The U. S. Department of Energy Office of Fusion Energy Sciences expects to post "at least five actual job announcements over the next year" for program managers, according to Michael Roberts and John Willis, who head the Facilities Operations and Technology Program and Science Program, respectively. The availability of new positions is anticipated due to planned retirements of existing staff.

Willis and Roberts state, "Research program managers, both in science, facility operations and technology areas, are expected to stay current on a wide variety of fusion and plasma science topics, experimental facility operations topics, and enabling technologies and materials science topics, respectively. They do this through visits with scientific investigators at labs and universities across the country, through attendance at major meetings and workshops, through conduct of program and project reviews, and through analysis of research proposals and publications. There are frequent opportunities for attending technical seminars and meeting directly with scientists and engineers at our Germantown, Maryland headquarters as well as interacting with counterparts representing comparable efforts abroad.

"Program managers will generally have a specific responsibility for one or more sub-elements of the fusion program -- for example the research program on a major facility, diagnostic development, general plasma physics, facility operation, or materials science. They are expected to manage and assess the resource requirements in their areas of responsibility, and support the requests for funding in discussions with upper management.

"Technical competency in fusion and plasma science, in enabling technology, or in supporting engineering is necessary, but communications skills, interpersonal capabilities, and common sense are absolutely paramount. There is an opportunity to do much good in support of science and fusion and the betterment of mankind if one is not concerned about who gets the credit. There is also an opportunity to do considerable harm; so we will look closely at a candidate's prospects for managing competitive research solicitations in a fair and impartial manner."

Willis and Roberts say, "Salaries will range from $60k to $110k depending upon experience. The Washington DC area has a favorable climate and presents many attractive opportunities for both cultural and recreational activities with a broadly diverse population."

They ask that interested parties contact John Willis (john.willis@science.doe.gov) for the Science area and Mike Roberts (michael.roberts@science.doe.gov) for the Facilities Operation and Enabling Technology area and they will send you a copy of the position announcements as they become available. In addition, they or any of the current staff, would be pleased to answer any questions.

US citizenship is a requirement for these positions.