Paula Linnen serves as Associate Laboratory Director for the Organizational Development Directorate, a role she has fulfilled since October 2007. The Directorate serves as the primary steward for building PNNL reputation and talent, and helping to create a strong sense of PNNL community.
As the Associate Laboratory Director, Ms. Linnen directs more than 230 staff members in three business areas: Communications and External Relations, Human Resources, and Science & Engineering Education. She and her staff members seek to:
- protect and grow the Laboratory's reputation as a world-leading center for science and technology
- build advocates who increase PNNL's value as a regional and national asset
- recruit, educate, and train the talented workforce needed to tackle the nation's greatest challenges
- cultivate a workplace that engages staff time and their talents, while ensuring accountability and impact
- enhance the quality of life where PNNL staff work and live
Under her leadership, Organizational Development professionals work as catalysts and change agents to address long-term, transformative challenges; challenges associated with building PNNL reputation, winning the competition for talent, and strengthening Science, Engineering, Technology and Math (STEM) education, through problem solving and by generating effective and collaborative management of organizational culture.
Since joining PNNL in 1991, Ms. Linnen has served in a number of roles, including Director for PNNL Human Resources from 1996 to 2007, as Vice President of Human Resources for the Global Laboratory Operations sector of Battelle Memorial Institute, and numerous other program and department manager roles. Under her leadership, PNNL has enjoyed several awards and distinctions, including: "Washington's Best Places to Work" as named by the Puget Sound Journal of Business in 2010; Fortune magazine's 20 great employers for new college graduates in 2007; Training Top 100 Award from Training magazine in 2004 and 2005.
Ms. Linnen is active in the local community and has served on several community organizations: Columbia Industries (past board chair, vice chair and marketing committee chair), March of Dimes board member, Washington State University Tri-Cities Advisory Council, Pioneer Circle for Women Helping Women, Tri-Cities chapter of the Society of Human Resources Managers (past Vice Chair). Ms. Linnen has also been the recipient of the Benton-Franklin County Volunteer Center's "Golden Heart Award" for volunteer excellence of a board member.
Ms. Linnen holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration/Marketing from the University of Missouri.