Federal Position Descriptions
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Director of the Office of Science

Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy
Responsibility
Management Scope

In fiscal 2016, the Office of Science had an enacted budget of $5.347 billion and 918 full-time equivalents.3

Primary Responsibilities

• Serves as the secretary’s principal science advisor to help formulate the basic research policy of the department
• Provides independent review, analyses and recommendations to the secretary concerning research and development (R&D) strategies, plans, policies and technology programs
• Advises the secretary on grants and other forms of financial assistance required for the basic and applied research activities of the department
• Ensures comprehensive interface on energy R&D matters with various external communities
• Represents the secretary on SC research budget and policy matters before the Office of Management and Budget, Congress and the public
• Represents DOE in federal R&D coordination activities, including interagency, crosscutting science and technology issues
• Coordinates SC involvement in international R&D strategic planning with relevant DOE, administration and international organizations
• Serves as the principal point of contact for DOE research policy planning relevant to national energy issues
• Assesses and determines the strategic direction and priorities of the SC research portfolio with the assistance of the SC program advisory committees, including the Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committee; the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee; the Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee; the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee; the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel and the DOE/National Science Foundation Nuclear Science Advisory Committee4

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Extensive subject matter expertise and relevant experience in the field
• Advanced degree in science (strongly preferred)
• Understanding of legislative and federal budget process
• Extensive management experience

Competencies

• Ability to effectively communicate the science to agency and government leaders as well as the public
• Ability to direct scientific research, think strategically about this research and manage priorities
• Ability to work in a matrixed environment and with high-level stakeholders across government and internationally
• Strong communication, interpersonal and managerial skills
• Ability to work under high pressure and manage sensitive matters

Past Appointments
  • Cherry Ann Murray (2015 to 2017): Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy, Department of Energy; Dean, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University; Principal Associate Director for Science and Technology, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory5
  • William F. Brinkman (2009 to 2013): Senior Research Physicist, Physics Department, Princeton University; Vice President of Research, Bell Laboratories; Executive Director, Physics Research Division, Bell Laboratories6
  • Raymond L. Orbach (2002 to 2006): Chancellor, University of California, Riverside; Distinguished Professor of Physics, University of California, Riverside; Provost, College of Letters and Science, University of California, Los Angeles7
AGENCY

Department of Energy

Mission: To ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.

COMPENSATION

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)1

REPORTS TO

Undersecretary for Science and Energy2

SENATE COMMITTEE

Energy and Natural Resources

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Footnote
  1. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  2. https://energy.gov/leadership/organization-chart
  3. https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/05/f34/FY2018BudgetVolume4_5.pdf
  4. OPM
  5. https://www.seas.harvard.edu/directory/camurray
  6. https://energy.gov/contributors/william-brinkman
  7. https://www.morehouse.edu/about/pdf/ROrbachBio.pdf
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