The posting
Company Description
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.
Job Description
We have an opening for a Chief of Staff in the Strategic Threat Analysis and Response (STAR) Directorate. You will serve as a senior advisor to the Principal Associate Director (PAD) and Principal Deputy Associate Director (PDAD), establishing and driving priorities, decision-making cadence, and operating rhythm to ensure timely, high-quality execution of STAR mission deliverables. You will operate with broad, delegated authority to drive decisions and outcomes across STAR, integrate responses to internal and external partners on high-consequence programmatic issues, and ensure STAR leadership actions and communications are aligned with directorate and Laboratory strategy. You will play a key role in fostering a positive, collaborative culture across the organization.
You will work closely with the PAD and PDAD to help ensure STAR is effective in meeting mission needs and sponsor requirements. You will regularly interact with STAR program leadership, senior internal managers and executives, external sponsors, Laboratory support organizations, NNSA/DOE, and LLNS senior management. As Chief of Staff, you will coordinate STAR PAD Office activities that strengthen key STAR relationships and partnerships, and support directorate-level mission execution, integration, and follow-through.
STAR is a complex, multi-discipline program directorate with an annual funding portfolio of over $800M and supporting over 1000 staff members from across the Laboratory.
You will:
- In partnership with the PDAD, serve as the PAD’s principal integrator for STAR programmatic, operational, and workforce activities, ensuring priorities are clear and leadership actions are timely and aligned with STAR and Laboratory strategy.
- Ensure effective and timely responses to sponsor requirements by coordinating, reviewing, prioritizing, and communicating work products across STAR program staff and leadership.
- Organize and oversee STAR Senior Leadership Team engagements, including agenda-setting, issue framing, decision capture, action tracking, and facilitation of cross-organizational collaboration.
- Develop, implement, and refine operating mechanisms, strategic and operational policies and procedures in alignment with Laboratory and sponsor requirements. In partnership with the PDAD, ensure the STAR PAD Office operates effectively, with clear roles, decision processes, and execution discipline that enable mission delivery.
- Oversee timely, accurate, and effective internal and external communications from the STAR PAD Office, ensuring clear, consistent strategic messaging aligned with Laboratory strategy. Provide strategic direction and priority-setting for STAR communications activities.
- Lead preparation for STAR executive engagements, including development and presentation of briefing materials, coordination with stakeholders, and follow-through on actions in partnership with the STAR Events and Communications Teams.
- Help shape and implement STAR short and long range organizational strategies, priorities, and objectives with medium to long-term impact, including informing tradeoffs, risk management, and resource alignment.
- Represent STAR in senior-level internal and external engagements, building and sustaining strategic relationships and negotiating on matters of significance to STAR and the Laboratory.
- Foster a positive, collaborative work environment by building strong relationships, encouraging teamwork, and supporting effective communication with internal and external stakeholders across the team and organization.
- Exercise delegated authority on behalf of the PDAD to resolve cross-cutting issues and advance STAR priorities.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- 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 the time of hire.
- Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, business administration, organizational leadership, public policy, communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Extensive experience resolving complex, high-consequence problems, developing integrated approaches, and driving execution across multiple organizations.
- Leadership experience with major scientific, technical, administrative and/or operational initiatives, with advanced knowledge spanning one or more specialized fields.
- Extensive experience managing with strategic focus, setting priorities, balancing competing requirements, delivering results under multiple deadlines, and building sustainable teams and processes.
- In-depth knowledge of Laboratory programs, policies, procedures, and governance mechanisms, and strong understanding of the mission, strategy, and sponsor environment relevant to STAR.
- Expert communication, facilitation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills including experience briefing and influencing executive-level stakeholders.
- Extensive experience interacting with and negotiating on matters of significance with internal executives and external sponsors and partners, for example NNSA/DOE, DoW, and other organizations.
- Leadership experience, and ability to build alignment across a broad cross-section of technical, operational and administrative organizations.
- Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across complex, multi-disciplinary environments.
Pay Range
$338,580 - $431,568 Annually
This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith 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.
Additional Information
#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 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.
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.
How to identify fake job advertisements
Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under “Find Your Job” of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.
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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