Group Leader; R&D Manager

What You Will Do

The Materials Science and Technology Division (MST-DO) currently has two Group Leader openings in MST-14 (Plutonium Materials Performance Group) and MST-15 (Plutonium Microstructure and Mechanics Group). The Group Leaders (GL) for MST-14 and MST-15 will lead tactical execution and strategic planning for the Group, ensuring that mission needs and programmatic deliverables are met today and into the future. The GL is also expected to maintain and grow a broad-based and integrated set of capabilities for plutonium R&D initiatives supporting science and manufacturing.

The GL will work closely with their Deputy Group Leader and MST Division management to provide leadership, vision, strategic and tactical planning, and management for high-quality production support, applied research, materials characterization, and fundamental plutonium science.

In MST-14 you will help lead a key materials science organization engaged in applied and fundamental science focused on plutonium materials science to support key nuclear weapons programs and national security missions. This group focuses on Materials Properties, Surface Science, and Gas & Corrosion Science to support key nuclear weapons programs, including Plutonium Modernization and Production, Pit Surveillance, Office of Experimental Sciences, Engineering & Technology Maturation, LDRD, and more.

In MST-15 you will help lead a key materials science organization engaged in materials characterization and applied and fundamental plutonium science to support key nuclear weapons programs and national security missions. This group focuses on Metallurgy, Electron Microscopy, and Dynamic & Mechanical Properties of plutonium to support key nuclear weapons programs, including Plutonium Modernization and Production, Pit Surveillance, Office of Experimental Sciences, Engineering & Technology Maturation, LDRD, and more.

• Support excellence in technical program execution including high-quality scientific research and completion of agreed-to program/project deliverables.
• Maintain employee team-building and mentoring to enhance capability development and integration for plutonium R&D science and manufacturing initiatives.
• Develop the team without compromising the interpersonal relationships of group members.
• Support stewardship of the Group's funding base and business management.
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with programmatic and line organizations both within LANL and across the DOE complex — especially with the Weapons Production, Weapons Engineering, and Weapons Physics programs.
• Ensure adherence to Conduct of Operations, maintaining safe and secure work spaces, and ethical work practices while remaining agile and adaptable to new challenges and change.

• Experience in a management position and demonstrated scientific and organizational leadership as evidenced by the ability to form, organize, administer, and lead scientific projects, teams, and/or personnel.
• Record of successful research or expertise in a scientific field relevant to one of the group’s core research areas or programs in plutonium metallurgy, microstructure, electron microscopy, mechanical & dynamic properties, plutonium materials properties, surface, gas, or corrosion science.
• Experience in building and leading teams, mentoring, and motivating employees, and working effectively with all levels of internal and external personnel to gain consensus and resolve conflicts.
• Working knowledge of operational rigor needed to maintain safe, secure, and regulatory compliant operations within a nuclear facility.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate to personnel at all levels, with an emphasis on experience coordinating cross-organization collaboration projects.
• Demonstrated first-rate decision-making and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to adapt to rapidly changing tactical drivers, regulations, and work conditions while enabling production of quality results and mission advancement.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance, which typically requires U.S. citizenship.

Position requires a Bachelor’s Degree from an…