What You Will Do
The Project Specialist provides support and of an assigned technical, operational or administrative portfolio, which may be large or small in total budget and may encompass one or more discrete programs. The Project Specialist, brokers with customers and research groups/programs to determine performance status and evaluation to meet the customers’ needs. The Project Specialist should develop working relationships that span existing internal and/or external institutional missions and extend into new opportunities as policies, missions, and opportunities evolve. Programs are a complex set of related activities needed to produce products or services over time to meet customer requirements within a given mission area. Programs are often ongoing over multiple years and evolve in response to the customers’ changing needs. The customer may be an external body, such as a federal agency, or may be an internal organization within the Laboratory. Programs often are funded by a specific source but may comprise similar activities funded by multiple sources.
Under supervisory direction provide support using continuous improvement processes and methods to identify trends and process variations as part of establishing a continuous improvement system. Assist in the development and implementation of a “best-in-class” continuous improvement strategy. Obtain requirements and drive process change using staff interviews, metrics, document analysis, applicable requirements workshops, surveys, value stream mapping, site visits, business process descriptions, business analysis and workflow analysis. Support post implementation reviews to ensure successful delivery has been achieved and to ensure that improvements can be made for future projects. Assist in Setting-up and/or facilitating Work-out sessions with a range of business stakeholders. Assist with causal analyses, assessments, rapid investigations, and proactive program reviews.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:Continuous Improvement Program Experience: Entry level knowledge of continuous improvement programs in support of Construction Projects and programs. Under supervisory direction support continuous improvement work activities or other improvement activities (Lean Construction methods, 5S, 8 Wastes, Standard Work, Visual Management, Rapid Improvements, Kanban, Value Stream Mapping, etc.). Work as a team member supporting causal analysis.
Leadership/management skills: Have the ability to potentially progress into higher levels of responsibility overseeing staff and contractors, directing assignments, assuring training and development, resolving conflicts, mentoring, team building, motivating employees, and monitoring performance. Have the ability to implement strategic and/or tactical planning for execution of an assigned portfolio consisting of one or more small and/or less-complex programs impacting multiple organizations and may formulate, plan, and implement new continuous improvement program development initiatives in technical or operational or administrative disciplines.
Safety & Security: Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. Ensures safety and security compliance, maintains required safety and security training and makes safety and security an integral part of every task, including taking the necessary steps to stop work if continuing the job is unsafe or compromises security.
Communication and Collaboration: Have the ability to develop successful working relationships with internal and external customers (DOE, LAFO, NNSA, DNFSB) and providing effective two-way written and oral communication. Ability to communicate changes effectively, builds commitment and overcomes resistance, prepares and supports those affected by change, monitors transition and evaluates results. Writes clearly and informatively, edits work for spelling and grammar. Varied writing style to meet needs, presents numerical data effectively, able to read and interpret written information.
Project Management skills: Have the ability to support simultaneous projects, executing organizational strategies, participating in strategic and operational planning and continuous improvement program implementation. Support the development of project plans, coordinate projects, communicate changes and progress, complete assignments on time, and work as a team member on continuous improvement activities.
Education/Experience: This position is expected to be entry level into construction related fields. One to two years of construction or engineering related experience required.
Desired Qualifications:
- Ability to acquire knowledge of industry, regulatory or Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) codes, standards, and criteria.
- Ability to support complex relationships, conflict resolution, and collaborative problem solving.
- Ability to engage people, develop interpersonal relationships, communicate with various levels of management, acquire team building skills; ability to support and be able to negotiate agreements and build consensus.
- Ability to learn and work with Lucidchart, Lucidspark, Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook, and Teams.
- Entry level knowledge of databases and be able to identify issues and improvements and coordinate the resolution of issues and implementation of improvements.
- Ability to identify and resolve issues/problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes
information, develop alternative solutions, work well in group problem solving
situations. - Ability to pursue training and development opportunities and strives to continuously build knowledge and skills, shares expertise with others.
- Ability to balance team and individual responsibilities, exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views, gives and welcomes feedback, contributes to building a positive team spirit, puts
success of team above own interests, ability to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives, supports everyone’s efforts to succeed. - Ability to learn and work with BlueDragon® Integrated Problem Solving, Lean, 5S, Assessments and other continuous improvement methods as assigned.
Essential Job Functions(can perform with or without reasonable accommodation):
Work Environment:
Work Location: The work location for this position is telework and is located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Telework is defined as working from offsite but within 2hours ground commute of this location. Reporting onsite may be periodically necessary. All work locations are at the discretion of management and can change at any time with appropriate notice.
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: Along with your resume, include a detailed cover letter explaining how you meet each of the minimum job requirements and any of the desired qualifications.
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
Fraud Warning:
Unfortunately, employment scams are real. Sometimes bad actors try to impersonate a hiring organization in an attempt to gain an applicant’s personal or financial information.
Please be aware that Los Alamos National Laboratory will never ask for funds for equipment or otherwise at any stage of the application or employment process. Official correspondence with the Laboratory will come from an email ending in lanl.gov.
If you feel that you have been the victim of a scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency.