Science and Engineering Project Leader

What You Will Do

Join the best and brightest minds in the world at one of the most innovative and creative multidisciplinary research institutions engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. The work we do at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) matters to our country and the world.

The Weapons Production directorate (ALDWP) is seeking highly motivated Science/Engineering Project Leader to support important national defense and space exploration missions at LANL, working in the Power Supply Production (PSP) Division. As a highly skilled Science/Engineering Project Leader in PSP you will help lead and execute numerous key missions to support our nation s security endeavors as we produce the next generation of nuclear engineers and scientists.

This position will be filled at the Science/Engineering Project Leader 2 or 3 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

(See salary range: $104,100 - $172,200)

• Manage moderately complex scientific or engineering projects related to analytical chemistry and/or radiochemistry, ensuring successful completion within approved scope, schedule, and budget.
• Apply knowledge and experience in developing scientific or engineering project plans and detailed work breakdown structures, negotiating work packages, and assigning various aspects of work to complete project deliverables.
• Oversee mid-sized project team(s) in the planning, tracking, and execution of project plans from initiation to completion.
• Under limited direction, monitor performance and manage, under change control, the project scope, schedule, budget, and baselines.
• Identify and mitigate project risks and recommend risk acceptance/avoidance strategies.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson to report project status and issues to management.
• Develop and provide the information and graphics needed to report project status and issues to the program manager and to LANL senior managers and workers.

Salary range: $125,200 - $211,300

Additional job duties for Science/Engineering Project Leader 3:

• Exerts significant latitude in negotiating with program and line managers to ensure that resources are available to accomplish the work, to identify procurement and contracting needs, and to marshal resources to complete project deliverables within the scope, schedules, and budgets defined in project work packages.
• Provide direction and leadership to multidisciplinary project team(s) in the planning, tracking, and execution of project plans from initiation to completion.
• Present project status and issues to the program manager and to Laboratory senior managers and workers as needed. In many cases, you will be asked to interact directly with federal and site office program managers to help them understand the technical scope of the project and be able to deliver a consistent message.

Knowledge & Expertise:

• Proven ability to conceptualize and communicate technical information in a clear and concise manner through the appropriate medium to meet stakeholder needs.
• Experience developing and executing successful communication plans.
• Experience creating and presenting informative and persuasive content, including data visualization tools and graphics.

Continuous Improvement Expertise:

• Demonstrated experience monitoring and analyzing communication metrics and feedback related to complex technical projects in order to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies.
• Experience making and implementing data-driven recommendations for improvement based on thorough understanding of the production environment.

Teamwork:

• The ideal candidate has a strong background in cross-functional collaboration.
• Uses active listening skills to identify issues and engage in negotiation and conflict resolution to come to mutually acceptable solutions and meet customer requirements.

In addition to the Job Requirements outlined above, qualification at the Science/Engineering Project Leader 3 level requires:

• Demonstrated ability to successfully plan, organize, lead and track assigned tasks and deliverables to completion.
• Ability to interact effectively with all levels of personnel, including management, to build trust, gain consensus and resolve conflicts.
• Demonstrated experience and skill in developing and implementing organizational strategies and objectives.

• Demonstrated effective leadership skills including openness to feedback and the ability to negotiate and motivate.
• Experience overseeing the entire planning process, setting strategic direction, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Experience leading all aspects of large complex scientific or engineering project(s) and applying broad knowledge and expertise in relevant areas to complete project…