Electromagnetic Sciences & Cognitive Space Applications Group Leader (R&D Manager 4)

About the role

Intelligence & Space Research (ISR) division seeks a highly motivated, dynamic scientific and engineering leader to lead the ISR-2 Electromagnetic Sciences & Cognitive Space Applications Group. ISR division has designed, built, and operated ground-, air-, and space-based measurement and detection systems for over 60 years to address challenging scientific and national security problems. The ISR-2 group develops and applies emerging science and technology to complex remote sensing problems, from ground to space, with approximately 35 full-time staff and 15 students spanning space physics, nuclear physics, plasma physics, electrical engineering, and related disciplines. The ISR-2 Group Leader will establish and execute a strategic vision to position the organization for future mission success while maintaining excellence in ongoing program execution, including assessing and evolving the group's organization, research portfolio, workforce strategy, and technical capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the group's technical and administrative operations; steward its enduring scientific and engineering capabilities.
• Work closely with ISR-2 leadership, ISR division leadership, program managers, project leaders, and external sponsors to align people and capabilities with mission needs.
• Foster a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, safety, security, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Develop and sustain a healthy, high-performing workforce across all career stages through mentorship, performance management, succession planning, recruitment and retention, and student and postdoctoral development.
• Create opportunities for scientists and engineers to grow as technical leaders and develop sustainable research portfolios.
• Conduct strategic workforce planning, performance and salary management, staff development and accountability, and recognition of individual and team accomplishments.
• Identify and mitigate technical and organizational risk; collaborate with program managers and project leaders to support successful program execution.
• Provide a safe and secure working environment using ISR core values supported by Human Performance Improvement (HPI) and Safe Conduct of Research (SCoR) principles.

Requirements

• Leadership: Proven ability to inspire and lead multidisciplinary teams through complex scientific, engineering, operational, and organizational challenges; build effective cross-organizational collaborations; and implement change to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Management: Demonstrated success managing a technical workforce, including workforce planning, recruitment and retention, staff development, performance management, succession planning, and alignment of people and skills with organizational needs.
• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrated technical leadership and experience relevant to one or more of ISR-2's technical areas, including RF and optical remote sensing; ground, airborne, and space-based sensing systems; space communications and cognitive space applications; signature discovery and propagation; algorithm development; and laboratory and field experimentation.
• Communication: Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and active-listening skills, with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across technical staff, management, programs, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
• Safety and Security: Demonstrated skill, expertise, and success in workforce safety, security, environment, and health, such as through implementing HPI and/or SCoR principles, or equivalent techniques. Demonstrated commitment to mission assurance, protection of sensitive information, and responsible execution of national security missions. Ability to obtain Q and SCI clearances is required.
• Workplace Culture: Demonstrated ability to foster a respectful, collaborative, accountable, and high-performing workplace where individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can contribute and succeed.

Qualifications

• Position requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution and eight years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
• Desired Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated ability to work broadly across a large organization to influence strategy, resolve cross-organizational challenges, and support successful execution of major programs.
  • Demonstrated ability to take a concept from low to high TRL to provide insight and advice on maturing promising capabilities.
  • Working knowledge of DOE/NNSA, DoD, NASA, and/or other government agencies.
  • Demonstrated success developing sponsor relationships, research opportunities, and sustainable technical portfolios.
  • Advanced degree in a relevant science or engineering field is preferred.
  • Active Q clearance and SCI.

Physical Requirements

• Physical movement between buildings located primarily within a half-mile radius, which may include movement across uneven and/or inclined ground.
• Physical movement within large interior facility spaces and corridors.
• Direct or peripheral interaction with hardware, equipment, and instruments in office and laboratory environments.

Work Location

The work location is onsite in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.