Project Completion & Start-Up Manager; Manager of Projects

What You Will Do

The Manager of Project Completion & Startup provides strategic leadership and management of a technically complex portfolio focused on project completion, closeout, startup, and commissioning activities. This role is responsible for ensuring projects transition safely, compliantly, and efficiently from construction completion to operational readiness. The Manager leads multidisciplinary teams responsible for closeout walkdowns, punch list management, startup and commissioning scope development and execution, readiness verification, and turnover to operations.

The position requires close integration with project management, construction, engineering, operations, safety, and quality organizations to support successful mission delivery across moderate-to-large, high-consequence projects.

• Provide overall leadership, tactical planning, and direction for Project Completion & Startup activities across one or more programs or project portfolios.
• Define and articulate completion and startup strategies aligned with Laboratory mission priorities, operational readiness requirements, and regulatory expectations.
• Manage multidisciplinary integration across projects, construction, engineering, safety, quality, and operations organizations.
• Oversee project completion teams, including execution of closeout walkdowns, punch list development and resolution, and verification of contractual and technical completion.
• Ensure completion documentation, records, and turnover packages meet Laboratory, DOE, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with project controls and sponsors to confirm scope, schedule, and cost readiness for project closeout.
• Direct planning and execution of startup and commissioning scopes, including system turnover, testing, and acceptance activities.
• Ensure startup and commissioning activities are safely integrated into project execution using Integrated Safety Management principles.
• Oversee development and execution of commissioning plans, schedules, and readiness activities in coordination with operations and facility owners.
• Integrate quality assurance, inspection, and verification activities into closeout and commissioning processes.
• Define work scope, schedules, budgets, and milestones for completion and startup activities.
• Identify completion and startup risks; develop mitigation strategies and corrective action plans.
• Monitor and report performance, progress, and readiness status to Laboratory management and sponsors.
• Manage direct and matrixed staff supporting project completion and startup activities.
• Oversee workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, performance management, and professional development.
• Foster a respectful, inclusive, and high-performance work environment.

Minimum Job Requirements:

• In-depth knowledge of program and project management, particularly as applied to project completion, startup, and commissioning.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams supporting closeout, readiness, and operational transition.
• Strong understanding of construction completion, commissioning, turnover, and operational readiness processes.
• Experience implementing regulatory, safety, quality, and institutional requirements in complex or high-hazard environments.
• Proven ability to manage scope, schedule, cost, risk, and stakeholder expectations across complex project portfolios.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP, PE, CCM, Six Sigma/Lean, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience leading project completion, startup, and commissioning activities for large, complex construction or capital infrastructure projects.

Position requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution and 8 years related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

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.

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of certain countries are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities.

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a…