The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.
NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.
Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.
We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.
Job Description
At the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), we focus on creative answers to today's energy challenges. From breakthroughs in fundamental science to new clean technologies to integrated energy systems that power our lives, NREL is transforming the way the nation and the world use energy. Partnerships with industry, other federal agencies, non-profits and universities are how we accelerate the transfer of technologies developed at NREL into to the marketplace.
To support the Strategic Partnership Office for the Innovation, Partnering and Outreach (IPO) Directorate, NREL is seeking an experienced Business Support/Administrative Associate to provide complex, high-level administrative, market research, and marketing-related support to the team with a focus on supporting key account management. In this specific role you will have the opportunity to work closely with our Customer Relationship Management Lead and Strategic Partnership team members, supporting them as they develop new projects with partners that will accelerate the clean energy transformation. Leaders in the clean energy ecosystem come from all over the country, and the world, to work with NREL on some of their most challenging problems. As the Business Support/ Administrative Associate you will interface with these leaders and help them to connect with NREL’s leading researchers in areas such as bioenergy, solar power, wind power and advanced fuel vehicles.
Meetings and events at NREL are key part of developing and maintaining these partnerships. On a weekly basis, the Business Support/Administrative Associate will be responsible for planning and supporting senior-level meetings (both internal and external to NREL) including tours of NREL's South Table Mountain campus in Golden and Flatirons Campus south of Boulder. These events often include senior level internal executives as well as senior executives at our partners. Meetings require coordination with partner and internal NREL staff to develop agendas, coordinate speakers, plan transportation, register visitors, arrange audiovisual support and catering. The successful Business Support/Administrative Associate candidate will be adept at handling sensitive and proprietary information, interacting with senior executives and their support staff, and coordinating complex and fluid calendar scheduling all while maintaining a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism. Additionally, the Business Support/Administrative Associate will proactively provide timely, accurate, and effective professional administrative support and serve as the principal administrative point of contact for prospective business partnering opportunities.
In addition, this role will assist with customer research and business intelligence gathering, as well as support the creation of account plans, status reports, and other communications to the team and to client.
To successfully accomplish their job duties, the Business Support/Administrative Associate will:
- Manage a portfolio of events at various stages of planning from initial scope discussions, to detailed agenda planning, to scheduling of researchers, conference rooms, tours, shuttles etc,. to day-of event support which includes greeting visitors, setting up conference rooms with refreshments, escorting visitors, and providing basic A/V support.
- Interface effectively across NREL with other administrative assistants, group managers, broader NREL management and staff, Department of Energy management and staff, industry contacts and other key individuals and organizations.
- Prepare domestic and foreign travel arrangements and process all related paperwork including authorizations and reimbursements using NREL’s Concur travel management system.
- Provide basic financial tracking of team budgets and expenses.
- Prepare and maintain electronic files and presentations, keeping information up to date.
- Track international partnership activities and approvals across the Laboratory.
- Utilize Salesforce to run reports and input data, and other administrative support for the corporate business development team within the IPO directorate.
- Execute monthly and annual partnership satisfaction surveys and maintain the data and tools required support the survey.
- Follow, understand, and adhere to all Laboratory policies and procedures to ensure and maintain a safe working environment, follow all NREL policies and procedures to ensure compliance with DOE orders and NREL requirements, gather and process information from various sources, including NREL departments and published documents and use it to carry out specialized assignments, as appropriate.
The successful candidate will exhibit the following characteristics:
- Confidence, experience, and demonstrated professionalism working with senior-level executives, both NREL and external partners.
- Considerable knowledge of specialized business support functions: meeting planning and coordination, travel scheduling, expense management, and calendar coordination.
- Ability to work effectively with partners and staff from diverse cultural backgrounds, work cooperatively with other administrative professionals, and assist with Laboratory-level administrative responsibilities when needed.
- Highly motivated and disciplined self-starter with excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Comfort working in a highly matrixed, flexible, and fast paced work environment.
- Strong attention to detail, time management, ability to multitask, and ability to prioritize work to handle urgent requests.
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
- Diplomacy and the ability to handle ambiguity.
- Ability to work independently with minimal guidance or direction.
Basic Qualifications
High School Diploma or equivalent and 1 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Associate's Degree or certification program of comparable scope or equivalent relevant education/experience. Solid knowledge of the job. Substantial understanding of general aspects of the job with a broad understanding of the detailed aspects of the job. Intermediate skills in applicable software packages and office equipment. Basic project administration skills. Ability to prioritize work. Proficient in written and verbal communications. Very good team and interpersonal skills.
Additional Required Qualifications
Level III:
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex administration projects.
- Strong customer service, teaming, and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent computer skills including advanced proficiency with Acrobat; Microsoft Office components Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; cloud collaboration applications Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and One Note; Office 365 Apps Forms and PowerBI.
Level II:
- Basic project administration skills.
- Proficient in written/verbal communications.
- Very good customer service, team, and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent computer skills including advanced proficiency with Acrobat; Microsoft Office components Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; cloud collaboration applications Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and One Note.
- Intermediate skills with Office 365 Apps Forms and PowerBI.
Preferred Qualifications
Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.