Access Existing Account/Create New Account

Sandia National Laboratories National Security Policy Fellow (multi-disciplinary R&D)

Albuquerque, NM

Job ID: 694515

Apply Now

About Sandia:

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 vacations, 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.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We seek a luminary in strategic national security policy who has demonstrated on the global stage a deep knowledge of nuclear deterrence and nonproliferation policy; an understanding of the role of emerging technology on national security; the potential future of conflict and cooperation; and the opportunities for diplomacy. The Security Policy Fellow is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive frameworks and strategic initiatives that embed nuclear deterrence and nonproliferation policies into Sandia's operational and research agendas, ensuring alignment with national security objectives and fostering a culture of informed decision-making across all levels of the organization. Foster robust, hands-on collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, and industry partners, to facilitate knowledge exchange, drive policy discussions, and enhance Sandia's enterprise partnership in shaping national and international security strategies.

As a direct report to Executive Leadership, the key responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to instantiate and coalesce strategic thought leadership at Sandia concerning the key components driving national and international instability or enabling equilibrium, to act as the primary SNL point of contact in engaging with others in the community to convene and coordinate policy discussions and other activities, to grow the next generation of policy-informed technical experts, and to lead systems analyses that inform the direction of our future work in global security-related technical research, development, testing, and evaluation.

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

  • Engage with Labs leadership teams in guiding Sandia strategies, optimizing the work environment for the future, identifying new key investment areas, and molding effective mission engagement

  • Serve as a Labs-level resource to anticipate and articulate, and influence national policy to effectively guide major shifts in strategic direction

  • Coordinate across SNL mission portfolios to identify interdependent, synergistic and/or reinforcing mission policy, technology requirements and gaps

  • Expand external relationships within the nuclear security enterprise, academia, NGOs, and industry domestically and internationally.

  • Lead critical Sandia and/or government agency initiatives

  • Provide leadership for technical societies, national-level boards or studies, and forward-looking sponsor committees

  • Provide technical or mission vision to advance state of the art technology to address key gaps

  • Proactively mentor staff and management

    Candidates may also be asked for additional information such as letters of reference and other documentation providing evidence of how they meet the Sandia Fellow qualifications throughout the hiring process.

Qualifications We Require:

  • PhD in a relevant STEM, Policy or equivalent related field plus 11 years’ experience; or a Master’s degree in a relevant STEM, Policy or equivalent related field plus 15 years’ experience; or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant STEM, Policy or equivalent related field plus 19 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

  • Leadership experience directly relevant to your area of subject matter expertise

  • Extraordinary technical or discipline-specific impact/output with appropriate high impact dissemination

  • Experience designing, planning, and implementing projects

  • Skilled in implementing policies affecting enterprise level projects, strategies, or initiatives

  • Excellent communication skills as evidenced by a history of publications and/or presentations

  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

  • Recognition by relevant peer communities external to Sandia

  • Extensive networks, both internally and externally

  • Strong interpersonal skills

  • History of work and accomplishments in a field or technical area relevant to the DOE complex and/or nation

  • Demonstrated ability to team across subject areas and engage with the highest levels of an organization

  • Proven track record in providing mentorship

  • Ability to interact effectively with all levels of internal and external customers, including the ability to build and manage effective working relationships

  • Integrative problem-solving skills and a proven track record tackling challenging, multi-faceted problems with due consideration for business and strategic consequences

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and changing priorities, mediate conflict, and apply leadership concepts and techniques

  • Engages in an active leadership role in modeling and growing values in diversity, equality, and inclusion

  • Ability to obtain SCI clearance, which may require a polygraph

About Our Team:

Sandia is a government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC).As an FFRDC, we operate in the public interest with objectivity and independence, free from organizational conflicts of interest, and by maintaining core competencies in missions of national significance.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance:

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.

EEO:

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.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

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.

Job ID: 694515

Job Family: RD

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F

Apply Now

Benefits

  • Worklife Balance
  • Flexible Work Schedules
  • Generous Paid Time Off
  • Exceptional 401K Savings Plan
  • Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
  • Wellness Programs
  • On-site Amenities
  • Vacation Buy Plan
  • Telecommuting Arrangements*

*with management approval

Life in New Mexico

  • Affordable housing, reasonable cost of living
  • Minimal traffic congestion compared to larger cities
  • Outdoor recreation - Ski, snowboard, hike, etc.
  • Experience rich culture and history
  • International Balloon Fiesta
  • Green chile – NM Cuisine
  • Museums, Parks, Sports

Learn more about Life in Albuquerque, New Mexico

RESUME / APPLICATION BEST PRACTICES

  • At Sandia, recruiters manually review resumes on each job posting instead of using a resume screening software program
  • Review the Sandia Resume Writing Best Practices Sheet before beginning your application
  • By following the best practices outlined, this ensures that recruiters can accurately determine your qualifications for the position