Earth & Environmental Sciences - Group Leader (R&D Manager 4)

What You Will Do

Group Leaders are expected to lead their Groups by nurturing an intellectual environment that is conducive to forward- looking scientific research, development, innovation, and mission delivery, and which attracts, retains, and develops the highest caliber of diverse scientific staff. They work with the Division Office to ensure scientific and technical quality and impact, delivery on commitments, and integration of safety and security principles. The Group Leader ensures that the Group has a comprehensive, integrated set of core-competencies to deliver on existing programs and commitments, and cultivates a culture of respect for diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging within the Group. The Group Leader actively manages and positions the Group to meet emerging challenges and develop new programs through effective collaboration with peers across the Laboratory and at other institutions. The Group Leader will work with Division Leadership to determine organizational objectives, implement, and disseminate lab policies, and delegate assignments. The Group Leader is supported by a Deputy Group Leader, Team Leaders, an administrative assistant and a financial analyst. #ees, #ees-leader

Detailed Description of each opportunity

Group Leader for EES14 (Climate, Ecology & Environment): This group has about 70 staff, postdocs, and students with an annual budget of about $35M. EES14 performs fundamental, applied, and operational research focused on hydrology, ecology, aerosol properties, epigenomics, Arctic observation and modeling, climate change, atmospheric radiation monitoring, atmospheric transport, and agriculture optimization. The group works in state-of-the art genomic trace gas & aerosol laboratories, greenhouse equipped with growth chambers (for radiological and non-radiological growing conditions), conducts ecological and wildfire-based measurements in regional test beds, and deploys atmospheric radiation instruments around the world.

Group Leader for EES15 (Observational Earth Science): This is a newly formed group of about 50 staff, postdocs, and students with an annual budget of about $25M. EES15 focuses on analytical and radiochemical geochemistry and has a strong laboratory and field-based research portfolio. Research in this group ranges from repository, rare earth extraction, mining, remediation, high temperature & pressure material analysis for fracture & fluid flow, and environmental sampling (groundwater chemistry, soil & plant signatures, atmospheric trace gas isotopes) sciences. This group has unique capabilities ranging from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), analytical instruments (mass specs- IRMS (3 including MAT-253 and Thermo-ULTRA); XRD, XRF, ICP-MS, ICP-AES, GCs, IC, Raman-LIBS), and unique Autoclave-flow cytometry, high T/P core fracture laboratory.

Group Leader for EES16 (Energy & Natural Resource Security): This group has about 60 staff, postdocs, and students with an annual budget of $40M. EES16 is a strong computational group developing research and capabilities for computing and data analysis solutions to address challenges in sustainable energy development, AI/ML optimization,

carbon and hydrogen management, fracture propagation, subsurface flow and transport, energy infrastructure optimization, and wildfire prediction. The group balances basic and applied research to develop novel and integrated capabilities utilized for sponsors in multiple offices, agencies, and industrial partners to address important challenges.



What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:

Leadership and Management
  • Advanced knowledge and proven ability to lead and manage a research-oriented organization with sound programmatic and technical decisions, management of resources, and maintenance of safe and secure group operations.
  • Advanced management skills for business operations, including financial stewardship, budgeting, and forecasting.
  • Demonstrated examples of advanced knowledge and proven leadership in career development, goal setting, developing promotion and advocacy documents, mentoring, and motivating employees, resolving conflicts, and commitment to diversity in the workplace.
Strategy, Program Development, and Technical Credibility
  • Advanced technical accomplishments in one or more of the earth science areas of research and operations and skills in program development.
  • Advanced knowledge and proven ability to plan strategically, establish a scientific vision for the group, identify challenges and opportunities, interface with program offices and sponsors, and foster technical capabilities.
Collaboration and Communication
  • Demonstrable experience working with multi-disciplinary teams, building consensus, and/or working across organizational boundaries to achieve institutional objectives.
  • Proven ability to identify, condense, and communicate essential information at various technical levels to staff, sponsors, and stakeholders.
Education, Experience, and Clearance
  • A minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Geoscience or a related field and 8 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the position.
  • The ability to obtain a Q clearance, which usually requires U.S. citizenship.
Desired Qualifications:
  • EES14 & EES15: Advanced knowledge and experience in analytical laboratory and/or field-based research and understanding of safety requirements in laboratory and/or field work.
  • EES16: Advanced knowledge and experience in conceiving, developing, leading, and executing substantial computational modeling, machine learning, and/or data analysis project(s) to address earth science-related questions.
  • Advanced knowledge of and networks with potential sponsoring organizations (such as DOE, NNSA, DoD, DHS, NSF, other government agencies, and industry, etc.)
  • A PhD in Geoscience or a related field.
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.

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, October 31st. 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 or preference, 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.