Engineering Principal Associate Director’s Office Administrator

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$131,490 - $161,028 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we 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.

We have an opening for a Principal Associate Director’s Office Administrator in the Engineering Directorate. In this key role, you will manage day-to-day business operations for the PAD Office and serve as the Directorate Workforce Administrator, supervising both exempt and non-exempt administrative staff. Working independently, you will plan, develop, and execute a wide range of advanced and diverse administrative activities and complex projects with changing variables, shifting priorities, and multiple factors that often require creative problem-solving and adaptability. You will oversee diverse business, workforce, and organizational requirements, ensuring effective coordination and implementation of initiatives. Additional responsibilities include planning, analyzing, developing, and implementing administrative policies and procedures and personnel administration activities. You will contribute to and advise senior leadership on workforce, operations, and strategic planning activities, as well as make recommendations, and manage confidential information with professionalism. This position requires strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills, and the ability to manage conflicting priorities with flexibility and discretion. As a member of the Directorate Administrative Management Team, you will play a vital role in supporting the organization’s mission and initiatives. This position is in the Engineering Principal Associate Director’s Office.

In this role, you will

• Oversee and manage all day-to-day business operations and employee administration activities for the Engineering Principal Associate Director’s Office, proactively identifying operational needs, assessing practices, and independently developing, directing, and executing solutions for complex issues in support of significant strategic initiatives and projects.
• Perform high level facilitation and collaboration with managers, staff, and senior leadership to achieve long-range business operations and personnel management goals, participating in various and diverse workforce management, strategic planning, and operational decision-making activities, using independent judgment, influence, or negotiation, and exerting significant latitude to identify challenges, analyze, recommend, develop, and establish solutions, and represent the Directorate as needed.
• Supervise a team of nonexempt and exempt administrative staff, overseeing and advising on a broad range of functions, including staffing needs, training and development, recruiting and hiring, corrective actions, and employee relations.    
• Lead, direct, develop, and implement various personnel functions, including workforce planning, staff development, and performance management; providing mentoring for direct reports, and guidance, training, and support to exempt and non-exempt staff to promote professional growth and operational excellence.
• Develop, implement, and administer courses of action related to business and organizational strategies, practices, initiatives, requirements, and deliverables, establishing protocols and procedures to manage completion of projects, and ensuring alignment with Engineering and Laboratory objectives and compliance with policies and regulations.
• Manage directorate budgets to include the Non-Reimbursable and Employee Relations Funds; oversee management of the directorate Recognition and Awards budget.
• Analyze, establish, regularly review, and make continuous recommendations on internal administrative procedures and systems to enhance operational efficiency, streamline processes, ensure continuous improvement, and obtain optimal results across business functions.
• Serve as the Directorate point of contact for all hiring activities, salary transactions, and personnel metrics reporting; research and validate data, and analyze, interpret, and ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, regulations, and laws, while providing guidance on employment and compensation processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• 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 a related field or equivalent combination of extensive experience and education in a related business, operational and/or organizational area.
• Advanced experience interpreting management needs, assessing requirements, and effectively identifying and implementing solutions to non-standard tasks/queries.
• Advanced administrative and organizational skills, including detail oriented, flexibility, and experience independently coordinating and prioritizing multiple and complex work activities with conflicting deadlines. Ability to work effectively with short deadlines and frequent interruptions.
• Significant experience in personnel functions for a large, diverse organization, interpreting and applying a wide variety of personnel policies and procedures.
• Experience with leadership and teambuilding skills to effectively build, lead, and manage an effective and diverse support team of non-exempt and exempt staff, including providing and administering performance and salary management, career development, training plans, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions.
• Advanced analytical, research, and complex-problem-solving skills to independently and effectively resolve unique and highly complex problems.
• Experience participating in strategic and workforce planning activities, including leading and supervising a variety of business, operational, and/or organizational activities and projects, and managing budgets and planning/reporting tools.
• Demonstrated advanced-level interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills to diplomatically explain, negotiate, persuade, and lead staff and management through conflict resolution in order to obtain consensus on complex personnel and administrative actions.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience using LLNL administrative systems including: SmartRecruiters, Work Force Navigator, HR Personnel Database, HRBI, LTRAIN, TIME, and other relevant administrative systems.
• Fluency in Microsoft Teams, Excel, Sharepoint, and/or Confluence.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 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.

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. 

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.