What You Will Do
This position will be filled at either the Professional Staff Assistant Level 1 and Level 2, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
Professional Staff Assistant 1 ($66,100 - $103,600)
The Sensitive and Special Operations (SSO) Division Office is seeking a motivated customer-focused individual to provide professional level administrative support in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) working environment. The successful candidate will serve as the first point of contact for the Division Office. Functionally, the PSA will take guidance from the Division Leader and Staff Operations Manager. There is frequent collaboration with LANL DIR/ALD/DD office staff. While working in a team environment, the successful candidate must also be able to work independently with minimal supervision, establish and balance priorities, be capable of handling personnel and sensitive matters with tact and discretion to effectively support the Division Office.
Specific duties may include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Providing professional support for specialized functions related to the division and groups, which can include high-level government visits requiring coordination with the LANL Protocol Office.
- Under supervision of the Division Leader, Deputy Division Leader, or Staff Operations Manager, coordinate coverage for SSO Division Office during out-of-office occasions.
- Track contract commitments and procurements.
- Routinely execute project procurements and occasionally seek approval to acquire specific non-routine items (must be able to maintain Super Designated Procurement Representative qualification).
- Perform project cost monitoring and control activities, and coordination and execution of operational, logistical, and administrative tasking.
- Coordinate logistics, scheduling, announcements, and administrative facilitation of business, operational, meetings, and conferences.
- Assist in tracking and reporting progress toward business, operational, and division goals and objectives.
- Maintain a professional office atmosphere and demonstrate initiative, versatility, accuracy, tact, and professional discretion when dealing with sensitive matters and matters sensitive to national security.
- May handle sensitive information and handle classified matter.
- Provide expert calendar management for managers by coordinating commitments.
- Serve as point of contact and liaison with customers and sponsors as well as with senior management offices (internal/external) and personnel regarding issues and policies related to the Field Intelligence Element (FIE).
- Fosters a mutually respectful and inclusive work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.
Professional Staff Assistant 2 ($72,800 - $115,400)
The PSA Level 2 candidate should be able to provide high-level operational, programmatic, and administrative support in the SCIF environment. Specific duties may include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Providing high-level, professional support for specialized functions, organizations, and/or programs, typically requiring a full understanding and application of specialized areas and working knowledge of related fields.
- Conducts research and assembles data for assigned projects related to specialized functions; organizations, and/or programs for a diverse range of complex problems where analysis of data requires an evaluation of identifiable factors.
- Under limited direction, composes a variety of specialized reports, presentations, and/or planning documents related to specialized functions, organizations, and/or programs.
- Under limited direction, coordinates and assists in planning logistics, scheduling, announcements, and administrative facilitation of business, operational, and/or programmatic meetings and/or conferences.
- Conducts analysis, design, and/or implementation of business, operational, and/or programmatic-related initiatives to promote and ensure organizational objectives.
- May track and report progress toward business, operational, and/or programmatic goals and objectives.
- Acts as a resource and provides input on changes to policies, processes, procedures, and guidelines related to specialized functions, organizations, and/or programs.
- Ensuring all results, materials, processes, and final products meet quality specifications an are completed according to established requirements.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Proven competence in providing high-level administrative support in a busy office environment, including interfacing with all levels of personnel.
- Demonstrated experience with solving problems, developing solutions, and innovating business practices to ensure customer and sponsor satisfaction.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently while maintaining excellent quality in daily operational work, as well as the fine-tuned skills of organizing, prioritizing, and following through to completion multiple projects.
- Demonstrated experience assuming responsibility for projects from inception to completion, including reporting on project results.
- Demonstrated excellent communication skills (interpersonal, verbal, and written).
- Demonstrated ability to effectively manage complex calendars.
- Experience providing professional support for complex travel.
- Experience completing complex procurements.
- Experience coordinating high-profile meetings and events.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively and calmly under pressure of multiple deadlines, frequent interruptions, and changing priorities.
- Demonstrated record of dependability and reliability as proven through good attendance and quality of work.
- Demonstrated ability to work well as a team player.
- Q /SCI, ability to obtain and maintain an Q/SCI.
Education/Experience at lower level: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree and 2 years related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. Undergraduate coursework may be expected at this level.
Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree and 5 years related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
- Demonstrated ability in independent decision-making.
- Demonstrated experience being proactive, including providing independent guidance.
- Experience interacting with high-level managers and officials, both internal and external.
- Experience working with classified network systems.
- Experience with LANL's visitor procedures.
- Ability to obtain a Q/SCI.
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 2 year.
Note to Applicants: Please provide a cover letter, three professional job references, and two writing samples.
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 maternity 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
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.
