Working at NREL
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
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the nation's primary laboratory for clean energy research, innovation, and analysis.
NREL is looking for a Senior Partnership Development Manager to join our Strategic Partnership Office, leading our Defense Sector business development efforts. As part of our Partnership Development team, the Senior Partnership Development Manager will leverage the world-class knowledge, unique capabilities, and signature facilities at NREL to identify and develop innovative advanced-energy partnerships with U.S. Government Defense agencies. The successful candidate will be positioned to directly expand NREL’s impact and support the defense sector as they seek solutions to their energy challenges.
The Senior Partnership Development Lead for the Defense Sector will assess the potential of new partners to fund strategic work at NREL, develop partnership strategies for new clients, and pursue growth strategies for existing clients. Responsibilities of the position will include leading partnership strategy execution, conducting outreach to partners outside of NREL, hosting partners at the laboratory, collaborating with principal investigators to develop compelling and strategically aligned new opportunities, statements of work, budget estimates, and following up directly with clients to identify next steps. The Senior Partnership Development lead for Defense will have the ability to cultivate key relationships with partners and organizations and align partner needs with NREL’s current and future capabilities. The successful candidate will be able to represent a broad number of NREL capabilities and complex topics to partners and connect partners to the right people in the laboratory. Of particular importance is supporting defense agencies with critical national security missions as they seek solutions for their most challenging energy problems.
The Senior Partnership Development Lead is expected to work collaboratively with other members of the Strategic Partnership Office, colleagues in the Technology Transfer Office, the team of people doing BD across NREL, and NREL’s research community to accomplish the business development goals of the laboratory. A successful Partnership Development Lead continuously improves the mission impact of partnership opportunities within the sector, develops and maintains strong partner relationships, and is recognized as a key contributor to the BD team.
Responsibilities include:
- Aligning partner needs and NREL’s current and future capabilities,
- Overseeing requirements development, proposal development, and final pricing and statement of work,
- Continuously improving the mission impact of partnership opportunities that advance the goals of the program,
- Building strong internal relationships with researchers, project managers, and subject matter experts to develop compelling solutions that partners value
- Understanding other context within which the program is conducted and how outcomes contribute to the customer's success,
- Manage opportunities to maximize mission impact and probability of capture,
- Help partners understand how to most effectively develop Statements of Work (SOWs) with NREL,
- Contributes to the development of new principles and concepts for managing processes and programs in a dual classified/unclassified work environment,
- Working in classified and unclassified environments on appropriate computer systems to pursue strategic partnership opportunities with defense agencies
Basic Qualifications
Relevant PhD and 6 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 9 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 11 or more years of experience. 4 or more years of project management experience. Strong understanding and application of project management principles, concepts, practices and standards. Deep knowledge of technical field and related disciplines. Understands the context within which the program is conducted and how outcomes contribute to the customer's success. Strong leadership, project management, interpersonal, conflict resolution, marketing and communication skills.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
- Relevant partnership development, science and/or technology experience
- Demonstrated project management and customer relationship experience
- Demonstrated experience developing strategic partnerships between agencies and organizations
- Proven history of being able to interpret partner requirements and lead teams toward successful development and delivery of winning solutions
- Exceptional leadership skills, including: 1) strong and flexible interpersonal skills, 2) a problem-solving attitude, and 3) the ability to work both independently and as a collaborative team player
- Excellent organizational skills
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Strong understanding and application of project management principles, concepts, practices and standards
- Clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE (L or Q) security clearance and SCI access. SCI access may require a polygraph examination.
- Ability to use computer programs that exist in both classified and unclassified environments
Preferred Qualifications
- 10 years of relevant partnership development, science and/or technology experience
- 5+ years of demonstrated project management and customer relationship experience
- 5+ years of demonstrated experience developing strategic partnerships between agencies and organizations
- Active TS/SCI level security clearance
- Experience managing capture or business development teams
- Knowledge of contracting or similar business processes that cross classified and unclassified system
Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
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, domestic partner 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.
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