Organizational changes reflect increased emphasis on Lab operations issues By Lynda Seaver Newsline staff writer
A new administration, a new direction for the National Nuclear Security
Administration, a new structure within the University of California and
a new contract for operation of the Laboratory are just a few of the factors
which were considered in designing the organizational changes announced
by Director Bruce Tarter last week.
In an electronic bulletin and administrative memo distributed Friday,
Tarter outlined a new organizational structure that reflects the increased
emphasis and importance of operations and administrative areas, as well
as the lessening of day-to-day line management responsibilities in the
Director’s Office. The change removes many line management organizations
from reporting to the Deputy Director for Operations, and assigns them
into three new directorates: Safety and Security, Administration and Laboratory
Services.
Earlier this week, Tarter and Bob Kuckuck, who is retiring as Deputy Director
for Operations, sat down with Newsline staff to discuss the reasons behind
the organizational changes.
Newsline: What was the strategy behind the development of the new associate
director positions?
Bruce Tarter: Bob’s job has become far too much for one person to
do. In corporations, senior vice presidents rarely own line organizations
as Bob did. Bob has had a long tenure at the Lab and has developed many
relationships here, at the DOE and the UC, which greatly enhanced his
ability to do this job. The new candidate will have some of those relationships,
but will have to develop others. This cannot happen effectively if that
person also has to devote significant time to line management issues.
So we are taking the line management issues and putting them at the AD
level.
Bob Kuckuck: The changes also reflect the important role these various
administration and operations areas play at the Lab. Functions such as
safety and security are increasing in importance and should be championed
by a manager at the AD level. And I agree with Bruce, this will allow
the new Deputy Director for Operations to focus more time on the broader,
more strategic and cross-cutting issues of the Lab.
Newsline: Why make these changes now instead of two or three years
ago?
Tarter: Part of it coincides with Bob’s retiring, but much of it
also coincides with a new administration, a new NNSA, a new contract and
a new UC organizational structure. With Bob leaving, we began to think
of how we might split the functions of his office. His retiring provided
a stimulus for what probably would have eventually happened anyway.
Newsline: With many of the responsibilities taken away from the Deputy
Director for Operations, what will be the role of the new DDO?
Kuckuck: The DDO plays a major role in resolving cross-cutting issues
that arise from the naturally competing needs of various elements of the
Laboratory, and which cannot be resolved by ADs. Establishing G&A
rates and deciding where to draw the line between the Laboratory’s
need for institutional standards and individual directorate and program
needs for flexibility, are two examples of this. The DDO also has extensive
responsibilities for working with the UC, the Defense Nuclear Facilities
Board, and others.
Tarter: The DDO will also be the principal point of contact with NNSA
for all operations issues.
Newsline: Will the new directorates be permanent or could they change
depending upon the wishes of the new DDO?
Tarter: Permanent. Again, this organization reflects the importance of
operational and administrative functions, particularly people functions,
and the need to have a senior individual dedicated to each area. Having
said that however, it is possible that some of the details as to what’s
in each directorate may evolve as we learn the pros and cons of this structure
in the future.
Newsline: How will the AD positions for the new administration and
operations directorates be filled?
Tarter: The postings for the three new operations and administration directorates
will be published today. Because these jobs require extensive DOE/Laboratory
experience and strong knowledge of Lab practices and policies, I see them
requiring candidates who are "internal" to the UC/DOE Laboratory
complex. So, since we have a small, well-defined pool of applicants, I
will be closing these postings in only three weeks. I will establish committees
that will review the applicants in late February. Then in early March,
I will interview the candidates and fill all seven of our open AD positions.
Newsline: Seven? So this means you will also be selecting the science
and technology AD positions at the same time?
Tarter: Yes. This is a unique opportunity to have so many AD openings
to fill simultaneously. It will allow me to select a large segment of
our team at one time, much like a president selects a "cabinet,"
instead of sequentially filling seven individual jobs. I am looking for
complementary skills and how people work together. I am trying to create
a group with chemistry focused toward the future.
Kuckuck: Concerning the operations and administration positions, we will
be selecting a team of managers prepared to jump in and lead organizations
that are already well-developed and operating effectively and efficiently.
We have already implemented great positive change in these areas over
the last several years and we are now looking for a continuation of that
good management. We are looking for candidates with excellent track records
of their own.
Newsline: What is the status of the search committees for the various
S&T AD positions?
Tarter: I am asking those search committees to close off their searches
and give me a list of viable candidates by March 5. Identifying a large,
diverse list of candidates in some of these S&T areas is not an easy
task and we have a tendency to continue to try a little longer. However,
it is time to bring these efforts to a close and get on with our new team.
As always, I have charged all search committees to provide a diverse pool
of candidates and I believe they will succeed.
Newsline: Where does the posting for a DDO fit into the selection of
ADs and team building?
Tarter: That posting will also come out today. That job is much higher
in visibility, so I won’t commit to closing the posting in only three
weeks. I will personally chair the search committee, with a broad search
for candidates. Still, I expect this position to be filled in the relatively
near future.