Manager of Tours, Hosting & Protocol

Idaho National Laboratory; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 105,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision benefits

401(k) with employer contribution

Paid time off (personal leave)

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Manager of Tours, Hosting & Protocol to lead the visitor engagement organization and oversee protocol, executive hosting, tours, and events.

The role reports to the Communications Director and focuses on delivering high-quality experiences for government leaders, industry partners, academia, Tribal Nations and community stakeholders while upholding INL's standards of safety and professionalism.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience in communications, public relations, hospitality, business, public administration, English, political science, international relations or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Tours, Hosting & Protocol organization with direction, coaching and professional development for protocol, executive hosting, tours, and institutional events.
• Set operational priorities, performance expectations and service standards across protocol, hosting, tours and events.
• Provide leadership on protocol and visitor engagement ensuring compliance with policies, security requirements and established standards.
• Oversee planning and execution of high-profile visits involving DOE leadership, officials, foreign delegations, industry executives, universities and Tribal Nations.
• Direct tour programs to communicate INL's capabilities through engaging and accurate experiences.
• Coordinate institutional events and ceremonial activities across multiple laboratory organizations.
• Build cross-laboratory relationships to ensure seamless visitor experiences and consistent hosting activities.
• Develop policies for protocol, hosting, tours and events with continuous improvement via feedback and metrics.
• Manage budgets, staffing, workforce planning and resource allocation.
• Develop contingency plans and lead operations during evolving situations balancing visitor experience with safety and mission.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree (communications, public relations, hospitality, business, public administration, English, political science, international relations or related field)

5 years of experience in related fields

Job description

Job Description

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Manager of Tours, Hosting & Protocol to lead the laboratory's visitor engagement organization and oversee the teams responsible for protocol, executive hosting, tours and institutional events.

Reporting to the Communications Director, this manager will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for delivering exceptional visitor experiences that strengthen understanding of INL's mission and reinforce the laboratory's reputation with government leaders, industry partners, academic institutions, Tribal Nations, international delegations and community stakeholders.

The Manager of Tours, Hosting & Protocol establishes operational priorities, develops service standards, allocates resources and partners across the laboratory to ensure visits and events reflect INL's commitment to excellence, safety and professionalism. This position combines people leadership, operational management and stakeholder engagement while supporting some of the laboratory's highest-profile activities.

Essential Job Functions And Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the laboratory's Tours, Hosting & Protocol organization, providing direction, coaching and professional development for teams responsible for protocol, executive hosting, tours and institutional events.
• Establish operational priorities, performance expectations and service standards for protocol, hosting, tours and events while ensuring consistent, high-quality execution across the organization.
• Provide leadership and guidance on protocol, executive hosting and visitor engagement practices, ensuring activities comply with laboratory policies, security requirements and established protocol standards.
• Oversee planning and execution of high-profile visits involving Department of Energy leadership, elected officials, foreign delegations, industry executives, university partners, Tribal Nations and other distinguished visitors.
• Direct laboratory tour programs that communicate INL's scientific, engineering and operational capabilities through engaging, accurate and audience-centered experiences.
• Oversee planning and execution of institutional events, executive engagements and ceremonial activities, coordinating across Communications, Safeguards & Security, Facilities & Site Services, senior leadership and other laboratory organizations.
• Build collaborative relationships across the laboratory to ensure seamless coordination of visitor experiences and consistent execution of hosting activities.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures and best practices for protocol, hosting, tours and events while driving continuous improvement through customer feedback, operational metrics and lessons learned.
• Manage organizational budgets, staffing, workforce planning and resource allocation to meet organizational objectives.
• Develop contingency plans and provide operational leadership during evolving situations, balancing visitor experience with safety, security and mission requirements.
• Partner with Communications leadership to align visitor engagement activities with laboratory messaging, communications priorities and organizational objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness through technology, AI-enabled tools, process improvements and data-informed decision making.
• Support emergency response activities, including participation in the Emergency Operations Center or Joint Information Center as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in communications, public relations, hospitality, business, public administration, English, political science, international relations or a related discipline and 5 years of experience. Degrees in other disciplines may be considered when combined with relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams in communications, protocol, hospitality, visitor services, stakeholder engagement or related operational environments.
• Experience planning and executing complex visits, executive engagements, institutional events or stakeholder programs.
• Experience managing budgets, staffing, organizational priorities and operational performance.
• Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across a complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and customer service.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a "L" DOE security clearance.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess

• Experience supporting executive leadership, government relations, protocol or stakeholder engagement programs.
• Knowledge of diplomatic protocol, executive hosting, visitor engagement and institutional event management.
• Experience working within federal agencies, national laboratories, research organizations, higher education or similarly complex institutions.
• Demonstrated success developing operational processes and improving organizational effectiveness.
• Experience leading teams through changing priorities while maintaining exceptional customer service.Familiarity with AI-enabled planning tools and operational management technologies.
• A collaborative leadership style, sound judgment and the ability to remain composed in fast-paced, high-visibility environments.

Job Information

The target pay range for this position is ($104,649-$160,458) annually.

The full pay range is grade 520 ($93,840 - $225,180) . At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office and field/laboratory environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment and driving a vehicle. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

About Us

INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's mission in nuclear energy research, science, and national defense. With more than 6,300 scientists, researchers, and support staff, the laboratory works with national and international governments, universities and industry partners to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.

Benefits and Relocation

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to 4.8% match (regular positions) or self-contribute access (postdoctoral positions)
• Paid time off (personal leave)
• Employee Education Program (tuition assistance for eligible positions)
• Comprehensive Relocation Package
• Benefit eligibility subject to multiple factors, including employment status and position classification.

At this time, BEA will not sponsor any H1-B visas obtained outside of the United States of America (U.S.A.), including consular visas.

INL Mission

Our mission is to discover, demonstrate and secure innovative nuclear energy solutions, other clean energy options and critical infrastructure.

INL Vision

Our vision is to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.

Selective Service Requirements

To be eligible for employment at INL males born after December 31, 1959 must have registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). For more information see www.sss.gov.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of INL to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodation

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at [e-mail] to request accommodation.

INL does not accept resumes from third party vendors unsolicited.