Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences Area

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is seeking an experienced and visionary leader to serve as the Associate Laboratory Director for the Physical Sciences Area. 

Reporting to the Laboratory Director, the Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) is accountable for strategic planning, organizational leadership, communication, and research excellence and integrity for the Physical Sciences Area, one of six scientific Areas at Berkeley Lab. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the ALD works closely with the Laboratory Director, Deputy Laboratory Directors and the other five ALDs to plan and execute strategic priorities, initiatives, and research collaborations across the Laboratory and the Department of Energy (DOE) complex. The ALD leads and collaborates with the Directors of Nuclear Science, Physics, Engineering, and Accelerator Technology and Applied Physics (ATAP) Divisions to ensure the success of both the Area and Lab’s goals, overseeing a staff of 730 employees. 

The ALD will lead the Area’s scientific strategy to carry out research on the fundamental nature of matter through programs in cosmology, particle physics, nuclear physics, and accelerator physics, while also stewarding Engineering resources across the Laboratory. They will interact with DOE and other National Laboratories, promote partnerships with academia and industry, and guide the development of externally sponsored basic research projects and programs consistent with the Laboratory’s institutional vision and strategy. With overall responsibility for research and operational activities, the ALD will work with their staff to develop and execute priorities for facility operations and planning, champion a strong safety culture, and build and develop interdisciplinary professional teams. Lastly, while ALDs have often continued active research programs at Berkeley Lab, this is not required of the successful candidate.

With a $156 million budget, the Physical Sciences Area has a diverse and exciting program in experiment, theory, computing, and instrumentation, which is well-matched to national priorities. These priorities guide our current activities and inform our long-term strategy as we seek to answer questions about the nature of our universe. Current efforts include work on the high luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider, building a unique gamma-ray spectrometer to be installed at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University, and developing new compact laser plasma accelerators that could transform accelerator-based science of all types. The Physical Sciences Area maintains a strong, collaborative partnership with UC Berkeley, integrating leading faculty scientists and talented graduate students into Berkeley Lab’s research environment to foster a stimulating intellectual community. In addition to supporting all science projects within the Area, the Engineering Division also provides the engineering and technical expertise for Berkeley Lab’s large-scale scientific programs and experiments through its matrixed organizational structure, such as the Advanced Light Source Upgrade and SLAC’s LCLS II, and many others throughout DOE’s network of National Labs. The Physical Sciences Area is situated in close proximity to Berkeley Lab’s five national user facilities: the Advanced Light Source, the Joint Genome Institute, the Molecular Foundry, the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, and the Energy Sciences Network. Learn more about the Area here. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to setting the institution’s strategic priorities, initiatives and policies and supporting their implementation. Lead by example to proactively model the Laboratory’s stewardship values. 
• Guide the Area’s vision and champion its 2025 Strategic Plan, leading strategies for new and continuing research funding, workforce development, scientific program goals, operational support, and scientific infrastructure needs to maintain world-class research output. Manage four Directors responsible for programmatic activities within their respective division. 
• Provide leadership for strategic talent management to motivate and assure a high-performing organization through effective recruitment, mentoring, career development, performance management, retention, and succession planning, and proactively promoting stewardship values, to cultivate the next generation researchers and leaders.
• Oversee Area management team to ensure accountability for institutional requirements and priorities, including health and safety, facilities, and financial and human resources. Ensure Area programmatic and project operations are cost effective, efficient and optimized within constraints of the Area’s budget. 
• Act as chief spokesperson for the Area to University of California (UC), DOE’s High Energy Physics, Nuclear Sciences, and Accelerator R&D and Production program offices, other external agencies and internal groups. Develop and maintain strong professional connections with relevant senior DOE officials, in particular with the High Energy Physics Office. 
• Develop research and strategic collaborations with other Berkeley Lab Areas, fellow national laboratories, academic institutions. In addition, develop an effective communication strategy to raise awareness about the Area’s research and accomplishments.
• Encourage entrepreneurship involving tech transfer and commercialization of technologies, working with the Lab’s Intellectual Property Office.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree relevant to fundamental physical sciences research and minimum of 15 years of professional experience with progressively responsible leadership roles; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Internationally recognized record of leadership and research accomplishments in a relevant field. 
• Successful track record as a visionary and collaborative leader, managing and growing an interdisciplinary operational, scientific or engineering research organization or program. 
• Successful track record of establishing and articulating a scientific vision, identifying research opportunities and building collaborative partnerships with facility users, universities, industrial partners, and other research and development institutions both domestically and internationally. 
• Strong partner management skills, including ability to establish relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. Also important is the ability to effectively navigate complex organizations and large scientific projects/collaborations. 
• Proven ability to effectively and skillfully communicate with individuals as well as small to large teams. 
• Demonstrated experience in effective project and budget management and operational oversight (e.g., human resources, EH&S, property and facilities management).
• Demonstrated experience in effective people management including mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Significant knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements and government funding processes (e.g., DOE, DOE Office of Science, University of California, national laboratories).
• Commitment to model Berkeley Lab’s Stewardship Values: team science, innovation, trust, respect, and service, including building and maintaining a culture that is committed to the ideals of stewardship, belonging and accountability.

Application Guidelines:

• Please submit your CV and letter of interest by January 20, 2026 for priority consideration. 
• In the cover letter, please highlight (i) your interest and vision for the position, (ii) relevant organizational leadership experience, and (iii) relevant research accomplishments. Please limit your letter to 2 to 3 pages.

Notes:

• This is a full-time career appointment, exempt from overtime pay (monthly paid).
• This position is expected to pay $400,000 to $470,000 annually; salary will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, as well as aligned with the internal leadership peer group. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• The Physical Sciences ALD position is a career position that is appointed by and serves at the discretion of the Laboratory Director, and this appointment is at will and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.
• This position is subject to the financial disclosure requirements of the California Political Reform Act of 1974. The successful candidate for this position will be required to file financial interest statements upon assuming this position, annually while holding this position, and when leaving this position.
• Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here).

Learn About Us:

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. “Team Science” remains an integral part of Berkeley Lab’s DNA, where research is carried out across multiple scientific disciplines.

Berkeley Lab has a dynamic workforce of over 4,000 employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $1.31 billion. The University of California (UC) manages Berkeley Lab for DOE’s Office of Science.

Working at Berkeley Lab

The University of California Office of National Laboratories

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.

Berkeley Lab is a University of California employer. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.