Our Environmental Science division, EVS, is seeking an Environmental Scientist/Department Head for the Sociocultural Systems team.

The role of a Department Head is multifaceted, requiring a blend of leadership, coordination, and communication skills. The line management role includes solving problems, finding conflict solutions, managing personnel, recruiting new staff, and to facilitate the effective functioning of the group. The Department Head also has a role in project management and program development, such as facilitating the exchange of ideas, assisting project leads to support project planning, execution, and delivery to stakeholders, contributing to strategic directions, and providing front-line divisional leadership. By embodying strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, Department Heads can drive success and foster a collaborative and productive team environment.

Line Management responsibilities:

• Oversee the department’s personnel activities within the Sociocultural Systems department within the Environmental Science (EVS) division.

• Provide supervisory oversight including developing, motivating, and leading a team of professionals.
• Manage budgetary and financial responsibilities while working with the Division Director and Deputy Division Director to resolve and address effort activities of the team.
• Establish short-term and long-term goals and monitor/report on the success of the staff and of the research activities within the context of the EVS strategic plan.
• Collaborate with the Division Director, Deputy Division Director, and Human Resources to review talent needs for strategic development and work with project PIs for project-based needs, e.g., recruiting, performance, development, etc.
• Conduct annual performance appraisals and calibrations for Department staff, as well as performance check-ins during the year.
• Encourage professional development of staff; recommend staff for promotion, as indicated, and develop and present the promotion case.
• Assess and approve Department staff effort reporting and other line management approvals, including for property, travel, telecommuting arrangements, job hazard questionnaires, and more.
• Serve as the information/communication conduit between the EVS Division Director and Deputy and the Departmental team regarding evolving directives, policies, processes, and programs.

Project Management and Program Development responsibilities:

• Lead the department with a blend of management, vision, mentorship, and facilitation to align the team with the EVS strategic plan and contribute to the development of the Divisional strategy.
• Contribute to Argonne’s research portfolio by contributing to projects as a Principal Investigator (PI), as a guide to other PIs, or by working on a team member’s project(s).
• Assist project PIs with project oversight as needed to support project planning, execution, and delivery to stakeholders; contribute to project assessments and team evaluations as required.
• Work with Division Director and Deputy Division Director to develop new programs and identify program growth opportunities.
• Partner with sponsor relationship managers, PIs, and others to allocate effort across the Department as indicated.
• Work with Division Director and Deputy Division Director to develop detailed action plans, including strategic investments, for the implementation of the newly developed divisional programmatic strategy for the elements that relate to the Department’s expertise.
• Promote project collaboration and matrix partnerships with other EVS Departments and teams at Argonne across divisions and directorates.

This Leader is expected to work on-site in the Lemont, Illinois campus regularly with some flexibility for local, remote work.

This job description documents the general nature of work but is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all activities, duties and responsibilities required of job incumbent. Consequently, job incumbent may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Minimum of a Masters degree and 7+ years of experience, or a PhD and 6+ years, or equivalent, along with prior management experience.
• Technical expertise in sociocultural systems, geospatial computation and sensing, or environmental measurements and modeling required.
• Knowledge also preferred in one of the following environmental, Earth system, or energy sciences domains: atmospheric and climate sciences; terrestrial and aquatic ecology; hydrology, remediation, and restoration; radiological, chemical, and environmental risk analyses; natural resource and legacy site management; and/or artificial intelligence, including machine learning.
• Ability to define, gather support for, communicate and implement the Department’s strategic programs.
• Skill in building relationships, communicating effectively, and promoting consensus and collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders including sponsors, managers, team members, and other professionals throughout the organization.
• Ability to prioritize, plan and deliver work in a timely manner while maintaining the ability to remain flexible and adjust to changing situations.
• Capability to see potential and formulate ideas and activities into proposal development and new program areas.
• Experience in writing proposals with ability to lead a team through proposal development.
• Willingness to uphold research laboratory processes and operational requirements.
• Demonstrated success in directing scientific or technical projects, including problem-solving, hypothesis testing, experimental design and administration and control of resources.
• Demonstrated skill in clear, concise writing of technical papers.
• Ability to develop strategies to attract, develop and retain a high-performing, diverse staff.
• Demonstrated success in developing innovative ideas, techniques, and methodologies and adapting them to current research preferred.
• Experience developing, motivating, and leading a team of professionals preferred.
• Passion for the mission of the Lab.
• Ability to share responsibility in creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive workplace environment with behavior.
• Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

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