses, and local communities.
THE ROLE
OCED currently has over 100 energy and industrial sector projects that need a project
assessment expert and team leader to help inform DOE leadership on whether to make a final investment decision (FID) in these first-of-a-kind (FOAK) commercial-scale construction
projects. These independent assessments evaluate the project’s health using industry best
practices for large capital project execution such as management, scope, cost, schedule, and
risks. In the role of Independent Assessments (IA) Director, you will lead a team of Federal staff and contractors that conducts these comprehensive project reviews in collaboration with the Project Management Division’s Federal Project Managers (FPMs). Summaries of the assessments will also be shared with a Demonstration and Deployment Advisory Board (DDAB).
In this role you will:
- Conduct periodic independent project reviews for all projects funded at more than $100 million in Federal Funding
- Provide independent, objective, discrete-level assessments for FPMs and DDAB
- Structure data-based evaluations and best practices to support project-level decision making before a go-no-go (GNG) project continuation reviews and final investment decisions (FID) are made to move a project into construction and operations
- Plan assessments at regular pre-defined evaluation points and as-needed in response to project needs
- Highlights areas of project risk and potential management recommendations
- Enrich your career and the careers of your team through exposure to a broad spectrum of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) clean energy and industrial sector technologies and business models
RESPONSIBILITIES
This role will combine project analysis and assessment (30%), team leadership (25%), and communication and spokesperson (45%) responsibilities:
- Project Assessments:
- Lead project assessment activities to support OCED project go-no-go (GNG) reviews and final investment decisions (FID) before project construction and operations
- Ensure consistent, high quality assessments of OCED project portfolio using industry best practices for large capital project execution such as management, scope, cost, schedule, and risks
- Develop and oversee a framework for conducting independent, comprehensive project reviews for projects over $100 million in federal funding across OCED’s portfolio
- Support independent assessments of other DOE projects over $100 million in federal funds
- Develop and implement OCED project assessment policy and procedures
- Contribute to DDAB (senior DOE advisory board) assessments
- Team Leadership:
- Provide leadership and guidance for all staff on execution of project work, including service contractors, subject matter experts (SMEs), and specialists from DOE National Laboratories
- Ensure that team successfully achieves each project’s independent assessment deliverables, on time
- Assure growth and development of team members
- Interpret policy, establish priorities for triaging project reviews and team workload
- Build, develop, and lead a high-performing team
- Promote Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
- Communication:
- Serve as OCED spokesperson and point of contact on the independent assessment review process, including at DDAB meetings
- Provide recommendations, advice, and assessment on OCED’s projects, policies, and procedures to inform GNG decisions and FID before project construction and operation
- Prepare and present reports and briefings on the plans for and results of independent project assessments for OCED and DOE leadership
- Participate in conferences and/or other DOE events
CANDIDATE PROFILE
A successful candidate will have:
- 10+ years leading large capital project execution or assessment teams, with a history of continually accomplishing mission objectives
- Mastery-level knowledge of two or more fields of engineering: civil, construction, chemical, environmental, electrical, nuclear, structural, industrial, or mechanical
- Proven track record as a leader in applying best practices for overseeing capital project planning and execution
- Experience managing conflicting points of view, controversial findings, or unprecedented capital project planning and executions challenges, such as those inherent with commercial scale up of new technologies
- Proven ability to assimilate technical, financial, and market subject matter and apply to decision making
- Experience assessing first-of-a-kind commercial scale projects
- Demonstrated ability to exercise leadership, creativity, and imagination
- Experience building and/or leading diverse teams
- Knowledge of large, capital project management, planning, and execution best practices, as well as benchmarking and reporting tools
The candidate profile is meant to inform prospective applicants about the type of background and experience that would be suitable for this position. However, prospective applicants who do not meet the listed requirements but still show considerable potential to fulfill the role are encouraged to apply.
