Operations Specialist

Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC; Upton (NY); On-site; USD 83,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC, operating Brookhaven National Laboratory, is seeking an Operations Specialist to coordinate operational and compliance processes and improve workflows across scientific and administrative teams.

The role emphasizes technical communication, process development, and digital workflow improvements using Microsoft 365 tools. A multilevel, well-compensated position offers opportunities to contribute to institutional objectives and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of four (4) years supporting scientific or facility operations in roles involving technical communication.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to communicate across scientific, engineering, and administrative stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, Outlook).

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key operations liaison among scientists, engineers, users, operations and project personnel.
• Coordinate risk assessments and due diligence activities, documenting outcomes and tracking actions.
• Maintain accurate records, documentation, and supporting information per lab requirements.
• Develop and maintain procedures, process descriptions, and other documentation for clear communication.
• Develop digital workflows using Microsoft Forms, SharePoint, Power Automate to improve efficiency and traceability.
• Coordinate reports and dashboards to support performance monitoring and decision-making.

Skills

Technical communication

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft SharePoint

Power Automate

Outlook

Job description

Organization Overview

The National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) is a state‑of‑the‑art, medium‑energy (3‑billion‑electron‑volt, or GeV) electron storage ring that produces x‑rays up to 10,000 times brighter than the NSLS. The mission of the National Synchrotron Light Source II is to develop and operate a premier user facility that safely and efficiently enables high‑impact and cutting‑edge science and technology across multiple disciplines for the benefit of society. NSLS-II supports an international user community of over 2,200 researchers from 400 universities. NSLS-II performs all these functions in an environmentally responsible and safe manner, under a rigorous conduct of operations and safety approach.

Position Description

NSLS-II is seeking an Operations Specialist with broad scientific and/or technical exposure to support the implementation, coordination, and continuous improvement of operational, compliance, and risk‑informed processes. This position will serve as a liaison across scientific, technical, user‑facing, and institutional teams to help ensure research and development activities are conducted in accordance with laboratory requirements while enabling scientific collaboration and mission success. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical communication, organizational, and analytical skills, with the ability to navigate a multidisciplinary research environment, manage competing priorities, and contribute to operational improvements through collaboration and digital workflows.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a key operations liaison among scientists, engineers, users, operations and project personnel, program managers, and institutional subject matter experts to coordinate operational and compliance‑related processes and facilitate resolution of issues.
• Coordinate risk assessments and related due diligence activities, including gathering information, facilitating technical and stakeholder input, coordinating risk mitigation and/or acceptance, documenting outcomes, and tracking actions through completion.
• Perform administrative and record‑keeping activities necessary to support assigned operational processes, including maintaining accurate records, documentation, tracking systems, and supporting information in accordance with laboratory requirements.
• Develop, write, edit, and maintain procedures, process descriptions, work instructions, forms, templates, guidance, and other technical and administrative documentation to clearly communicate requirements and support consistent implementation.
• Develop and maintain digital workflows and automated business processes using tools such as Microsoft Forms, SharePoint, Power Automate, and related Microsoft 365 applications to improve the efficiency, consistency, and traceability of operational processes.
• Identify and implement opportunities to align, standardize, streamline, and automate administrative and compliance‑related operational processes through stakeholder engagement, process evaluation, and appropriate use of technology.
• Coordinate the design and development of reports and dashboards with developers and other stakeholders to support performance monitoring, trend analysis, reporting, and decision‑making.
• Support the implementation of new or evolving institutional requirements by evaluating impacts to existing operations and coordinating the development or modification of processes, documentation, tools, and administrative controls.
• Support and participate in assessments, operational reviews, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities, including preparation of supporting documentation, coordination with stakeholders, identification of improvement opportunities, and follow‑up on resulting actions.
• Support broader NSLS‑II operational initiatives, strategic priorities, and special projects as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM, business, communication, technical writing, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience, generally on the basis of 2:1 (experience: college) years.
• Minimum of four (4) years of relevant experience supporting scientific, engineering, technical, research, or facility operations in a role involving technical communication, administrative or compliance‑related processes, and/or interdisciplinary coordination.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated technical writing and stakeholder communication skills, with the ability to organize complex information and develop clear procedures, process descriptions, guidance, forms, reports, and other technical or administrative documentation for a range of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and coordinate effectively across scientific, engineering, operational, and administrative stakeholders with differing roles and areas of expertise.
• Demonstrated sound judgement, attention to detail, and discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications and tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience supporting due diligence and other risk‑informed operational activities, including requirements implementation, risk assessment, and risk mitigation or acceptance.
• Experience leading or supporting assessments, operational reviews, requirements management, or continuous improvement initiatives involving process and workflow improvement, business process automation, metrics and reporting, and/or coordination of operational reports and dashboards.
• Experience supporting a DOE national laboratory or user facility, federally funded research organization, or university research environment.

Other Information

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Must be eligible to perform duties involving export‑controlled information and other sensitive research activities in accordance with applicable U.S. regulations, DOE requirements, and Laboratory policies.

Brookhaven Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. This is a multi‑level role and the full salary range for this position is $82,950.00 - $115,000.00/year. You will be placed at the level and salary commensurate with your experience. Salary offers will commensurate with the final candidates qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.

Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non‑badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL‑ID or REAL‑ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory – view more information at www.bnl.gov/real-id. This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federal REAL ID Act. Those not in possession of a REAL‑ID‑compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews.

As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) credential in accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD‑12) requirements. The credentialing process is completed as part of onboarding and enables access to DOE facilities and information systems.

These requirements are established under DOE Order 206.2 Chg. 2, Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM‑ Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)), and DOE Order 473.1A‑ Physical Protection Program‑ Physical Protection Program.

About Us

Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize‑winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Guided by our core values of integrity, responsibility, innovation, respect, and teamwork, Brookhaven Science Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer‑Vets/Disabled. We are committed to fostering a respectful and collaborative environment that fuels scientific discovery. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We 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 to request accommodation.

Additional Notes

VEVRAA Federal Contractor BSA employees are subject to restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation at the time of hire for review by Brookhaven. The full text of the Order may be found at: https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0486.1-BOrder-a/@@images/file.