Operations Specialist

COMPA Industries, Inc.; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

COMPA Industries, Inc. is seeking an Operations Specialist 2 for LANL, focused on technical writing and readiness coordination in nuclear facility operations.

You will translate SME input into plans, procedures, and controlled documents, coordinating readiness activities, walkdowns, and assessments with facility and programmatic customers. Strong communication and collaboration are essential in this regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 5+ years of related experience, or 4–8 years additional experience in lieu of degree
• Knowledge and ability to implement DOE Orders and LANL procedures
• Experience in an operational, regulated, or compliance-driven environment
• Ability to coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to explain complex info clearly to diverse audiences

Responsibilities

• Build productive relationships with facility, program, and operations personnel
• Coordinate activities, schedules, deliverables, and action tracking across multiple orgs
• Participate in walkdowns to understand operating conditions and readiness needs
• Support assessments and evaluate whether operational requirements are met
• Serve as central coordination point for facility and programmatic customers
• Convert SME input into practical plans, communications, and controlled documents
• Research and apply best practices in readiness, process improvement, and documentation
• Ensure work products meet DOE and LANL requirements
• Communicate activities and needs via written, verbal, and visual media

Skills

DOE Orders

LANL systems

Collaboration

Operational readiness

Scheduling & tracking

Walkdowns

Policy interpretation

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

UTrain

Oracle

PDMLink

SharePoint

Job description

Contract: 1-year assignment with possible extension or conversion

Work Schedule: 9/80 or 5/8

Clearance: DOE “Q” preferred; ability to obtain a “Q” required

About the Role

We are recruiting on behalf of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for an Operations Specialist 2 supporting Weapons Facility Operations. You will work directly with facility teams that support some of LANL’s most distinctive national-security operations, including nuclear and tritium operations at the Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility.

The core of the role is technical writing. You will gather input from subject-matter experts and turn it into plans, procedures, communications, and other controlled documents, and you will coordinate readiness activities, walkdowns, and assessments with facility and programmatic customers. It is a broad, hands‑on position, and the team values someone who can step in wherever operations and program work needs support.

This is primarily office work within a single building, with walking to conference rooms and customer meetings. Personal electronic devices, including cell phones, are not permitted in the work area. Medical devices require approval.

Key Responsibilities

• Build productive working relationships with facility, program, and operations personnel.
• Coordinate project activities, schedules, deliverables, and action tracking across multiple organizations.
• Participate in facility and area walkdowns to understand operating conditions and identify readiness needs.
• Support assessments and help evaluate whether operational requirements have been effectively implemented.
• Serve as a central coordination point for facility and programmatic customers.
• Gather information from subject-matter experts and convert operational needs into practical plans, communications, procedures, and other controlled documents.
• Research and apply effective practices in operational readiness, process improvement, and procedure development.
• Help ensure work products meet applicable DOE and LANL requirements.
• Communicate Weapons Facility Operations activities and needs through written, verbal, and visual media under changing conditions.

Required Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of related experience. Candidates without a bachelor’s degree may be considered with 4 to 8 years of additional related experience in lieu of the degree, beyond the 5-year minimum.

Top Skills & Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to understand and implement DOE Orders.
• Intermediate or higher level knowledge of LANL systems (UTrain, Oracle, etc.).
• Ability to collaborate effectively.
• Experience supporting work in an operational, technical, regulated, or compliance‑driven environment.
• Intermediate‑level experience coordinating activities, schedules, assessments, or action tracking across multiple stakeholders.
• Intermediate‑level experience participating in or supporting facility walkdowns, workplace observations, assessments, or similar field‑based activities.
• Ability to understand and apply organizational policies, procedures, and institutional requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including explaining complex information clearly to different audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).

Security Clearance

An active DOE “Q” clearance is preferred. Candidates who do not currently hold one must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE “Q” clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. This position works with classified information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience learning and implementing DOE Orders and LANL procedures pertinent to nuclear facility operations.
• Intermediate‑level experience working and updating project schedules.
• Experience with LANL business systems such as Oracle, UTrain, and PDMLink (including PDMLink within SharePoint).
• Intermediate‑level knowledge of process improvement methods such as Lean Six Sigma.

Duration: 1-year assignment. Extension or conversion may be possible at the discretion of the hiring organization; neither is guaranteed.

Estimated Hours: Approximately 2,080 straight‑time hours per year. No overtime or on‑call is expected.

Work Schedule: 9/80 or 5/8, full time from the start.

Start Date: As soon as possible.

Interview Process

Interviews are conducted via Microsoft Teams. Applicants must submit a cover letter that clearly explains how their knowledge, skills, and experience meet the requirements of this position.

Why Work at COMPA Industries?

We strive to provide careers, not just jobs, for our employees. We invest in and serve the communities where we work and live. We provide best‑in‑class administrative, professional, and technical services to solve complex problems to meet customer mission‑critical objectives.

For over 30 years, Compa has been a trusted partner in progress. We combine decades of technical expertise with a forward‑thinking spirit, tackling intricate challenges in nuclear facilities alongside the brightest minds in science and engineering. Join us, and don’t just build your career, build the future, with competitive compensation, a collaborative culture, and the chance to make a real difference for national security and beyond.

COMPA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to protected status.