This position is open for both internal and external candidates to apply.
What You Will Do
The Annual Assessment process of the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Stockpile is the authoritative method for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE NNSA) to evaluate the safety, reliability, performance, and military effectiveness of the nuclear weapons stockpile, and it is a principal factor in our ability to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent without nuclear explosive testing. The Laboratory Director is statutorily required to submit to the President an annual assessment of the safety, reliability, and performance of the nuclear explosive packages in the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile for which it has design responsibility.
The Office of Stockpile Assessment and Strategy is responsible for managing the annual assessment and producing the products required by law. These products include annual assessment reports (AARs) for the B61 family of bombs and the W76, W78, and W88 warheads; the Director's Red Team (DRT) report; Independent Nuclear Weapon Assessment Process (INWAP) briefings and reports; and the Director's Annual Assessment Letter (DAAL). You will provide direct staff support to the Deputy Director Weapons (DDW) and represent the Laboratory in designated areas.
Responsibilities include:
- Provides leadership and management of a complex and challenging technical portfolio which has strategic significance for LANL and the Nuclear Weapons program and required coordination and integration across the breadth of the lab.
- Coordinating all activities associated with the annual assessment reporting process and activities associated with the U.S. Strategic Command Winter Topical Meeting and Stockpile Assessment Meeting.
- Coordinating and supporting all events that involve usage of the Laboratory's model room vault (the Blue Room) and the Weapons Meeting Room (a major conference facility) in the National Security Sciences Building (NSSB).
- Serving as the Custodian of the Blue Room, which includes responsibilities for maintaining the physical plant, curating materials, qualification as a Nuclear Material Custodian, designation as a Classified Parts Custodian and functioning as the principal owner/operator of multiple classified computer workstations. Serving as the principal owner/operator of the Weapons Meeting Room, which includes responsibilities for maintaining the physical plant and operating classified and unclassified computer workstations. Maintaining the protocols and access lists governing access to annual assessment products filed in the XTD Division On Line Vault (OLV).
- Directs the planning and integration of significant, unique, and/or complex program/project work with other Laboratory priorities and commitments (Annual Assessment). Functions as the authority and interface with one or more executive level external and internal customers to strategize, develop, negotiate, and define mission goals and program/project scope, in accord with Laboratory capabilities, capacities, and priorities, that balance the best interests of the customer, the program/project, and the institution as a whole (Annual Assessment).Interacting regularly with annual assessment counterparts at the NNSA, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.
- Serve as the primary interface and contract manager for the DRT on behalf of the DDW office, ensuring the team has the access, authority, and coordination needed to engage key stakeholders, drive productive dialogue, and successfully deliver the annual DRT report.
Internal support activities include:
- Manage the process on behalf of the Deputy Laboratory Director for Weapons (DDW) which includes preparing the master schedule of events for the annual assessment reporting process, which includes interfacing with the NNSA and other Laboratories, deconflicting senior manager schedules, developing participant lists, reserving facilities and supervising the execution of all events.
- Compiling and editing multiple inputs to annual assessment products to ensure consistent, technically accurate, and comprehensive products that reflect Laboratory standards and positions.
- Maintain the existing archives of briefings, annual assessment products and other reference materials in support of DDW activities, adding materials as appropriate.
- Assist weapons managers in the development of warhead/bomb MAR/Hold Order documents in a standard format and maintain the master file of approved and released MARs and Hold Orders.
- Issue semi-annual updates to the protocols and access lists to annual assessment products filed in the OLV.
- Provide electronic copies of annual assessment products to the OLV.
- Facilitate field work activities of DCS-CSS and HPC staff to maintain and upgrade electronic audiovisual equipment and capabilities in the Blue Room and Weapons Meeting Room.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Leadership
Expert-level ability to exercise independent judgment and leadership on behalf of DDW at numerous interactions inside and outside the Laboratory. Expert-level leadership and coordination skills to direct internal staff and interact with external staff/leadership. Leadership experience in oversight, mentoring and guiding individuals who must develop technical documents and briefings. Ability to operate as a member of a management team, including leveraging internal and external relationships to gain consensus and resolve complex conflicts.
Weapons Experience
Familiarity with the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile and supporting activities. Familiarity with NNSA, DoD and weapon laboratories equities in the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
Communication Excellence
Experience in successfully interacting with individuals with diverse technical backgrounds and experience levels. Excellent verbal/listening and written communications and presentation skills are critical in discussing and influencing all external and internal parties.
Education
Position requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 12 years of relevant or programmatic experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
- Perform duties of a derivative classifier in support of DDW staff personnel, including meeting all requirements as a derivative classifier
- Extraordinary attention to detail in editing complex documents
- Ability to translate complex technical descriptions into plain technical text
- Knowledge of DDW and LANL organizational structure and working relationships
- Knowledge of DDW and GS working relationships
- Insight to DoD/NNSA perspectives and concerns relating to the nuclear weapons mission in general and the annual assessment reporting process specifically
- Active Q clearance
- Active SCI clearance
Work Environment:
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.
Note to Applicants:
Position will close to apply on May 20th, 2026.
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
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/SCI(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. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as 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, state, and local 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 (505)-664-6947.L
Los Alamos National Laboratory