Theoretical Design Division Leader (R&D Manager 6)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM, is seeking a Division Leader for the X Theoretical Design (XTD) Division. You will provide line leadership to a division of R&D scientists addressing weapon physics performance, safety, and design options.

The role requires a track record in leading large technical programs, managing budgets and staffing, and coordinating with sponsors and partner organizations to deliver critical national security work.

Qualifications

• Significant record of technical leadership including experience in leading broad, complex organizations or programs; experience managing personnel and building consensus among staff.
• Experience attracting, evaluating, mentoring, developing, motivating and retaining a creative and diverse workforce.
• Experience leading a technical management team overseeing a complex set of activities often with short and rapidly evolving scope and deadlines.
• Significant record of technical accomplishment in one or more Division mission areas (weapon physics, weapon assessment, weapons design and certification).
• Strong record of advocacy and innovation and commitment to scientific excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective line leadership to enable the Division to succeed in meeting deliverables, including developing and fostering effective teams to meet customer goals.
• Integrate closely with partner organizations, internal and external to the Laboratory, to identify, influence, and accomplish priorities relevant to the Weapons Program.
• Plan, organize, and manage the activities of the Division.
• Determine and promote long-range goals to ensure that the Division performs the highest quality work relevant to national needs.
• Identify and act on opportunities to influence directions, policy, and vision, both internal and external to the organization.
• Oversee strategic hiring and investments to maintain core capabilities and emerging opportunities.
• Help to build effective Laboratory interdisciplinary teams for ongoing weapon system assessments as well as new weapons system design work.

Skills

Technical leadership

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Division leadership

Staff mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree

PhD preferred

Job description

What You Will Do

Do you want to make a difference in the Weapons Program? Are you interested in leading a Division of R&D scientists responsible for assessing the physics performance, safety and security of the current U.S. stockpiled weapons, as well as physics design and future warhead options? If you answered "yes" to these questions we encourage you to learn more about our Division Leader opportunity with X Theoretical Design (XTD) Division.

• Provide effective line leadership to enable the Division to succeed in meeting deliverables, including developing and fostering effective teams to meet customer goals.


• Integrate closely with partner organizations, internal and external to the Laboratory, to identify, influence, and accomplish priorities relevant to the Weapons Program.


• Plan, organize, and manage the activities of the Division.


• Determine and promote long-range goals to ensure that the Division performs the highest quality work relevant to national needs.


• Identify and act on opportunities to influence directions, policy, and vision, both internal and external to the organization.


• Oversee strategic hiring and investments to maintain core capabilities and emerging opportunities.


• Help to build effective Laboratory interdisciplinary teams for ongoing weapon system assessments as well as new weapons system design work.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

Leadership & Management

For this role you will need to have a significant record of technical leadership including experience in leading broad, complex organizations or programs; experience managing personnel and building consensus among staff members. You will need to have experience attracting, evaluating, mentoring, developing, motivating and retaining a creative and diverse workforce. You will need to have experience leading a technical management team overseeing a complex set of activities often with short and rapidly evolving scope and deadlines.

Technical Knowledge

For this role you will need a significant record of technical accomplishment in one or more Division mission areas (weapon physics, weapon assessment, weapons design and certification). As well as a record of technical leadership within the weapons program, along with a strong record of advocacy and innovation and commitment to scientific excellence.

Communication & Collaboration

You must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills as demonstrated by experience interacting with all levels of personnel and customers; in addition to past success attracting and coaching talented people and managing conflict among staff. A demonstrated ability to work with other leaders of large technical organizations is required because teaming is core to the success of XTD.

Program Development and Sponsor Relations

You will also need experience in program development, acquiring significant funding, and representing programs internally and externally to sponsors, stakeholders, and review boards. Knowledge of external funding agencies (DOE, NNSA, DOD, etc.), including significant experience and engagement with programmatic sponsors, will be required.

Clearance

Ability to obtain and maintain an active DOE Q clearance and SCI. Active DOE Q clearance and SCI. If a candidate holds a clearance but not Q and SCI, LANL leadership must be satisfied that Q and SCI can be obtained expeditiously.

Education/Experience

This position requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 15 years related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications

• Practical knowledge of LANL business systems, operational and work processes, administrative practices and procedures, and key Laboratory points of contact technical experience working in weapon design and certification.


• PhD in Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Material Science or related technical field strongly preferred.


• Experience working with NNSA and specifically Defense Programs.

Work Environment

Work Location

Work Location: This position will be in Los Alamos, NM and classified as an onsite position.

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, applicants must submit a comprehensive cover letter that addresses all the key requirements of the position.

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.

Benefits Package

• 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)


• 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/SCI (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.

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 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. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as 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, state, and local 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 (505)-664-6947.