What You Will Do
The Partnerships and Pipeline Office (PPO) is seeking an exceptional Staff Operations Manager (SOM) to serve as a strategic partner to the PPO Senior Director and the National Security Education Center (NSEC) Program Director. This executive-level leadership position supports two dynamic organizations that advance Los Alamos National Laboratory's workforce pipeline, national security education, academic and industry partnerships, and mission-focused collaborations. As a member of the PPO Leadership Team, you will play a key role in shaping organizational strategy, driving operational excellence, and ensuring the effective execution of business operations across both PPO and NSEC.
In this highly visible role, you will lead strategic and day-to-day business operations, including workforce planning, budget and resource management, process improvement, administrative operations, and implementation of Laboratory initiatives. You will oversee professional and administrative staff, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and partner with operational deployed staff across the Laboratory to deliver high-quality operational support. The position also offers the opportunity to engage with senior Laboratory leadership, the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), universities, industry, and other external partners, making it an ideal role for a collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys solving complex organizational challenges while enabling mission success.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Operational Experience
Extensive knowledge/experience in, and consultative experience with, at least four of the following areas: business; human resources; direct staff supervision; financial management; policy implementation; administrative systems development; operational and programmatic activities related to safety, security, environmental compliance, quality, and performance assurance; strategic and tactical planning; and space planning. Demonstrated success in developing and supporting process improvement and innovative responses to high-level and complex organizational needs.
Institutional Knowledge
Demonstrated ability to effectively navigate the Laboratory, build productive relationships across organizations, leverage institutional processes and business systems, and execute responsibilities in alignment with business, operational, and programmatic missions, goals, commitments, and critical issues.
Management
Experience supervising, guiding, mentoring, and growing administrative and operational personnel. Demonstrated successful experience leading diverse teams to success.
Leadership
Expert-level organizational skills and a proven ability to independently establish priorities while working effectively under pressure, with frequent interruptions, as well as managing projects and executing complex operations and business assignments. Demonstrated ability to pay attention to the details while maintaining the bigger picture. Serves as a liaison and represents senior management on committees and working groups.
Collaboration
Proven leadership skills and a record of accomplishment successfully building collaborations and facilitating teamwork across organizational lines, including networking with key contacts outside of area of professional expertise.
Strategic Planning and Project/Program Management
A record of demonstrated success in conducting research, evaluating alternatives, and determining solutions on issues affecting business, operational, and/or programmatic oversight. Demonstrated success in developing and supporting process improvement and innovative response to high-level and complex organizational needs. Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of and successful experience with strategic planning and project/program development.
Communication
Demonstrated excellent communication and interpersonal skills with all levels of management and personnel, including negotiating, influencing, conflict resolution, consensus building, oral presentation, and written communications. Demonstrated experience creating position papers, presentations, and process and procedure documents.
Work Ethic
Demonstrated record of commitment to quality, excellence, and continuous improvement in the workplace.
Clearance
Ability to obtain a Q clearance.
Education and Years of Relevant Experience
Position requires a Bachelors' Degree from an accredited institution and eight (8) years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. Advanced degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Business Management, or related field is preferred.
Desired Qualifications:
Laboratory Structure and Mission
Comprehensive knowledge of the Laboratory's organizational structure, policies, procedures, requirements, and various business systems. Expert-level knowledge of Laboratory business, operations, and program missions.
DOE/NNSA/LANL
Broad knowledge of the technical and operational capabilities of the Laboratory and future workforce needs. Working knowledge of the DOE/NNSA/LANL university subcontracting process.
Note to Applicants :
Along with your resume, please include a detailed cover letter explaining how you meet each of the minimum requirements and any of the desired qualifications.
Work Environment:
Work Location: The work location for this position is hybrid and is located in Los Alamos. Hybrid is defined as working partially onsite/partially offsite but within 2 hours ground commute of this location. All work locations are at the discretion of management and can change at any time with appropriate notice.
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:
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 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 (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 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. 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 applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947.
