Overview
At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.
Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.
The National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex, real-world threats to our nation and the world.
The Emerging Threats and Technologies Division, part of the National Security Directorate, consists of over 400 scientists, engineers, and analysts with backgrounds in cyber, nuclear, intelligence, policy, data science, and other fields. We work in interdisciplinary project teams to provide innovative concepts that integrate policy, analytics, science, and technology into unique solutions
Responsibilities
PNNL seeks a Strategic Trade Controls Research Analyst with broad experience in strategic trade management and nonproliferation to support projects for federal sponsors, including the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce. The successful candidate will contribute to research, analysis, technical assistance, and international capacity-building activities spanning strategic trade control policy and institutional frameworks, control lists and commodity classification, licensing and transaction risk assessment, industry and academic outreach, compliance, enforcement, and trade-data analysis.
The position requires the ability to apply strategic trade control concepts across different countries, institutional settings, commodities, and technologies. The candidate will analyze complex technical, regulatory, transactional, and programmatic information; develop evidence-based findings and recommendations; and communicate effectively with U.S. government sponsors, interagency partners, foreign government officials, technical experts, industry representatives, and academic institutions. Responsibilities may include developing and delivering workshops and exercises, preparing analytical and technical products, supporting program and project planning, and coordinating activities involving multiple organizations and areas of expertise.
Responsibilities
Strategic Trade Controls Analysis and Technical Support
Conduct research and analysis concerning national and international strategic trade control laws, regulations, policies, institutional arrangements, and implementation practices.
Analyze commodities, software, and technologies to determine the applicability of national and multilateral control lists and support technically defensible classification determinations.
Support licensing and transaction reviews, including assessment of end uses, end users, intermediaries, destinations, transaction structures, proliferation concerns, diversion indicators, and other risk factors.
Assess strategic trade control systems and identify practical opportunities to strengthen policy development, licensing, compliance, outreach, enforcement, and interagency coordination.
Apply strategic trade control principles across a range of dual-use, military, proliferation-sensitive and emerging commodities and technologies, including unmanned and autonomous systems, working with technical specialists as needed.
Specific responsibilities will vary based on the candidate's expertise and evolving programmatic needs. The successful candidate should be able to contribute flexibly across research and analysis, international capacity building, sponsor engagement, proposal development, project planning, and technical reporting.
Research, Trade Data, and Risk Analysis
Conduct qualitative and quantitative research using regulatory information, technical documentation, open-source information, aggregate and transactional trade data, and other relevant sources.
Analyze trade patterns and transaction information to identify emerging trends, anomalous activity, diversion risks, and potential implementation gaps.
Identify appropriate HS codes when needed for trade-data analysis and explain the relationship and limitations of customs and export-control classification systems.
Develop or adapt analytical methodologies to address complex or emerging strategic trade control questions.
Translate analytical findings into clear, actionable recommendations for program activities, technical assistance, and policy or operational decision-making.
International Engagement and Capacity Building
Design, develop, and deliver international capacity-building activities addressing strategic trade control policy, classification, licensing, risk assessment, compliance, outreach, enforcement, and related topics.
Develop presentations, exercises, case studies, guidance, and other instructional or technical materials for government, industry, and academic audiences.
Facilitate workshops, tabletop exercises, technical discussions, and interagency engagements with participants from a range of professional backgrounds.
Support assessments of partner-country needs and the development of tailored activities, work plans, roadmaps, and follow-on recommendations.
Program and Project Support
Contribute to proposals, work scopes, project plans, budgets, schedules, technical deliverables, and sponsor reports.
Coordinate tasks and activities involving U.S. government sponsors, national laboratories, interagency partners, international organizations, foreign governments, industry, academia, and technical experts.
Manage or support projects of varying size and complexity and adapt to changing sponsor priorities and programmatic needs.
Prepare concise, technically accurate written products for technical, policy, program-management, and senior-level audiences.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
BS/BA and 7 years of relevant experience -OR-
MS/MA or higher and 5 years of relevant experience
Relevant experience is defined by experience with strategic trade controls, export controls, nonproliferation, enforcement, international security, trade compliance, or a closely related field.
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated substantive experience across multiple components of a strategic trade control system, such as policy and legal frameworks, control lists and classification, licensing and risk assessment, compliance and outreach, enforcement and interdiction, or trade-data analysis.
Knowledge of U.S. export control system and familiarity with international or foreign strategic trade control systems and relevant multilateral control frameworks.
Experience with INECP, ECRCI, EXBS or comparable U.S. government or international strategic trade control assistance programs.
Experience analyzing commodities, software, or technologies against applicable control criteria and working with technical documentation and subject-matter experts.
Knowledge of emerging technologies relevant to strategic trade controls, including drones and associated technologies and components, is desirable.
Experience evaluating end-use, end-user, intermediary, destination, diversion, procurement, or proliferation-related risks.
Knowledge or experience in supply chain analysis.
Ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative research and synthesize technical, regulatory, transactional, and policy information.
Experience developing and delivering international technical assistance, workshops, exercises, or similar activities.
Strong writing, briefing, facilitation, and cross-cultural communication skills.
Experience supporting U.S. government sponsors and managing complex, multidisciplinary projects.
Ability to work independently while collaborating with technical experts, program managers, government officials, and international partners.
Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment
Not Applicable.
Additional Information
This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
A security clearance background investigation includes review of your employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with you and your personal references, neighbors, and co-workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States. The investigation also examines your foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.
Requirements:
U.S. Citizenship.
Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).
Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months cannot be demonstrated.
Testing Designated Position
This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.
About PNNL
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!
At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State-the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab's campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity
Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov .
Drug Free Workplace
PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements
As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.
For foreign national candidates:
If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement thereafter, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment. The tier of federal background investigation required to obtain the PIV credential will be determined by job duties at the time you become eligible for the PIV credential.
Mandatory Requirements
Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a "country of risk" without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of employment.
Rockstar Rewards
Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
Research Associates excluded.
**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.
Click Here For Rockstar Rewards (https://careers.pnnl.gov/rockstar-rewards)
Notice to Applicants
PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual's relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.
As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position @type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.
Minimum Salary
USD $107,900.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary
USD $167,100.00/Yr.
