Chief Operating Officer

What You Will Do

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) reports to the Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences (ALDPS) and is a critical executive of the ALDPS management team. The Physical Sciences Directorate develops and applies a broad set of capabilities in materials science, experimental physics, and accelerator engineering to programs and problems of national importance. The success of our science requires world-class research and processing facilities, including our LANL-based national user facilities: the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL).

The ALDPS COO provides operational supervision for programmatic performance, management of safety, security and environment, workforce diversity and excellence, technical capability development, and operational management for all physical sciences divisions. The COO effectively addresses Laboratory goals for programmatic, business, and operational excellence and maintains effective working relationships with Laboratory senior management and internal and external stakeholders. The COO must demonstrate integrity, the ability to establish trust, commitment to quality and excellence in science and technology, and commitment to diversity and excellence in the workforce.

The COO represents ALDPS in a number of activities including participation in the Laboratory Operations Committee (LOC), which supports Institutional integration across the Laboratory. The ALDPS COO leads or participates in cross-organizational committees that focus on Institutional improvement initiatives.

Successful candidate responsibilities include the following

• Working closely with ALDPS and with the DDSTE COOs to implement DDSTE and Laboratory initiatives.

• Working closely with the ALDPS, the LANSCE User Facility Director and Senior Director for Physical Sciences, and the broader PS line and program management team on strategic and tactical planning.

• Providing timely responses from ALDPS for DDSTE, Institutional, and other requests.

• Working with ALDPS management and cross-organizationally to improve, develop, and implement effective and efficient processes for operational execution at the Laboratory.

• Provide management and oversight especially in the areas of asset management, talent management, and for the LANSCE Facility Operations organization.

• Mentoring and counseling ALDPS management team and staff on Laboratory systems and processes.

• Providing senior leadership attention to issues that require cross-organizational solutions and integrating PS strategies into operational plans.

• Messaging ALDPS initiatives to other Laboratory organizations, including through the LOC.

• Providing and demonstrating leadership for the culture initiatives being implemented within ALDPS and at the Laboratory.

• Providing and demonstrating leadership commitment to the Laboratory's continuous improvement process as a learning organization.

• Having line management responsibility for directorate risk heat map, security posture, space management, and environmental assessments.

• Working closely with ALDPS to support emergency response for relevant mission essential functions for the Continuity of Operations Plan.

• Demonstrating directorate leadership for safety, security, environmental, and quality - leading the ALDPS WESST.

• Chairing the PS Management Review Board and the PS Deputies Council - developing leaders and fostering collaboration on PS-wide topics of interest.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Successful experience leading large, complex, multi-disciplinary technical organizations with significant fiscal and programmatic responsibilities.

• Demonstrated ability in establishing technical directions and goals, implementing effective business practices and systems, managing a multidisciplinary technical workforce, managing complex budgets and finances, intellectual property protection adaptable to diverse program needs, and managing customer and stakeholder relations.

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills; demonstrated experience in interacting with all levels of personnel and stakeholders, including demonstrated ability to form productive collaborations; demonstrated ability to build and grow both internal and external organizational relationships, including international engagements.

• Demonstrated expertise and commitment to disciplined operations, security, and facility planning spanning office space to experimental labs and large multi program facilities for a portfolio of diverse programs and stakeholders.

• Knowledge of relevant DOE or national laboratory policies, management systems and requirements involving personnel, budgeting, procurement, facilities, safety, security, and quality. Of particular importance is demonstrated competence in providing an environment that effectively supports scientific and technical excellence related to our research and processing facilities, including Sigma, TA-55, and the LANSCE, CINT, and NHMFL national user facilities.

• Commitment to reaching closure on institutional issues by working cross-organizationally with Laboratory senior leadership and management.

• Experience working with the Department of Energy (DOE) or National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at headquarters or field office level, or with state or federal regulators, or other national security agencies.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Q clearance, which typically requires US citizenship.

Education/Experience: A degree in a scientific, engineering, business or other relevant discipline is expected or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in successfully managing environments that satisfy a range of safety, security, environmental and quality requirements. Familiarity in nuclear facility operations or other highly complex, hazardous operations.

• Demonstrated collaborative relationships with external partners and government agencies on technical objectives and policy initiatives.

• Knowledge of the technical elements and structure of physical sciences programs.

• Experience with responding and/or managing assessments and audits.

• Active SCI-Clearance.

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:

In addition to a resume, candidates must submit a cover letter addressing the specific requirements. Applications without this letter will not be considered.

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.

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.

Term position: Regular-status Laboratory employees applying for term-status positions may retain regular status with approval of the cognizant Principle Associate Director.

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 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 ~~~ or call ~~~ option 1.