About The Position

Duties/Description

This position is in the CO₂ Removal and Conversion division within the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.  The CO₂ Removal and Conversion division provides Headquarters oversight, management, and direction for the Department’s research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) on CO₂ removal (CDR), including direct air capture, direct ocean capture, biomass with carbon removal and storage, and ex situ enhanced mineralization; and CO₂ conversion to products, such as synthetic fuels and chemicals, concrete, carbon fibers, etc.  The division conducts RDD&D to optimize CDR technologies for adoption. The division also identifies research and technology issues and opportunities for utilization of CO₂ in non-enhanced oil and gas recovery applications (e.g., conversion into value-added products; mineralization opportunities from mine tailings and alkaline industrial wastes; and novel conversion concepts). This division also supports and coordinates with other Fossil Energy and Carbon Management offices on analytical tools (e.g., life cycle analysis (LCA) and techno-economic analysis) for CDR and CO₂ conversion, including developing and informing methodologies for measurement, monitoring, and verification of greenhouse gas reductions.  LCA is integral to ensuring the effectiveness of these approaches as tools for reducing atmospheric concentrations of CO₂.

The incumbent in this position will:

• Manage all activities of the CO₂ Removal and Conversion division.
• Supervise a multi-disciplinary team of experts and technical personnel in RD&D programs and activities to improve the economic impact and environmental performance of CDR and conversion.
• Provide strategic direction for, and coordination of CDR and conversion technologies and projects.
• Direct RD&D activities and provide active program management to ensure program and technical goals are met. Provide up- to-date guidance on administration and congressional policy and priorities in CDR and conversion.
• Evaluate integrated policies impacting CDR and conversion technology RD&D programs to make authoritative judgements on concepts, plans, and initiation of new projects.
• Advise on patents and intellectual property positions associated with engineering and/or physical science and process inventions.
• Develop long range plans; organize and direct the work of a team; and provide expert advice to senior leadership.

Qualifications

Qualified candidates must demonstrate:

• Experience leading and directing the work of a technical team.
• Ability to set strategic direction for, and coordination of CDR and conversion technologies projects.
• Knowledge of CDR and conversion technical components, such as gas separations, chemistry, materials science, process engineering, and CO₂ conversion technologies through catalytic, biological, and mineralization approaches.
• Ability to evaluate integrated policies impacting CDR and conversion technology research, development, and demonstration programs to make authoritative judgements on concepts, plans, and initiation of new projects.
• Experience developing long range plans and providing expert advice to senior leadership.