Early Career Safeguards & Security Assurance Specialist, Self Assessments - Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories

Albuquerque, USA

Job posting number: #7291945 (Ref:Sa694418)

Posted: October 31, 2024

Job Description

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:

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is looking for a dynamic, energetic individual to work in the Safeguards and Security (S&S) Assurance Department as a S&S Assurance Specialist (official job title is Safeguards & Security Planning & Operations Specialist).

We partner with S&S Program subject matter experts, line organizations, Sandia Field Office (SFO) and other customers to develop, implement, and continuously improve the S&S Assurance Program.

We are looking for an assessor to lead and conduct S&S Program Self-Assessments. This work requires ~6 months of training followed by shadowing and participating in conducting assessment activities prior to serving as a Lead Assessor (within 1 year).

We work to ensure Sandia’s security reputation is impeccable and Sandia’s mission is securely performed through analysis and continuous improvement.

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

  • Scope, plan, schedule, conduct and report S&S assessments for all security programs (e.g., Program Management Operations, Physical Security, Material Control and Accountability (MC&A), Information Protection, Personnel Security, etc.).
  • Provide assurance to Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), DOE, and other applicable agencies that security interests and activities are protected at the required levels.
  • Partner with the Sandia Field Office (SFO) in review of the various safeguards and security Topical and sub-topical program areas each year.
  • Provide management with the information necessary to make informed decisions regarding the allocation of resources, acceptance of risk, and mitigation of security vulnerabilities.
  • Ensure security systems and processes follow contractual requirements, federal and state requirements, corporate policies, program procedures, and standards for the protection of security assets and interests during self-assessments.
  • Provide timely identification of deficiencies and noncompliant conditions to prevent adverse events.
  • Validate the effectiveness of any corrective actions implemented to address identified weaknesses.
  • Serve as a liaison between SNL and various subcontractor facilities and SFO.
  • Provide a range of security and compliance guidance needed to support the adherence of security requirement objectives through clauses, terms and conditions, flow down of security requirements, security plans, periodic security reviews, assurance activities and policy changes.
  • Review and interpret DOE/NNSA directives, national policy and corporate policy.
  • Review and evaluate security operations of subcontractor operated facilities through continual assessments and site visits in support of our national security.
  • Collaborate with Procurement, S&S departments and subject matter experts, Cyber Security, Field Intelligence Element, Counterintelligence, and others as necessary on several initiatives.
  • Collaborate with all levels of internal/external personnel and network with others in the industry to build and promote a collaborative working environment.
  • Develop tools and recommend new systems, processes, training, etc. to continuously improve the Program and find innovative ways of evaluating compliance and performance.

Selected applicants may undergo multiple interviews and may be asked to provide a writing sample and/or develop and deliver a presentation on a subject to be determined by the manager.

This position requires domestic travel (~10-15%). Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite full-time.

Salary Range:

$70,200 - $135,400

*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.

Qualifications We Require:

  • Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline (e.g., Information Security/Assurance, Communications, Business, Criminology, Public Administration); or equivalent (AS + 4 or no degree + 8).
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire:

  • In-depth knowledge of multiple Security disciplines to include Program Management Operations (e.g., Facility Clearance; Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence; Security Management in Contracting; Self-Assessments/Surveys; Corrective Actions), Physical Protection, Protective Force, Information Protection, Material Control and Accountability and/or Personnel Security.
  • Experience conducting assurance activities to include conducting assessments, identifying findings and observations, and developing and implementing sustainable corrective action plans.
  • Experience with DOE, DOD and Executive directives and experience interpreting requirements and creating and implementing policy to follow those requirements.
  • Experience working with DOE/NNSA, Defense Counterintelligence & Security Agency, Sandia management, and all levels of Sandia employees.
  • Strong project management and organization skills, including the demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and adapt to multiple tasks and changing priorities in a dynamic and demanding environment.
  • Ability to apply critical thinking skills to synthesize disparate detailed data into useful information.
  • Excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and concisely both in writing and verbally.
  • Ability to become a Derivative Classifier
  • Ability to become a Lead Qualified Assessor

About Our Team:

The S&S Assurance Department is comprised of ~15 professionals who work as a team and are responsible for Self-Assessments (Program, Line, Targeted, etc.), Performance Testing and Corrective Actions Management. This includes the responsibility for evaluating the health of the security programs at SNL/NM, SNL/CA, SNL Remote Sites and subcontractor facilities.

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:

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. 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.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

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.

Position Information:

This Limited Term Employee (LTE) position is a temporary position for one year term, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to a maximum of seven years.

Individuals in LTE positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

Job ID: 694418

Job Family: SY

Regular/Temporary Position: T

Full/Part-Time Status: F



All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.


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More Info

Job posting number:#7291945 (Ref:Sa694418)
Application Deadline:Open Until Filled
Employer Location:Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque,New Mexico
United States
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