Federal Position Descriptions
Print

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

Appointee Tracker

Check out our Political Appointee Tracker

Go to the tracker
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
More federal position descriptions