Senior Associate Director, Operations and Research

Job TitleSenior Associate Director, Operations and ResearchAgencyTexas A&M EngineeringDepartmentNuclear Engineering and Science CenterProposed Minimum SalaryCommensurateJob LocationCollege Station, TexasJob TypeStaffJob DescriptionWhy work for Texas A&M Engineering?Engineering has been part of Texas A&M University since its opening in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Today, the College of Engineering is the largest college on the College Station campus with more than 25,000 engineering students enrolled in 15 departments. Its mission is to serve Texas, the nation and the global community by providing engineering graduates who are well-founded in engineering fundamentals, instilled with the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior, and prepared to meet the complex technical challenges of society.As the research arm of Engineering, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) is a state agency within the Texas A&M University System with a mission to improve lives through basic and applied engineering research, workforce development and technology transition. Our collaborations with industry, academia and government provide cutting-edge solutions to global technical challenges.We are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce that embraces our core values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Service, by offering competitive salaries, an array of benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative working community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education, research, and public service.Job DescriptionPurpose:The Nuclear Engineering & Science Center’s (NESC) Reactor Facilities play an important role in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s (TEES) mission of performing research and leveraging expertise from universities, national laboratories, and state and federal agencies to improve lives through basic and applied engineering research. The Reactor Facilities provide support to instructional and research programs for all TAMUS colleges and departments as well as other organizations state-wide, nationally, and internationally. The two reactors are the foundation of the NESC, consisting of a 1-Megawatt TRIGA (NSCR) and a 5-Watt AGN along with associated research and service facilities and infrastructure.The Senior Associate Director is a vital executive role, reporting to the Director, and assisting in the overall direction and management of the NESC. As such, they oversee the facility's daily operations, ensure rigorous regulatory compliance, and manage the integration of experimental research and educational activities with reactor capabilities.Responsibilities:1. Reactor Operations & Safety ManagementEnsure the safe, secure, and compliant operation of the reactor in accordance with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses, regulations, and technical specifications.Prepare materials and otherwise support the Reactor Safety Board activities.Assist the Director in coordination with the NRC, including regulatory communications, licensing actions, and other routine interactions.Collaborate with A&M System engineering and safety personnel on projects to improve the facility’s capabilities and safety.Other duties as assigned.2. Research & Education CoordinationAssist the Director, faculty, scientists, commercial partners, and or individually to develop new business opportunities for the utilization of the NESC facilities, and develop plans to integrate these activities into reactor operations.Oversee the allocation of experimental space and reactor use time among multidisciplinary teams.Establish integration activities for research programs considering scientific impact, budget, and operational constraints.3. Compliance & Regulatory AffairsManage and maintain all necessary and license-related documents, including Safety Analysis Reports, Technical Specifications, Emergency Plan, Quality Assurance Plan, Physical Security Plan, Training and Requalification Plan, and Corrective Action Plans.Engage with the licensing engineer or consultant to prepare, and review technical specifications revisions, license amendment requests, standard operating procedures, facility operations authorizations, and experiment authorizations.4. Leadership & BudgetingSupervise the NESC staff, the reactor supervisor, engineers, machinists, maintenance, radiation-safety personnel.Develop and monitor annual divisional expense and revenue budgets, including sourcing grant and contract funding.What we need:Bachelor's degree or any equivalent combination of training and experience.Nine years of related experience.Work Location:Main Campus – College Station, TX.About Nuclear Engineering and Science CenterThe Nuclear Engineering and Science Center seeks to improve the health, wellbeing and environment of mankind through the application of nuclear technology. The center provides services to researchers and/or faculty from Texas A&M University, other colleges and universities, government agencies and private industry. The center is recognized primarily for providing radioisotopes and other nuclear irradiation services for research, academic, medical and industrial applications and as a teaching and nuclear training facility.Texas A&M Engineering provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:Competitive medical insurance benefits through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Prescription coverage by Express Scripts.Options for Vision, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability insurance.A defined benefit retirement plan with the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) with 8.25% employer contribution.Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Deferred Account 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation Program 457(b).Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expensesGenerous paid time off with holidays, vacation and sick leave.Rob