Facilities Engineering Department Head
About The Position
Berkeley Lab is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as our next Facilities Engineering Department Head. You will lead a team of talented engineering professionals responsible for delivering safe, reliable, and cost-effective utilities and infrastructure that support groundbreaking scientific research. The Department Head leads multiple engineering programs—including Plant and Project Engineering, Reliability Engineering, and Design Management—plays a central role in long-range infrastructure planning, daily operational support, and aligns resources with mission priorities. We're looking for a licensed Professional Engineer (or Architect) with strong leadership experience in multi-disciplinary engineering organizations with a passion for continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will bring a customer-oriented approach to engineering leadership, as well as deep knowledge of regulatory compliance, infrastructure systems, and performance metrics. This position reports to the Facilities Division Director.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, or related field from an accredited institution.
- Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Architect, registered in California.
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in engineering design and management, preferably in scientific, research, or federally funded settings.
- Proven success leading multidisciplinary teams and delivery of complex engineering projects.
- Strong understanding of utility systems, building infrastructure, and design strategies that optimize long-term performance, maintainability, and total cost of ownership..
- Demonstrated ability to manage safe, compliant, cost-effective, and innovative engineering programs.
- Success in aligning infrastructure strategies with institutional goals for resilience and sustainability.
- Working knowledge of DOE Orders, NFPA codes, federal regulations, and industry standards as they apply to design, construction, and operation of laboratory infrastructure.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse technical and organizational boundaries.
- Experience with work management systems like Maximo and other enterprise platforms that support planning, metrics tracking, and visual management for enhanced decision-making and process improvement.
- Demonstrated commitment to accountability and collaborative stakeholder engagement to advance institutional goals and enable LBNL’s scientific mission.
- Demonstrated leadership grounded in emotional intelligence, openness to feedback, and a strong commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree in Engineering, Architecture, Business or Project Management.
- Relevant industry certifications, i.e., LEED AP, PMP, or equivalent.
- Experience in applying DOE Orders and managing projects under DOE or federal oversight.
- Familiarity with Maximo CMMS or similar computerized maintenance management systems.
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership to a diverse engineering team responsible for planning, designing, and delivering infrastructure solutions that support scientific programs and institutional operations.
- Ensure the safe, reliable and cost-effective delivery of site utilities and infrastructure in alignment with mission priorities and regulatory requirements..Develop long-range strategies for utility modernization, infrastructure renewal, and lifecycle asset management.
- Oversee engineering resource planning and execution to ensure safe, timely, and cost-effective support for capital projects, maintenance operations, and scientific work requests.
- Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, scientific divisions, and project management teams to deliver coordinated engineering support
- Collaborate closely with project management and scientific leadership to improve cross-functional planning, streamline delivery, and ensure quality execution of complex infrastructure projects
- Modernize engineering standards, technical specifications, and QA/QCl processes to enable safe, consistent, and predictable project execution. Ensure engineering deliverables comply with DOE Orders and applicable standards.
- Drive performance through metrics, stakeholder input, and process improvement.
- Embed Integrated Safety Management (ISM) principles in all engineering activities
- Promote a high-performance culture of safety, innovation, mentorship, and accountability.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
