International Assessments - Associate Program Leader for Lethality & Signatures Group - Z Program

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 an Associate Program Leader for the Lethality & Signatures (L&S) group within the International Assessment (IA) Program to lead a dynamic team developing and executing the work of the Laboratory in support of intelligence missions supporting Department of War (DoW) mission space. You will lead the development of project execution plans that define resource requirements, schedules, deliverables, and costs. As a key member of the IA Program leadership team, you will help address workforce needs, safety, security, technical quality, standards, and project management requirements. You will also provide substantive oversight of IA support to DoW sponsors. This position is in the IA Program within the Global Security Principal Directorate’s Z Program.

In this role, you will

• Serve as a member of the IA Program leadership team, influencing the development and implementation of institutional objectives and goals.
• Provide technical and analytical leadership to technical staff to develop and provide subject matter expertise and analysis of foreign nuclear weapons programs and threats for multiple government sponsors.
• Identify and pursue program development opportunities, develop an internal investment strategy and work with IA Program Leader, as well as leaders in Z Program and other Laboratory Programs and Directorates to identify and pursue collaborative projects.
• Formulate and execute short-term and strategic goals for the program, including setting the program’s annual research agenda and producing highly advanced, finished intelligence analysis, reports, and briefings that meet intelligence community (IC) tradecraft standards where applicable.
• Provide project management oversight for the program’s portfolio of projects sponsored by the Department of War, including developing project execution plans and ensuring appropriate resource allocation, timelines, and review of the group’s deliverables.
• Assist in planning and direct activities for staffing of L&S projects; manage program budget, allocate resources, determine qualification standards and attract, retain, recruit, and select staff with technical expertise.
• Lead performance management and career development activities for all members of the L&S group, including conducting quarterly check-in and regular 1:1 meetings, writing performance reviews, and providing input for matrix personnel. Develop, implement, and maintain a mentoring program for analysts and principal investigators to support the career development goals of all team members.
• Build, maintain, and enhance strong relationships with sponsors, customers, and stakeholders to ensure exquisite execution of projects and satisfaction of commitments.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Additional job responsibilities, at the SEL.5 Level

• Develop innovative concepts and provide expert leadership, technical vision, and strategic planning for both analytic and scientific research and development.
• Present project accomplishments and meet customer expectations, as well as identify new opportunities, goals, and application areas by leading the development of proposals interacting with senior program management.
• Develop and implement new innovative technical and analytic capabilities within the program to expand the portfolio, sponsor base, and capabilities of the team. 
• Influence strategic decisions made by senior management and external customers at the national level.

• This position requires an active DOE Q clearance at the time of hire and the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.
• Master’s degree in physical science, nuclear physics, weapons design, engineering, political science or related discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and extensive related experience
• Subject matter expert experience managing, leading, and supervising multidisciplinary teams to execute deliverables for external programmatic sponsors.
• Subject matter expert experience influencing and collaborating with partners and stakeholders to achieve programmatic objectives.
• Subject matter expert in supervising personnel, and resource planning, while working with various organizations comprised of scientific, technical, analytical, and administrative workforce.
• Ability to motivate and collaborate with other personnel effectively in achieving programmatic objectives.
• Subject matter expert experience working in a classified environment with highly complex, multi-agency security requirements and with both classified and unclassified subject matter and understanding of national security mission requirements and related issues.
• Expert verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively present, explain, and advise senior management and external sponsors and customers, including preparing and presenting proposals and reporting results.

Additional job qualifications, at the SEL.5 Level

• Ph.D. in physical science, nuclear physics, weapons design, engineering, political science or related discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and extensive related experience and demonstrated ability to champion, lead, and develop innovative cutting-edge principles, theories and concepts.
• Expert knowledge and experience of analysis of nuclear weapons in support of national security objectives.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated ability to lead, develop positions on, and perform assessments and analyses of nuclear weapon concepts and threats.  
• Expert technical knowledge of advancements that have impact beyond the Laboratory.
• Extensive leadership experience and demonstrated success directing technical leaders, supervising personnel management, resource planning and control experience, while working with various organizations comprised of scientific, technical, analytical, and administrative workforce.
• Expert verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills necessary to effectively collaborate with internal and external teams, and to advise and influence senior management and external sponsors.

Qualifications We Desire

• Active Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.
• Significant knowledge of intelligence analysis of foreign nuclear weapons programs, counterproliferation, and terrorism with a demonstrated track record of publications for the Intelligence Community (IC).
• Demonstrated publication record in the Intelligence Community (IC) on a relevant national security issue area.
• Expert knowledge of Intelligence Community (IC) requirements and practices, including SCI security marking, intelligence oversight and compliance, and related security practices.
• Experience executing analytic work for the Department of War and a proven track record of developing and maintaining productive relationships with U.S. military sponsors and stakeholders.
• Experience formulating, proposing, winning, and managing a multimillion-dollar analytic portfolio consisting of several projects funded by different sponsors, and significant experience simultaneously managing and leading several projects that require all-source intelligence analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to lead the application and development of principles, theories, and concepts in a creative and innovative fashion.
• Ability and willingness to learn and apply technical or analytic advances, expand personal expertise, and apply increased understanding to propose new lines of investigation.

Pay Range

$227,430 - $346,140 Annually

$227,430 - $288,396 Annually for the SEL.4 level

$272,970 - $346,140 Annually for the SEL.5 level

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.

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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 an active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at time of hire.  Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.  Please note that your current active Q or Top Secret clearance with DOE or another agency does not guarantee DOE SCI access approval; if you are denied access, you may be subject to reinvestigation of your existing Q or Top Secret Clearance. 

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.

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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.

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