Chief Operating Officer

What You Will Do

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) reports to the Associate Laboratory Director for Infrastructure and Capital Projects (ALDICP) and is a key member of the ALDICP management team. The ALDICP Directorate is responsible for the execution of a large portfolio of capital asset investments at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which has a FY planned spend of ~$1.76B over the next 5-6 years. The project portfolio involves a number of large line item capital projects (> $50M to over $300M each) in various stages of the capital line item process (DOE Order 413.3B); the portfolio also includes a substantial number (> 100) projects (< $50M each) that are executed as GPPs, IGPPs, and MIEs. Additionally, ALDICP provides staff services to the Institution. Moreover, ALDICP is responsible for the Institutional Earned Value Management System (EVMS) certification, which enables projects >$50M to be line item funded through Congress.

The COO represents ALDICP in a number of activities including participation in the Laboratory Operations Committee (LOC), which supports Institutional integration across the Laboratory. The ALDICP COO leads or participates in cross-organizational committees that focus on Institutional improvement initiatives. Some additional responsibilities may include the following:
  • Working closely with the ALDICP to implement DDOPs and Laboratory initiatives.
  • Working closely with the ALDICP and other ALDICP managers on strategic and tactical planning.
  • Providing timely responses with the ADLICP for DDOPS, Institutional, and other requests.
  • Working with ALDICP management and cross-organizationally to improve, develop, and implement effective and efficient processes for the completion of capital asset projects at the Laboratory.
  • Mentoring and counseling ALDICP management team and staff on Laboratory systems and processes.
  • Providing senior leadership attention to program and project issues that require cross-organizational solutions.
  • Messaging ALDICP initiatives to other Laboratory organizations, including through the LOC.
  • Providing and demonstrating leadership for the culture changes being implemented within ALDICP 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 Performance and Issues Management and Strategic Improvement.
  • Building and nurturing customer relationships both internal and external to the Laboratory.
  • Demonstrating leadership for safety, security, environmental, and quality.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

Personal Leadership

Experienced leader with characteristics including personal integrity and accountability, fiduciary responsibility, trustworthiness in relationships, commitment to quality and excellence in programs and operations; commitment to an engaged workforce based on equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility; human resource development; and effective oral and written communication skills.

Technical Leadership

Record of Senior Director-level accomplishment demonstrated through performance metrics across a wide range of facility and infrastructure management. Managed or responsible for infrastructure program portfolio planning, project management and execution of large-scale capital projects, and/or operations and maintenance of hazardous facilities and infrastructure safety, security, environmental controls, and compliance

Organizational Culture and Change

Demonstrated experience fostering an organizational culture of shared accountability; improvement-driven teamwork; and learning/unlearning from error precursors, near misses, and events to enhance effectiveness and achieve efficiencies.

Coalition Building

Demonstrated experience in collaborating with high-level internal and external stakeholders, including the demonstrated ability to build trust, enhance organizational reputation, and achieve shared objectives.

Education Required: An advanced degree in a scientific, engineering, or other relevant technical discipline and 15 years of related experience is expected or the equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with DOE Order 413.3B project management processes or other project management or program management processes.
  • Familiarity in nuclear facility operations or other highly complex, hazardous operations, particularly as it pertains to the Los Alamos Mission.
  • Broad knowledge of the technical elements of stockpile stewardship and the funding structure or the nuclear weapons program.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing incidents involving safety, security, the environment, or quality.
  • Active Q-Clearance

Note to Applicants: Please attach a cover letter addressing each of the job requirements is required along with a resume.

Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM, USA. 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 2 years.

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 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 applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-664-6947 option 2 and then option 3.