Manager of Projects ; Project Completion & Start-Up Manager

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.

Education: 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…