What You Will Do
This position will be filled at either Project/Program Specialist 2 or Project/Program Specialist 3, depending on the skills of the selected candidate(s). Additional job responsibilities, outlined below, will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
Join the Program Support Services, Program Assurance and Risk Management (PSS-3) group within the Associate Laboratory Directorate for Weapons Production (ALDWP) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) as a Project/Program Risk Specialist. PSS-3 implements and maintains a best-in-class risk management framework to ensure consistency, efficiency, and integration across ALDWP's programs-directly supporting NNSA/DOE mission objectives for the U.S. nuclear weapons enterprise.
The Project/Program Risk Specialist role provides specialized risk management assistance across several projects/programs, characterized by dynamic environments and standard complexity. Responsibilities include planning, organizing, and controlling risk processes to support program track objectives within scope, time, quality, and budget constraints. The role requires general project/program management knowledge alongside specialized skills in facilitating standard risk workshops, conducting quantitative risk analysis, and creating integrated risk dashboards to identify, analyze, and treat systemic program risks along with understanding and use of standard risk management software tools.
Project/Program Specialist 2 Job Duties:
- Risk Process Execution: Directly manage risk registers, workshops, and mitigation processes for a defined program track or a portfolio of mid-sized projects under limited direction.
- Workshop Facilitation: Plan, schedule, and independently facilitate routine risk identification and analysis workshops with program teams; update and maintain program risk registers.
- Dashboarding & Reporting: Build and maintain program-level risk dashboards, integrating qualitative risk register data with schedule milestones.
- Risk Trend Analysis: Analyze risk profiles across multiple projects to identify overlapping or systemic risks and assist the Program Risk Manager in identifying qualitative risk trends and drafting monthly performance summaries.
- Performance Monitoring: Under limited direction, monitor performance by analyzing, modeling, or reporting on assigned aspects of project or program scope and risk profiles.
- Communication: Serve as the primary spokesperson to report risk status, dashboard trends, and issues to the project, program, or line managers.
- Safety and Security: Assure safety and security compliance, maintain required training, and make safety/security an integral part of every task, including taking steps to stop work if necessary.
- Compliance: Understand and adhere to all Laboratory and regulatory guidance and governance specific to the project or program work.
- Inclusion: Foster a mutually respectful and inclusive work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.
Project/Program Specialist 3 Job Duties: In addition to the duties listed for Project/Program Specialist 2, candidates at Project/Program Specialist 3 will...
- High-Stakes Facilitation: Exert significant latitude in planning and facilitating high-stakes risk and alignment workshops with internal and external senior program stakeholders.
- Quantitative Risk Modeling: Collaborate with the Program Risk Manager to perform schedule and cost uncertainty risk analysis (SCURA/SURA) using Monte Carlo modeling tools.
- Dependency Mapping: Perform comprehensive cross-program dependency mapping to identify how risks realized in one program cascadingly impact scheduled milestones in adjacent programs.
- Key Risk Indicators (KRIs): Develop and implement program-specific KRIs to serve as early-warning indicators for program cost and schedule overruns.
- Status Reporting: Work with the program risk manager, report risk status, model forecasts, and critical issues to the project/program manager or NNSA Customers.
- Compliance & Inclusion: Adhere to all Laboratory and regulatory guidance, and actively fosters an inclusive, respectful, and discrimination-free work environment.
Salary Range: While the posted salary range for this position is broad, it is highly unusual for selected applicants to be hired at the top end of the range and more common for selected candidates to grow into the full salary band over time.
- Project/Program Specialist 2: $87,800 to $143,000
- Project/Program Specialist 3: $106,400 to $176,000
#shiftwork
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements: Applicants must submit a comprehensive resume reflective of relevant experience that addresses the minimum job requirements and desired qualifications of the position below for full consideration.
- Education/Experience for Project/Program Specialist 2: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in a related field from an accredited institution and 5 years related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
- Education/Experience for Project/Program Specialist 3: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in a related field from an accredited institution and 8 years related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
- Additional Skills and Knowledge for a Project/Program Specialist 2:
- Working knowledge of project/program risk management requirements and regulatory/Laboratory compliance guidelines.
- Familiarity with risk management software tools such as Active Risk Manager (ARM).
- Understanding of critical path scheduling to effectively map schedule-related program risks in P6 software and experience in conducting quantitative risk analysis using Monte Carlo modeling tools such as @Risk, Acumen Fuse, and Safran Risk.
- Strong group facilitation, conflict resolution, report building, and presentation skills.
- Experience developing and implementing program-specific Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) to serve as early-warning indicators for program cost and schedule overruns.
- Ability to build trust and nurture effective internal customer relationships across all levels of personnel.
- Additional Skills and Knowledge for a Project/Program Specialist 3: In addition to the requirements outlined Project/Program Specialist 2 above, requirements for Project/Program Specialist 3 are...
- Advanced knowledge of and demonstrated experience in program risk management and analyzing critical path and scenario modeling methodologies in P6.
- Mastery of risk database systems (e.g., ARM) and quantitative Monte Carlo simulation software (e.g., @RISK, Acumen Fuse, Safran Risk).
- Mastery of dashboard software tools such as Power BI, MicroStrategy, or Tableau, and advanced Excel proficiency.
- Expert facilitation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder alignment skills.
- Demonstrated ability to translate technical statistical outputs into strategic, non-technical executive-level narratives.
- Advanced knowledge of regulatory and Laboratory requirements related to the assigned program risk management work.
Qualifications We Desire:
- The following certifications:
- CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) or introductory risk management coursework for a Project/Program Specialist 2.
- PMI-RMP (Risk Management Professional), PMP (Project Management Professional), or CCP (Certified Cost Professional) for a Project/Program Specialist 3.
- Previous experience with project/program risk management roles.
- Experience in the use of ARM, @Risk, Acumen, Power BI, and SharePoint software.
- Previous dashboard development with a working understanding of P6 software.
- Previous experience developing and presenting informative, operative, and decision briefings to senior leadership.
- An active DOE Q-level clearance.
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.
Work Schedule: This position may/will require 24/7 coverage, which could/will involve working a shift/weekend schedule. Employees may be eligible for the shift differential pay when assigned by their manager. Shift/weekend assignments are at the discretion of the manager.
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: 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 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.
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 applicable 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
[email protected] or call (505)-664-6947 opt. 3.
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