What You Will Do
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has an exciting opportunity for an attorney with contracting experience. In the Office of General Counsel how we work is just as important as what we work on. As part of a large legal organization responsible for all legal affairs at LANL, you will have the opportunity to work cooperatively within a multi- disciplined legal organization, and routinely team with other in-house attorneys on relevant strategic and substantive issues that have resulted or could potentially result in litigation.
While our primary focus is on providing advice and counsel in the development of and administration of contracts and agreements, we provide all manner of general advice and counsel to support LANL’s mission. Our practice focuses on preventive law by anticipating and working with clients to understand and manage risks. Topics within our practice area include:
- Prime Contract Management
- Finance and Accounting (allowable costs, appropriated funds, banking and taxes);
- Acquisition Services (procurement, subcontracting, real estate, and government property);
- Construction law;
- International transactions and trade controls;
- Export Control law;
- Conflict of Interest;
- Unique Agreements (IAs, MOUs, University Agreements and staff exchanges);
- Risk Management and Insurance;
- Physical Security; and
- National Security matters
In this position you will provide constructive and supportive legal advice and counsel to LANL managers and employees, advising them regarding the legal aspects and consequences of proposed courses of action and identifying alternative courses of action that will avoid or minimize legal difficulties for LANL while also facilitating mission accomplishment. Responsibilities will include: drafting and reviewing legal documents, including contracts, leases, terms and conditions and other legal instruments, memoranda of law, legal opinions, proposed regulations, management directives and correspondence and support negotiations with outside entities and their attorneys, including subcontractors, claimants, litigants, and agencies of various federal, state, tribal and local government agencies.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Practice of Law
You will need knowledge of the rules governing the practice of law and experience in one or more of the areas of practice listed above.
Communication & Team Work
Demonstrated ability to interact with all levels of staff and management, establishing productive working relationships, and providing constructive advice. You will also need to be able to work collaboratively in a team environment and be ready to make positive contributions to our excellent team.
Problem Solving
Demonstrated experience in providing advice and counsel on complex topics. You must also be able to think critically and apply analytical skills to provide solutions to business and operational law problems.
Software
You will need the ability to work with legal research tools (e.g., Westlaw, Lexus), with legal matter management and document systems such as eCounsel and M-Files, and with litigation databases (e.g., Relativity), and collaboration platforms (e.g., Teams, WebEx, GoogleDrive).
Education/Experience: Position requires a Juris Doctorate Degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school and be an active member of a bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction), and a minimum of 7 years of legal experience in transactional legal areas (contracts, acquisitions, and procurements) after passing the bar and being admitted to practice.
Experience at this or another Department of Energy facility in order to be equipped with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position is preferred. Ideal candidate will have work experience as a government contracts attorney.
Desired Qualifications:
Federal Contracts Experience
Federal Government Contracts experience and familiarity with Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) as well as Federal Management and Operating Prime Contracts.
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 1 year.
Note to Applicants: A cover letter is required that demonstrates how candidate meets each of the minimum job requirements, discusses experience in desired skills, and identifies contributions candidate could make to the Office of General Counsel together with writing samples that demonstrate the ability to perform legal research and written advocacy with application materials.
Work Location: The work location for this position is hybrid and is located in Los Alamos, NM. Hybrid is defined as working partially onsite/partially offsite but within 2 hours ground commute of this location. All work locations are at the discretion of management and can change at any time with appropriate notice.
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 childbirth 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 (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 and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, 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 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 1-505-665-4444 option 1.
Employment StatusFull TimeAppointment TypeRegularRegular