Field Execution Manager (Manager of Projects 5)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Med/dental/vision insurance

Relocation assistance

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) seeks a seasoned Manager of Projects 5 to lead project management across multiple D&D and Line-Item projects within the plutonium infrastructure domain. You will shape execution strategies, staffing, and performance expectations for safe, compliant work in a nuclear facility, with oversight spanning scheduling, resources, and financials.

You will manage project and group managers, coordinate with senior ALDPI leaders, and ensure alignment with installation

Qualifications

• Advanced experience directing project managers or multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in nuclear facilities or highly regulated environments.
• Strong scheduling, budgeting, and EVMS familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Oversee integrated scheduling and staffing across multiple projects.
• Provide management oversight during off-normal shifts including nights/weekends.
• Direct preparation of executive reports on resource health and forecasts.
• Ensure compliance with ISM, security, safety, and quality requirements.

Skills

Project leadership

Scheduling

Resource management

ISTM/ISM concepts

Executive reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree + 12 years experience

Job description

What You Will Do

The Associate Laboratory Directorate for Plutonium Infrastructure (ALDPI) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) supports the infrastructure required to meet plutonium pit production deliverables. Within ALDPI, LIP-DD Decontamination & Decommissioning is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the removal of gloveboxes and associated systems within TA-55. This work supports Line-Item installation projects and prepares the Laboratory for its new role in weapons production.

As a Manager of Projects 5 (MOP5), you will direct project and group managers in the overall execution of assigned LIP-DD projects and organizational work fronts. You will establish execution strategies, staffing plans, management practices, and performance expectations for safe, secure, and compliant work within an operating nuclear facility. Your responsibilities will span integrated scheduling, resource utilization and reporting, financial performance, work readiness, field execution oversight, and project closeout.

You will provide management oversight across multiple organizations and projects during assigned off‑normal shifts, including nights and weekends. You will establish priorities, resolve competing resource and work‑area demands, ensure effective shift turnover, and direct corrective actions within delegated authority. You will work with senior ALDPI leadership and functional managers to align D&D execution with facility conditions, installation milestones, and Laboratory commitments. The position receives general operational guidance from designated senior ALDPI leadership and provides operational supervision and technical guidance to assigned project and group managers and other project management personnel.

Key responsibilities include:

• Integrated Safety Management: Implement ISM line management responsibilities by integrating worker health and safety, environmental protection, security, and quality into every task. Model expected behaviors, maintain field presence, encourage open communication and a questioning attitude, engage workers, recognize positive performance, address deficiencies, and pause or stop work when conditions or requirements warrant.
• Organizational and project leadership: Direct the project management function across assigned small, medium, major, and Line-Item projects. Establish management policies, plans, procedures, and execution practices that promote consistent performance and the sharing of information and lessons learned. Delegate authority with clear responsibilities and accountability.
• Work readiness and field execution: Ensure work proceeds under approved Integrated Work Documents (IWDs), established controls, and applicable facility requirements using trained and qualified personnel. Direct resolution of readiness deficiencies and execution constraints, and oversee removal activities, configuration management status, waste disposition interfaces, and closeout.
• Integrated scheduling and resource management: Establish and oversee integrated field schedules and staffing plans across assigned organizations and projects. Assign project managers, evaluate work sequencing and schedule logic, resolve competing resource demands, and direct recovery actions. Monitor shift, daily, and weekly work progress and resource utilization.
• Management reporting and forecasts: Direct preparation of executive reports on resource health, availability, utilization, and chargeability. Ensure schedule coding, logic, and resource data are accurate. Review specialized scheduling products, staffing forecasts, major trends, and performance reports; communicate risks and recommended actions to senior management and customers.
• Off-normal shift oversight: Provide management oversight of multiple organizations and projects during assigned nights, weekends, and other off‑normal shifts. Establish execution priorities, address work‑area conflicts, monitor compliance and performance, and direct actions within delegated authority. Escalate unresolved issues through Shift Oversight Management or the designated management chain, and ensure turnover captures work status, controls, constraints, and pending decisions.
• Financial and baseline control: Review and approve labor‑hour estimates, project cost estimates, schedules, major trends, forecasts, and major changes or deviations within delegated authority. Oversee scope, schedule, cost, and technical baseline performance and applicable Earned Value Management System (EVMS) requirements. Formulate and recommend organizational overhead budgets, and monitor and control approved budgets.
• Personnel management and workforce development: Manage headcount, staffing forecasts, recruitment, hiring, onboarding, assignments, training, salary administration, career development, performance feedback, annual performance discussions, and recognition within assigned authority. Establish consistent and continuous training for project managers and develop leadership capability across the organization.
• Contract compliance and customer commitments: Provide guidance to management on applicable DOE contract requirements, government requirements, and Laboratory policies and procedures. Administer assigned prime contract responsibilities within delegated authority and ensure project execution meets customer requirements, regulatory criteria, and Laboratory commitments.
• Business development and customer relations: In partnership with the Manager of Projects 6 or designated senior leadership, develop strategies for future work, present organizational project capabilities, and support contract negotiations and customer relations within delegated authority. Establish staffing and project management support for approved business development efforts.
• Continuous improvement and workplace leadership: Lead improvements to scheduling workflows, reporting methods, desk instructions, and management business rhythms. Promote appropriate automation, repeatable execution practices, and strong customer service. Foster a mutually respectful and inclusive work environment free from discrimination and harassment.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

Technical and Organizational Leadership

Advanced experience directing project managers, group managers, or multidisciplinary technical teams in the execution of complex projects. Demonstrated ability to establish strategy, delegate authority, develop managers and employees, and maintain accountability across multiple projects or organizational work fronts. Experience managing work in nuclear facilities or other highly regulated, hazardous operating environments.

Technical Excellence

Thorough advanced knowledge of construction, engineering, procurement, work control, field execution, performance assurance, and other project activities, including their interfaces and interdependencies. Advanced knowledge of applicable industry standards. Demonstrated experience developing and approving project execution plans, work breakdown structures, work packages, baseline reports, and change control actions. Experience with DOE O 413.3B projects or an equivalent structured system of requirements.

Scheduling and Resource Reporting

Advanced experience overseeing integrated schedules, staffing plans, resource allocation, and management reporting across multiple projects. Demonstrated ability to evaluate schedule logic and coding, resolve resource conflicts, assess utilization and availability, and direct corrective actions or recovery plans. Experience establishing accurate, consistent executive reports and forecasts.

Financial and Project Controls Management

Advanced understanding of financial analysis and planning, organizational budgets, labor‑hour estimates, cost and schedule forecasts, and baseline control. Demonstrated experience managing scope, schedule, budget, and technical performance, including formal EVMS where applicable. Experience reviewing and approving estimates, forecasts, and major changes within assigned authority.

Personnel Management

Demonstrated experience managing staffing, hiring, assignments, training, compensation recommendations or salary administration, performance management, and career development. Ability to build strong management teams, recognize accomplishments, support employee development, and maintain a respectful workplace.

Customer Relations and Business Development

Advanced experience developing business strategies or identifying and planning future project work. Demonstrated ability to present organizational capabilities, maintain effective customer relationships, and support negotiations or development of project commitments. Experience resolving interdepartmental issues and gaining agreement on priorities, resources, and execution plans.

Communication and Executive Reporting

Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Demonstrated experience presenting project and organizational performance, risks, forecasts, and recommended decisions to senior management and customers and supporting responses to regulatory inquiries.

Compliance and Security

Thorough understanding of applicable prime contract scope and requirements. Demonstrated experience developing and implementing policies, plans, or programs to meet contractual requirements, performance measures, regulations, and Laboratory commitments. Ability to apply ISM responsibilities and maintain compliance in a sensitive national security environment.

Education and Experience

Position requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 12 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience directing decontamination and decommissioning, glovebox or associated system removal, or installation projects within an operating nuclear facility.
• Familiarity with TA-55/PF-4 operations, facility work authorization processes, and the Laboratory's plutonium infrastructure mission.
• Experience providing management oversight across multiple organizations and projects during nights, weekends, or other off‑normal shifts, including shift turnover and escalation of execution issues.
• Experience integrating radiological protection, nuclear criticality safety, nuclear material control and accountability, safeguards and security, and waste management requirements into project execution.
• Experience with IWDs, configuration management, readiness activities, waste disposition interfaces, and project closeout.
• Experience working strategically with federal customers at headquarters or field office level to establish requirements, resolve issues, and meet commitments.
• An advanced degree in project management, engineering, construction management, environmental management, or a related discipline.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or an equivalent professional credential.
• Active DOE Q clearance.

Work Location and Schedule

Location

This position is onsite in Los Alamos, NM. Work locations are at the discretion of management.

Work schedule

This position supports 24/7 operations and may require assigned off‑normal shifts, including nights and weekends, with management oversight across multiple organizations and projects. Shift assignments are at the discretion of management.

Work Location

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Position commitment

Regular appointment employees must serve the required period of continuous service in their current position to be eligible to apply for posted Laboratory jobs. Employees who have not served the required period may apply only with documented approval from their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 2 years.

Note to Applicants

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China‑including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau‑as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents (\"green card\" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• § PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• § Dental and vision insurance
• § Free basic life and disability insurance
• § Paid childbirth and parental leave
• § Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• § Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• § Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• § Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• § Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2

Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q

(Position will be cleared to this level). Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance which requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon position, additional authorization to access nuclear weapons information may be required that may or may not be available to dual citizens depending on the circumstances.

*Eligibility requirements

To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

426.2

This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry‑level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.

Regular position

Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants

Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Incentive Compensation Program

Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.

Equal Opportunity

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to [e-mail] or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.