We have an opening for an Associate Program Leader (APL) for Weapons Nonproliferation (WN) in the Nonproliferation Research and Development (NPRD) Program. In this role, you will support NPRD’s mission to perform innovative research that develops forefront capabilities and expertise to detect foreign nuclear weapons development and testing, verify arms control and nonproliferation agreements, counter nuclear proliferation and terrorism, and respond to nuclear incidents.
The Weapons Nonproliferation program area consists of a multi-disciplinary team that utilizes expertise in nuclear weapons design, production, and testing to enable more effective detection, location, and characterization of foreign nuclear weapons production activities. This program area also involves developing U.S. capabilities for independent monitoring of foreign nuclear weapons stockpiles and related activities, such as assembly, transportation, storage, dismantlement, and delivery system integration, in support of warfighting, intelligence, and nonproliferation missions targeting vertical proliferation. In addition, this program area ensures that technical competencies relevant to foreign nuclear weapons development are sufficient for future nonproliferation challenges.
As the APL for WN, you will be responsible for staffing and mentoring, ensuring consistency and quality, and enabling delivery of technical products across the WN portfolio. You will work closely with technical leads across NPRD and play a key role in setting program strategy and direction, prioritizing resources to develop new capabilities, and reporting progress and milestones. The APL for WN will also work with relevant APLs in the Space Science and Security Program to facilitate development of technologies suitable for integration into space monitoring systems. As part of the NPRD leadership team, you will work with the Program Leader and the other APLs to enable and sustain a culture of collaboration and innovation throughout the program.
This position is within the Global Security Principal Directorate’s Nuclear Threat Reduction (N) Program and will programmatically report to the Program Leader (PL) for NP. While some funding for sponsor engagement is available from Global Security for this position, most of your assignment will be funded through direct programmatic work.
This position will be filled at either the SEL.4 or SEL.5 level depending on your qualifications. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if you are selected at the higher level.
In this role you will
- Provide expert technical leadership, managerial and budgetary oversight, and quality assurance for weapons nonproliferation within the NPRD portfolio. Serve as an interface and coordinate with stakeholders both internal and external to LLNL.
- Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team to apply expertise on nuclear weapons design, production, and testing and to deliver technical products for WN applications. Facilitate integration across NPRD as part of the leadership team, fostering collaboration and teamwork.
- Materially contribute as a technical expert within the WN and broader NPRD portfolio. Identify, guide, and develop new programmatic and research opportunities within the NPRD mission area. Support experimental activities through coordination with internal and external facilities.
- Maintain and ensure appropriate quality standards including reviewing, coordinating, and approving deliverables, publications, and presentations. Promote and maintain a positive image of the Laboratory and strong internal/external customer relationships by ensuring project and program objectives and commitments are met successfully.
- Provide career development support to new and existing staff, including mentoring, on a variety of topics ranging from specific technical areas to project/program management and leadership.
- Support the Program Leader (PL) and the other APLs and technical leads in the development of strategic and program plans, annual budgeting, and execution, while balancing programmatic priorities, resource availability, staffing, security, and safety.
- Serve as the primary liaison between WN and the Space Science and Security Program to facilitate development of technologies suitable for integration into space monitoring systems.
- Coordinate WN activities with other relevant activities throughout N Program, the Laboratory, and the broader Nuclear Security Enterprise, both domestically and internationally.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional job responsibilities at the SEL.5 level
- Develop and integrate innovative cross-cutting capabilities and advancements for weapons nonproliferation serving multiple programmatic missions.
- Influence strategic vision and implementation plans for senior management and external stakeholders to meet the broad needs of the U.S. nonproliferation mission.
- Champion new processes and cultivate relationships for personnel recruiting, training, mentoring, development, and retention. Encourage and enable integration of staff across varying programmatic areas of NPRD, N Program, and the larger GS and LLNL communities.
- Cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships with external organizations, including academic institutions, national laboratories, government agencies, and experimental facilities.