Project Leader - Online Collaboration and Infrastructure

What You Will Do

Come join the best and brightest minds in the world at one of the most innovative and creative multidisciplinary research institutions engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. As part of the Associate Lab Directorate of Weapons Production (ALDWP), the work we do in Production Support Services Division (PSS) directly affects mission success across Los Alamos National Laboratory.

As a Project Leader on the Online Collaboration and Infrastructure team, you will serve as the Product Owner and leader for multiple technical projects, developing and managing product backlogs, and implementation efforts using Agile and Scrum methodologies. In this role, you will collaborate closely with customers and institutional partners to understand business objectives, user needs, and priorities, translating them into clear product requirements. You will serve as the primary liaison between stakeholders and development teams, owning and prioritizing the product backlog to ensure alignment with strategic goals and maximum value delivery. You will lead Backlog Refinement, Sprint Planning, and Sprint Reviews, ensuring stories are well-defined, prioritized, and ready for development. Additionally, you will support required reporting on product progress, outcomes, and risks. You will also contribute to the development of work packages, supporting staffing plans aligned to those work packages, and ensuring delivery commitments are met within scope, schedule, and resource constraints.

This position will be filled at either the Project Leader 1 or Project Leader 2 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Leader 1 ($78,700 - $125,100)

Project & Product Management

• Lead the planning and execution of IT product delivery by applying Product Owner principles to develop and maintain product roadmaps, prioritize and refine product backlogs, define user stories, and support the development of schedules, milestones, and resource and cost estimates.
• Define, scope, and manage product initiatives to ensure clear objectives, deliverables, timelines, and alignment with organizational goals and user needs.
• Facilitate Agile/Scrum practices and utilize Azure DevOPS project management tool for backlog management and tracking.
• Analyze and document end-to-end workflows to ensure efficiency and alignment with business needs and product vision.
• Make informed decisions to balance priorities, risks, stakeholder expectations, and technical considerations.
  
  

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and coordinate with team members to develop recommendations that enhance product delivery.
• Participate in the implementation of approved improvements, including updating documentation, procedures, and work instructions.
• Apply knowledge of IT architecture, standards, and content management best practices to support and enhance product and process improvements.
  
  

Communication & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Communicate product status, requirements, and deliverables to management and stakeholders across PSS Division, ALDWP, and ALDPI.
• Collaborate closely with customers, developers, and cross-functional teams to gather requirements, define expectations, clarify priorities, and ensure shared understanding of responsibilities.
• Interact professionally with personnel at all levels, including external partners and executive leadership, delivering clear and concise guidance.
  
  

Technical & Quality Assurance

• Leverage organizational and enterprise technical tools and platforms, including SharePoint, content management systems, low-code and process automation environments, APIs, Microsoft Office Suite, SQL, and Oracle to support product lifecycle activities, system operations, and data-driven decision-making.
• Apply intermediate knowledge of software development tools and technologies in support of product execution.
• Perform and support Quality Assurance Testing (QAT), including the use of automated testing processes, to validate successful implementation.
  
  

Customer Service

• Provide exceptional customer service by offering clear guidance, building rapport, and resolving issues in high-visibility or high-pressure situations.
• Deliver effective communication and support to a diverse range of stakeholders, ensuring a positive customer experience.
  
  

Project Leader 2 ($94,500 - $154,600)

In addition to what is outlined at level 1, level 2 will be responsible for:

• Apply advanced project and product oversight skills to manage risks, track milestones, and communicate progress and impacts to stakeholders.
• Proven ability to successfully plan, organize, lead, and monitor team efforts effectively.
• Advanced prioritization and decision-making skills.
• Experience leveraging data and performance metrics to guide product decisions and prioritization.
• Mentor Product Owners and Scrum teams to establish consistent product management practices and drive continuous improvement.
  
  

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements for Project Leader 1

• Working knowledge of IT product ownership practices, including developing product roadmaps and backlogs, managing scope, schedule, and budget baselines, and preparing reports and change-control actions.
• Experience creating work packages that clearly define deliverables and outcomes to meet specific customer or product needs.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a Product Owner or Project Leader in a Scrum environment.
• Proficiency with Agile project management tools such as Jira or Azure DevOps.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to effectively prioritize competing demands.
• Proven ability to initiate, plan, execute, and monitor product team activities to ensure successful project completion.
• Demonstrated capability to interact effectively with personnel at all levels, build trust, gain consensus, and resolve conflicts.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and professionally.
  
  

Additional Minimum Job Requirements For Project Leader 2

In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-team or multi-product initiatives.
• Proven ability to manage product portfolios, budgets, and perform future forecasting.
• Experience mentoring other Product Owners or cross-functional teams in product management practices.
• Strong understanding of enterprise IT architecture, governance, and delivery constraints.
• Ability to balance mission priorities, technical risk, and organizational impact.
• Advanced stakeholder engagement skills, with demonstrated ability to serve as the primary product representative to senior leadership and institutional partners.
  
  

Education/Experience Project Leader 1:

Position requires a bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited institution and 2 years of directly related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Education/Experience Project Leader 2:

Position requires a bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited institution and 5 years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:

• Active DOE "Q" clearance
• Scrum Master Certification (CSM)
• Scrum Product Owner Certification (CSPO)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
  
  

Work Location:

The work location for this position is hybrid and is located in Los Alamos, NM. Hybrid is defined as working partially onsite/partially offsite but within 2 hours ground commute of this location. All work locations are at the discretion of management and can change at any time with appropriate notice.

Note to Applicants:

• For full consideration, submit a comprehensive resume reflective of your relevant experience to the job requirements and desired skills stated above.
  
  

While the posted salary range for this position is broad, it is highly unusual for selected applicants to be hired at the top end of the range and more common for selected candidates to grow into the full salary band over time.

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
  
  

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

• Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.
  
  

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947 opt. 3.