Team Lead, Protocol - Global Security and Nonproliferation, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

We are seeking a Team Lead to guide the Nonproliferation Protocol Team in support of the Global Security and Nonproliferation mission of Center 6800. This team is responsible for establishing proper protocol and managing all aspects of international engagements, strategic mission events, technical exchanges, and distinguished visits that advance nonproliferation objectives. Leveraging deep protocol expertise, the team partners with U.S. Government sponsors, foreign government representatives, and diverse stakeholders to ensure effective execution of mission activities that reflect Sandia's values and strengthen global security relationships.

The Team Lead will oversee a cadre of Nonproliferation Protocol Officers who provide operational leadership and coordination for mission-based events, workshops, conferences, and technical exchanges conducted domestically and internationally. These activities support critical national security programs sponsored by organizations such as the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), U.S. Department of State (DOS), and Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

Nonproliferation Protocol Officers integrate operational, logistical, financial, regulatory, and stakeholder requirements to successfully execute government-funded mission activities in complex environments. Successful candidates must be capable of independently managing multiple events concurrently, often across different countries and stages of execution.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Lead and guide the team's work, ensuring alignment with Sandia's mission, practices, and policies in support of the Center for Global Security and Nonproliferation mission.
• Demonstrate leadership in project execution, ensuring protocol activities and engagements deliver high-impact results aligned with the Center for Global Security and Nonproliferation mission.
• Apply specialized knowledge and judgment to evaluate work quality, performance, and alignment of results with sponsor and customer expectations.
• Support staff development through coaching, mentoring, professional growth opportunities, and performance engagement, while collaborating with the 6822 Manager on hiring and assessment.
• Build and maintain trust-based relationships with internal and external stakeholders including executives, sponsors, foreign government representatives, and mission partners to ensure customer needs are met.
• Promote excellence in execution by managing deliverables, team goals, budgets, schedules, staffing requirements, and overall coordination of mission activities.
• Plan and oversee VIP and strategic visitor interactions, ensuring high attention to detail, professionalism, and customer service.
• Collaborate with executives, technical hosts, and stakeholders to develop agendas, presentations, and tours that align visitor interests with appropriate technical programs.
• Ensure compliance with security requirements at all levels and maintain adherence to organizational policies.
• Direct event logistics and execution, including researching venues, coordinating facilities, exhibits, equipment, catering, and providing on-site support to ensure seamless delivery.
• Identify issues and develop solutions in collaboration with the team, adapting quickly to evolving priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  

Due to the nature on this work the selected applicant must be able to work onsite in Albuquerque, with occasional telecommute flexibility, given the mission-critical nature of engagements and distinguished visitor support.

$102,400 - $168,800

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline plus, five or more years of directly related experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of the job or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience. Equivalent experience in lieu of degree must be directly related experience that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of the job.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects, events, operations, or workstreams with responsibility for prioritizing deadlines, tracking actions and dependencies, maintaining accurate documentation, and driving deliverables to completion.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.
  

• Exhibited communication proficiency with the ability to convey ideas clearly in oral and written form.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government or federally funded programs (DOE/NNSA, DoD, DOS, DTRA, national labs, FFRDCs) with knowledge of Sandia's programs, policies, and leadership model.
• Proven ability to plan, coordinate, and execute complex international events, workshops, technical exchanges, and mission activities, including managing international travel logistics (passports, visas, customs, foreign national access) and vendor negotiations (venues, hotels, transportation, interpreters, audiovisual, catering).
• Familiarity with Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), government-funded travel processes, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), procurement, contracting, financial management, project controls, and budget development/management with compliance and audit readiness.
• Demonstrated cultural awareness and experience collaborating with international partners, foreign government representatives, and multinational organizations.
• Strong project management and logistics expertise, with relevant professional training or certification, and ability to prioritize and deliver multiple concurrent tasks.
• Effective communication skills to clearly convey ideas orally and in writing, fostering trust-based relationships across diverse stakeholders.
• Leadership and adaptability aligned with organizational values, sound judgment, and effectiveness in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
• Commitment to safeguarding sensitive information in compliance with security requirements, including holding or ability to obtain an active DOE security clearance.
• Ability to align protocol activities with broader organizational objectives through technical business development knowledge.
  

The Global Systems Analysis, Research, Capacity Building, and Response department is a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and technical specialists that enables and enhances physical and cybersecurity systems to protect and/or detect and recover nuclear and radiological materials around the world. We collaborate with other organizations at Sandia to leverage technologies and resources for multiple programs. Our areas of expertise include:

• Capacity Building (instructional development and training).
• Systems Analysis to support strategy and design decisions.
• New technology development to improve radiological, nuclear, and border security across the globe.
• Response and law enforcement training.
• Nonproliferation Protocol
  

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.