Senior Director for Nuclear Safety

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance (PPO/HDHP)

Dental & vision

Life & disability insurance

Parental leave

401(k) plan

Tuition assistance

Flexible scheduling

Wellness programs

Relocation packages

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory seeks a Senior Director for Nuclear Safety to lead the Engineering Nuclear Safety and Engineering programs. The role reports to the Associate Laboratory Director for Facilities & Operations and oversees multiple divisions, collaborating with DOE offices and DNFSB representatives to uphold safety and engineering excellence.

Ideal candidate will provide strategic leadership, ensure compliance with federal and Laboratory requirements, and drive safety culture while

Qualifications

• Proven record leading multidisciplinary technical organizations in support of nuclear facility operations.
• Knowledge of DOE orders, standards, and regulatory requirements for nuclear safety programs.
• Experience implementing safety basis to meet Technical Safety Requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership, direction, and oversight of LANL's Engineering Nuclear Safety and Engineering programs.
• Set organizational priorities and ensure effective program requirements implementation.
• Collaborate with DOE Field Office, DOE HQ assessments, and DNFSB representatives.
• Oversee 900+ employees across the Criticality Safety, Safety Basis, and 3 Engineering divisions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Nuclear safety programs

DOE O 420.1C knowledge

Stakeholder management

Security clearance readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

16+ years leadership experience

Master's degree preferred

Job description

What You Will Do

This position is open for both internal and external candidates to apply. The Facilities & Operations Directorate is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as Senior Director for Nuclear Safety. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead the Engineering and nuclear safety programs at one of the nation's premier research institutions and directly influence safety standards and practices.

What You Will DoThis position is open for both internal and external candidates to apply. The Facilities & Operations Directorate is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as Senior Director for Nuclear Safety. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead the Engineering and nuclear safety programs at one of the nation's premier research institutions and directly influence safety standards and practices. Reporting to the Associate Laboratory Director for Facilities & Operations, the Senior Director will oversee more than 900 employees across the Criticality Safety Division, Safety Basis Division, as well as 3 Engineering divisions. The engineering organizations include all aspects from facility engineering, design, and project delivery. This position will collaborate closely with DOE Field Office subject matter experts, DOE Headquarters assessments teams, and Defense Nuclear Safety Board representatives. The selected candidate will provide strategic leadership and oversight for nuclear safety programs supporting DOE Order 420.1C and related requirements, including:

• Nuclear Criticality Safety
• Safety Basis development and authorization
• Fire Protection Services
• Natural Phenomena Hazards
• Nuclear and non-nuclear engineering services and deliverables

Three engineering divisions provide integrated facility and modification engineering services to ensure facilities are designed, constructed, modified, operated, and maintained in a safe, compliant, cost-effective, and mission-focused manner. Collectively, the divisions deliver design, project, procurement, field engineering, construction inspection, and engineering support for facility operations and maintenance, ensuring customer requirements are met while maintaining compliance with applicable regulatory, safety, and engineering standards. The nuclear safety divisions provide comprehensive nuclear safety services that support and enable the safe accomplishment of the Laboratory's mission by protecting workers, the public, and the environment through the development and implementation of documented safety analyses, hazard identification, and effective hazard controls. This role calls for an individual who embodies excellence in leadership through enterprise-level vision with bold thinking that pushes boundaries while maintaining safety excellence, execution excellence developing and implementing impactful strategies that deliver results, transparent trust that builds unwavering mutual confidence through honest communication, and empathetic leadership that values diverse perspectives to drive meaningful collaboration. As the Senior Director, you will provide strategic leadership, direction, and oversight of the Laboratory's Engineering Nuclear Safety and Engineering programs. You will establish organizational priorities, ensure effective implementation of program requirements, and provide executive leadership to ensure engineering activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, standards, and Laboratory requirements. This role is responsible for ensuring that personnel execute work in a safe, compliant, and mission-focused manner while leading the resolution of complex technical and operational issues.What You NeedMinimum Job Requirements:

• Demonstrated record of successfully leading multidisciplinary technical organizations in support of nuclear facility operations, specifically facility engineering, safety basis, criticality safety, and project execution. Proven ability to establish, implement, and continuously improve related programs that efficiently enhance safety, regulatory compliance, operational reliability, and engineering excellence.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of DOE O 420.1C and related DOE Orders, standards, and regulatory requirements including national codes and standards governing engineering and nuclear safety programs, with proven application to the design, operation, maintenance, modification, and project execution of nuclear facilities.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and maintaining the nuclear facility safety basis to ensure compliance with Technical Safety Requirements, while preserving configuration management and the integrity of the facility's safety basis.
• Demonstrated success building and maintaining effective working relationships with all levels of contractor management, NNSA/DOE personnel, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) staff and Board Members, and other internal and external stakeholders, including members of the public, while fostering collaboration and achieving high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing strategic partnerships, negotiating with customers and support organizations, resolving complex technical and organizational conflicts, and aligning diverse stakeholder interests to achieve mission objectives and successful project outcomes.
• Active DOE Q clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one. Eligibility to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Clearance.

Education/Experience: This position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or related field with 16+ years of progressive professional and leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, with an advanced degree expected at this level.Desired Qualifications:

• Master's degree in engineering or related technical field.
• A track record as a program manager, line manager, or institutional organizational leader.
• Demonstrated success building relationships across all organizational levels.
• Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain top technical talent.
• Experience coaching senior staff and management teams.

Work Environment: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 are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year. Note to Applicants: For full consideration, please submit a comprehensive resume or CV reflective of your relevant experience to the job requirements and desired skills stated above. 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 DetailsDirective 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). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

• 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.

HRP: This position is subject to the requirements of the DOE Human Reliability Program as specified in 10 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 712,

• 712.11. These requirements include on going drug and alcohol testing, as well as periodic medical and psychological evaluations.

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. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer. 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, 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 1-505-664-6947 option 2.