Division Director for Enterprise IT Infrastructure & Operations

Requisition Id 17446

Overview:

The Information Technology Services Directorate (ITSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks a visionary, results-driven leader to direct the Laboratory’s infrastructure, operations, enterprise cloud, and AI-enabled digital services. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the Division Director (DD) for Digital Services Support will plan, design, and direct the IT Operations organization and will own the enterprise cloud portfolio and the Laboratory’s deployment of commodity AI capabilities that raise business and research productivity.

The DD will partner with senior leaders across research, operations, and cybersecurity to deliver secure, automated, cost-effective, and measurably better digital services with a frictionless user experience. The ideal candidate is a proven enterprise technology executive who has led large, complex IT organizations through modernization, who understands how cloud, automation, and AI are reshaping the workforce and service delivery, and who can balance innovation with the security, compliance, and stewardship expectations of a DOE national laboratory.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

Digital Services, Cloud, and Infrastructure

• Platform and service strategy: Re-engineer infrastructure and operations toward a product-oriented, automation-first service model aligned with mission priorities, business processes, and the Laboratory’s strategic vision.
• Enterprise multi-cloud: Own the strategy, architecture, security posture, and lifecycle of enterprise cloud services (e.g., Microsoft 365, Azure, and other hyperscaler platforms), including landing zones, workload placement, and integration with on-premises and HPC environments.
• Cloud financial management: Establish FinOps practices, consumption-based cost transparency, and rigorous business cases and cost/benefit analyses for IT investments.
• Reliability and observability: Mature monitoring and alerting into predictive, AI-assisted operations (AIOps) with site reliability practices, defined service levels, and automated remediation to ensure continuity of critical systems.
• Infrastructure as code and automation: Drive DevSecOps, CI/CD, and self-service provisioning to increase speed, consistency, and scalability while reducing manual toil.
• Risk and resilience: Identify and mitigate technology, supply chain, and continuity risks; ensure disaster recovery and resilience of mission-critical systems.
• User experience: Oversee end-user and digital workplace services, using telemetry, automation, and AI-enabled support to improve satisfaction and reduce time to resolution.

Commodity AI and Business Productivity

• Enterprise AI service delivery: Lead the operational delivery, reliability, and continuous improvement of enterprise AI platforms and services, partnering with enterprise AI governance and enablement leadership to support secure adoption, integration, and measurable business value.
• Enterprise AI enablement: Support operation and maturation of commodity AI capabilities (e.g., productivity copilots, enterprise generative AI platforms, and workflow agents) delivered by the ITSD AI services portfolio.
• Adoption and value realization: Identify high-value business use cases, drive change management and workforce training, and measure productivity and return on investment.
• Responsible AI governance: Collaborate with other IT and research stakeholders to implement guardrails for data protection, model and vendor risk, access control, and responsible use consistent with NIST AI Risk Management Framework, DOE direction, and Laboratory policy.
• Data readiness: Partner with data owners to improve data quality, classification, and stewardship so AI services operate safely on enterprise information.

Leadership and Development

• Enterprise service delivery and performance: Establish an enterprise service delivery model with clear accountability, performance measures, and customer engagement practices that continuously improve service quality, operational efficiency, and mission value.
• Lead and direct the establishment and delivery of IT services supporting ORNL’s research mission and support organizations, communicating priorities and changes across ITSD, ORNL, and DOE.
• Prepare and implement division strategy, plans, and budgets; manage expenditures to maximize value and cost-effectiveness.
• Build a high-performing workforce: Recruit, retain, and develop staff, as well as lead skills transformation (cloud engineering, automation, data, and AI fluency) as roles evolve.
• Protect the mission of the Laboratory and its data across multiple levels of confidentiality; promote a culture of safety, security, and continuous improvement.

• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Collaborations and Outreach

• Manage strategic vendor and hyperscaler relationships, contracts, and performance to drive value and mitigate risk.
• Collaborate with peers in research computing, development, and cybersecurity to deliver services while protecting the mission, and represent ORNL and DOE to the broader research and technology community.
• Maintain regular written and in-person communication with senior leaders, department heads, and end users on pertinent IT activities, performance, and risks.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS/BA degree in information technology, computer science, business, or a related field, plus a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience.
• Five or more years of experience as a supervisor, including leading both managers and individual contributors in large-scale IT organizations.
• Proven track record of developing and executing IT strategies aligned with business objectives, including modernization of infrastructure and operations.
• Experience leading enterprise cloud services and migrations, with working knowledge of cloud security, identity, and cost management.
• Experience managing budgets and expenditures, and building business cases for technology investment.
• Experience in vendor management and stewardship, leveraging strategic partners and managing complex contracts.
• Understanding of NIST 800-53 and other NIST and ISO frameworks, Zero Trust principles, and the operational demands of a regulated environment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain security clearances in both DOE and DOD systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to communicate effectively, in writing and orally, to diverse audiences including staff, executives, regulators, DOE officials, and customers.
• Ten or more years of experience as a supervisor, including leading both managers and individual contributors in large-scale IT organizations.
• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in information technology, business, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience deploying enterprise AI or generative AI services at scale, including governance, adoption, and measurement of productivity outcomes.
• Experience with automation and modern operating models: DevSecOps, infrastructure as code, site reliability engineering, AIOps, and product-based service management.
• Knowledge of research IT, including datacenter operations, hybrid and multi-cloud enablement, network operations, secure application development, data management, and cybersecurity.
• Experience managing budgets in excess of $40M
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in excess of 100 direct and indirect reports
• Experience with IT and supply chain risk management (C-SCRM) and DOE directives; understanding of IT support across DOE sites.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change, workforce reskilling, and collaborative, team-oriented cultures.
• Current Top Secret clearance with Q and SCI access.

Special Requirements:

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.