Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Research Security Program Office (RSPO) is building an integrated program that enables world-class science while safeguarding the nation’s most sensitive technologies and information. As part of this mission, RSPO is seeking a Deputy Classification Officer to play a key role in advancing the Laboratory’s classification and information protection capabilities.
Position Overview:
In this position, you will serve as a senior technical expert supporting the BNL Classification Program, working closely with the Classification Officer to ensure effective management, oversight, and implementation of classification requirements. You will help guide the identification, evaluation, and protection of scientific, technical, and programmatic information—ensuring compliance with federal requirements while enabling the Laboratory’s research mission.
This role offers a unique opportunity to operate at the intersection of science, national security, and policy—supporting high-impact research while ensuring that sensitive information is properly identified, controlled, and protected.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Identify scientific and technical information that requires protection or control in accordance with federal regulations and DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration classification policies and guidelines.
• Qualify as a derivative classifier in a technically relevant field.
• Conduct classification reviews of technical documents and publications. Analysis of complex information and providing interpretations to identify the classification or controls that will be required on programmatic work products or processes to adhere to current classification guidance from DOE and other federal agencies.
• Apply and interprets DOE classification requirements governing Restricted Data (RD), Formerly Restricted Data (FRD), Trans classified Foreign Nuclear Information (TFNI), and National Security Information (NSI). Ensures that information related to nuclear weapons, special nuclear material, foreign nuclear programs, and other classified national security matters is properly identified, marked, handled, and protected in accordance with DOE Order 475.2B, the Atomic Energy Act and Executive Order 13526.
• Support derivative classifier training and authority tracking.
• Assist with quarterly reporting and compliance documentation.
• Support DOE assessment preparation and internal self-assessments.
• Provide technical recommendations to the Classification Officer. Assist with providing recommendations to resolve classification issues affecting mission objectives.
• Maintain operational awareness of the classification issues.
• Conducts classification and Operational Security (OPSEC) reviews within Laboratory electronic systems, including the Publications System (PUBS) for scientific and technical information releases, the Proposal Information Management System (PIMS) for research proposal submissions, and the Foreign Visits and Assignments (FV&A) process for international engagements. Ensures that publications, proposals, and foreign interactions comply with DOE classification and OPSEC requirements and that sensitive or controlled information is properly identified and protected prior to release or access.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
Minimum Six (6) years related technical/ field of discipline experience, including at least a minimum of 2 years demonstrated leadership experience for a team, project or program.
Extensive knowledge of DOE classification policies (DOE O 475.2B, DOE O 471.6, DOE O 471.7), the Atomic Energy Act, Executive Order 13526, classification categories (RD, FRD, TFNI, NSI), and OPSEC methodologies.
Executive-level communication skills, regulatory interpretation capability, risk analysis expertise, and sound judgment in high-consequence environments.
Ability to obtain and maintain Security Clearance.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Master’s degree preferred.
Experience supporting classified programs within the U.S. Federal government, a National Laboratory, or industry.
Active Security Clearance
Other Information:
This is a fully onsite position located at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY.
Subject to 24-hour on-call response for emergencies and may require irregular work hours.
Occasional travel may be required.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. The full salary range for this position is $130000 - $210000 / year. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to employee success and we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Review more information at BNL | Benefits Program
Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory – view more information at www.bnl.gov/real-id. This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federal REAL ID Act. Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews.
About Us
Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Guided by our core values of integrity, responsibility, innovation, respect, and teamwork, Brookhaven Science Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer-Vets/Disabled. We are committed to fostering a respectful and collaborative environment that fuels scientific discovery. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. *VEVRAA Federal Contractor
BSA employees are subject to restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation at the time of hire for review by Brookhaven. The full text of the Order may be found at: https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0486.1-BOrder-a/@@images/file
bnl