Project​/Program Specialist ; PPS

What You Will Do

The Safeguards Science and Technology group (NEN-1) is seeking qualified and highly motivated applicants for the position of Project/Program Specialist (PPS) 4. As a PPS4, you would join a diverse and goal-oriented group of peers dedicated to the group's primary mission of developing and deploying nondestructive technologies and concepts in support of domestic and international nuclear safeguards and security. The group accomplishes this mission by fostering a work environment that encourages creative problem solving, teamwork, and passion for the mission while allowing flexibility in the work assignment.

The group's core competencies and R&D areas include nuclear engineering, nuclear material measurement physics, custom instrumentation development, mechanical and electrical engineering design, prototype fabrication, and training. The group currently has programs that focus on nondestructive assay technologies (measuring radiation, heat, and other signatures), microcalorimetry, data analytics, remote sensing, containment and surveillance technologies, and environmental sampling and analysis.

The PPS4 will engage both internal and external stakeholders to enable the success of programmatic efforts led by NEN-1 staff. Working closely with project leaders and individual principal investigators, the PPS4 will assess the technical direction and progress of projects and adjust as necessary. One such programmatic effort requires frequent interactions with organizations resident at Los Alamos National Laboratory's Technical Area 55 (TA-55), so familiarity with the business systems used by those organizations is desired.

Importantly, the PPS4 will help generate project work plans and establish baselines, track project spending and performance to agreed milestones, and will update project work plans as necessary. The selected candidate will generate, manage, and track contracts and procurements of moderate complexity. The selected candidate will also craft project briefs/highlights for both internal and external audiences and manage the submission of monthly reporting, quarterly reports, and other deliverables into relevant reporting systems.

This position demands scrupulous attention to detail, a willingness to constantly follow up to ensure steady progress of projects, outstanding communication skills, and the ability to work with staff, sponsors, and stakeholders from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

Knowledge and Expertise:

Demonstrated expert-level experience with developing project work plans and baselines for technical or operational work, and tracking project progress relative to budget, scope, and schedule. Familiarity with project risk assessments and risk management. Demonstrated experience with contract generation and management. Ability to work well with staff, sponsors, and stakeholders from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Planning and Scheduling:

Experience in planning and defining project scope in collaboration with project leaders and principal investigators. Ability to manage multiple projects of moderate complexity simultaneously.

Leadership:

Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team, and make decisions, solve problems, exercise good judgment, work under pressure, work with minimal supervision and prioritize workload. Ability to mentor less experienced coworkers and students.

Accountability:

Experience working with controlled, classified, or proprietary information.

Communication:

Outstanding written communication skills as evidenced by internal reports or other written work products. Ability to clearly and concisely present information and to respond effectively to internal and external customers, program office points of contact, and management.

Education/

Experience:

Position requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution and 12 years related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. A Project Management Institute certification is preferred for this level.

• Experience working with organizations resident at TA-55
• Experience with Excel, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Projects, and P6
• Experience with relevant federal reporting systems
• Experience managing contracts and procurements
• Knowledge and experience in formal project controls
• Experience working with Oracle, Ariba, and Microstrategy
• Experience supporting large projects with many collaborators
• Effective in a dynamic multitask environment
• Demonstrated familiarity with domestic and international nuclear safeguards and security concepts
• Active DOE Q clearance

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…