Deputy Associate Superblock Director for Plutonium

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. 

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

We have an opening for a Deputy Associate Superblock Director for Plutonium. This position has responsibilities to support the safe and efficient operations within LLNL’s plutonium facility, a Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility at Site 200 in Livermore, California. The duties and responsibilities of this role include technical, managerial, and safety aspects of the facility, programmatic mission, and support functions.  You will support the ASD Plutonium and interface with senior DOE HQ officials, Strategic Deterrence senior management, Livermore Field Office (LFO), and various stakeholders both internal and external to the Laboratory. You will assist in the management and development of staffing, short-term and long-term strategic planning, goals and budget. This position reports to the Associate Superblock Director for Plutonium (ASD Plutonium). This position resides in the Superblock of the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

You will 

• Provide support to the Associate Superblock Director for Plutonium in the technical leadership and direction of SD Plutonium programs to ensure that work is conducted safely and efficiently by well-trained and qualified staff in compliance with DOE Orders and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Ensure budgets, schedules, and performance standards are realistically set and attained, leading to the effective achievement of objectives and meeting Laboratory requirements.
• Collaboratively set long-range goals and strategies aligned with institutional objectives, influencing policy-making and ensuring the attainment of Laboratory mission deliverables. This role involves independent decision-making on administrative, technical, and operational matters, overseeing budgets, schedules, and performance standards while promoting innovative concepts and ensuring program quality through oversight and technical review.
• Support pit certification, rate production, and sub-critical experiment efforts by providing guidance and necessary resources to technical, scientific, and administrative staff that result in the timely completion of facility equipment modifications, replacement projects, and maintenance in the Plutonium Facility.
• Facilitate and support the implementation of opportunities for continuous improvement in security, safety, and operations through the implementation of both formal and informal inspection and assessment programs and metrics.
• Support the Associate Superblock Director for Plutonium in directing, implementing, coordinating, and integrating effort across major organizational segments, develop and optimize policies, and provide strategic vision and planning while negotiating with senior leadership and internal/external stakeholders on critical matters.
• Foster and promote a culture that supports innovation, efficiency, and the safe execution of plutonium science and engineering.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship. 
• Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, or other technical area or the equivalent combination of education and related experience and extensive experience resolving complex problems and developing, planning, and coordinating solutions.
• Extensive experience managing work with plutonium at a DOE, commercial, or Navy nuclear facility.
• Experience in strategically managing organizations with multiple or complex technical areas to achieve objectives and meet organizational, institutional, and customer/sponsor requirements.
• Extensive knowledge of DOE policies, procedures, regulations, and standards, including DOE Order 420.1C, Facility Safety, DOE Order 422.1, Conduct of Operations, DOE Order 430.1C, Real Property Asset Management, DOE Order 433.1B, Maintenance Management Program for DOE Nuclear Facilities, and DOE Order 425.1 Verification of Readiness to Startup or Restart Nuclear Facilities.
• Experience interacting with and negotiating on matters of significance to the organization, including leadership and management skills to champion innovative directions and influence the development of institutional goals and objectives.
• Experience in performance management and supervision of technical, scientific, and administrative staff, including performance issues, career development, annual performance appraisals, and salary management.
• Experience managing million-dollar budgets and establishing strategic operational goals for nuclear, and radiological facilities.

Qualifications We Desire

• Advanced degree in science, engineering, or other technical areas.
• Experience establishing strategic policies and procedures within high hazard facilities and implementing successful methods and techniques.
• Advanced knowledge and experience developing and implementing continuous improvement in operational safety, security, and efficiency while encouraging process improvement throughout the workforce.
• Demonstrated knowledge of leadership, management, and organizational development principles and methods applied to the direction of a broad organization.

Pay Range

$282,210 - $359,700 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. 

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

A job related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

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To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

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