OPERATIONS SUPPORT SPECIALIST 4 – NUCLEAR DEACTIVATION & DECOMMISSIONING (D&D)
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico Work Location: Technical Areas 50 and 55 Position Type: Full-Time Contract Openings: 1 Assignment Duration: 2 Years, with Potential Extension or Conversion Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite Work Schedule: Initially 4/10s, Transitioning to 4/12s Security Clearance: DOE Q Clearance Required; Must Be Able to Obtain and Maintain Start Date: ASAP Travel: No Routine Travel Required Per Diem / Relocation: Pending Confirmation
POSITION OVERVIEW
EGS is seeking an experienced Operations Support Specialist 4 to provide senior-level technical leadership, operational coordination, and field oversight supporting deactivation and decommissioning (D&D), construction, and modernization activities at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This position supports the LIP-DD organization, with primary responsibilities at Technical Areas 50 and 55, including work within a Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility. The selected candidate will serve as a key interface between facility operations, construction teams, project management, programmatic organizations, and technical support personnel to ensure assigned activities are executed safely, securely, efficiently, and in compliance with Laboratory policies and applicable regulatory requirements. Although classified as an Operations Support Specialist 4, this position carries significant project management and field operations coordination responsibilities. The successful candidate will help manage construction and D&D field activities, coordinate resources, oversee work execution, resolve operational challenges, and ensure project deliverables are completed according to established safety, quality, schedule, and technical requirements. The role requires regular field presence and hands-on participation in authorized D&D and operational activities, consistent with individual training, qualifications, and approved work documents. Position-specific training, on-the-job instruction, and qualification support will be provided.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
FIELD OPERATIONS & CONSTRUCTION COORDINATION
- Provide technical leadership and operational oversight for assigned D&D, construction, modernization, and facility support activities.
- Coordinate daily field operations to ensure work is performed safely, efficiently, and according to approved work packages and technical requirements.
- Oversee the organization, planning, and execution of construction and field control activities.
- Coordinate construction personnel, subcontractors, facility operations, project management, and technical support organizations.
- Ensure assigned projects and operational activities are properly staffed, resourced, and executed.
- Monitor work progress, identify potential delays or operational challenges, and implement corrective actions.
- Support work readiness reviews, field execution planning, and activity authorization processes.
- Provide technical and operational guidance to field personnel and supporting organizations.
- Ensure consistent application of construction engineering standards, operating procedures, and established work practices.
- Resolve complex field coordination issues involving multiple organizations, technical disciplines, and operational priorities.
DEACTIVATION & DECOMMISSIONING SUPPORT
- Support nuclear facility deactivation and decommissioning activities within approved work controls and facility requirements.
- Coordinate D&D work activities with facility operations, engineering, construction, and programmatic organizations.
- Support safe execution of work involving nuclear facility systems, equipment, and infrastructure.
- Participate in assigned field activities in accordance with approved procedures, work documents, and individual qualifications.
- Ensure work is conducted in compliance with nuclear safety, radiological protection, and facility-specific operating requirements.
- Support development and improvement of D&D work processes, procedures, and operational documentation.
- Coordinate resources, personnel, and technical support necessary for successful work execution.
- Identify and address operational risks, technical challenges, and potential impacts to ongoing facility activities.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT
- Manage assigned technical activities and operational deliverables from planning through completion.
- Coordinate project scope, schedules, resources, budgets, and execution requirements.
- Monitor progress against established milestones, deliverables, and performance expectations.
- Provide oversight of assigned personnel, subcontractors, and supporting work groups.
- Support project planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and operational reporting.
- Identify project risks, scheduling conflicts, and resource constraints.
- Develop and implement solutions to improve work execution, operational efficiency, and project outcomes.
- Ensure project documentation is accurate, complete, and maintained in accordance with applicable requirements.
- Communicate project status, technical issues, operational challenges, and corrective actions to stakeholders and management.
- Maintain accountability for the quality, accuracy, safety, and timely completion of assigned deliverables.
NUCLEAR SAFETY, QUALITY & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
- Ensure work is performed in accordance with Laboratory policies, nuclear safety requirements, and applicable regulations.
- Support compliance with quality assurance and quality control requirements, including applicable NQA-1 standards.
- Promote safe work execution within Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility environments.
- Support work control processes, operational readiness activities, and required technical reviews.
- Participate in incident investigations, issues management, and corrective action development.
- Support compliance assessments, operational reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Identify potential safety, quality, and operational concerns and coordinate appropriate resolution.
- Maintain a questioning attitude and demonstrate sound technical judgment when evaluating work activities and operational risks.
- Ensure construction and D&D activities comply with approved procedures, authorization requirements, and facility operating controls.
PROCEDURES, DOCUMENTATION & PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
- Develop, review, and improve facility operations procedures, processes, and technical documentation.
- Evaluate existing work practices and identify opportunities to improve safety, efficiency, and consistency.
- Ensure documentation supporting operational activities is complete, accurate, and properly maintained.
- Support development and implementation of facility-level operating programs and procedures.
- Assist with activity approvals, work readiness documentation, and compliance records.
- Coordinate technical information and documentation between facility operations, construction, engineering, and project teams.
- Support development and implementation of corrective actions and process improvements.
- Maintain records and documentation required to demonstrate compliance with established operating requirements.
LEADERSHIP, TRAINING & STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION
- Serve as a senior technical interface between facility operations and programmatic organizations.
- Provide guidance and technical support to construction personnel, operations staff, and other project stakeholders.
- Coordinate communication between field personnel, engineering teams, project management, and facility leadership.
- Support development and delivery of facility-level training and qualification activities.
- Track personnel training requirements and qualification status as assigned.
- Promote collaboration, accountability, and effective communication across multidisciplinary teams.
- Provide responsive customer service and practical solutions to operational challenges.
- Support additional facility operations functions, including property accountability, access control, and administrative coordination when assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline with a minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience.
- An equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.
- Demonstrated experience supporting construction, facility operations, technical project management, or related field activities.
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams, construction personnel, and operational support organizations.
- Knowledge of construction project execution, field operations, and work coordination processes.
- Ability to manage technical deliverables, schedules, resources, and operational priorities.
- Experience reviewing or developing technical documentation, procedures, and work processes.
- Understanding of workplace safety, quality requirements, and regulatory compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical and operational issues.
- Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with facility operations, project management, construction personnel, and technical stakeholders.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance.
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE & CAPABILITIES
- Construction and field operations coordination.
- Nuclear facility work control processes.
- Technical project management and operational planning.
- Construction safety and regulatory compliance.
- Quality control and quality assurance practices.
- Technical procedure development and documentation.
- Work readiness and activity authorization processes.
- Personnel and subcontractor oversight.
- Budget and resource management.
- Incident investigation and corrective action processes.
- Process improvement and operational efficiency.
- Cross-functional communication and stakeholder management.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Fifteen or more years of construction field experience.
- Five or more years supporting Department of Energy missions.
- Previous DOE construction or deactivation and decommissioning experience.
- Experience supporting nuclear facility construction, modernization, or D&D projects.
- Previous experience working within DOE plutonium facilities.
- Familiarity with Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility operations.
- Experience working in highly regulated nuclear or radiological environments.
- Previous qualification as an Electrical Field Work Supervisor.
- Previous qualification as a Field Work Supervisor.
- Previous qualification as a Responsible Line Manager.
- Experience with nuclear facility work control, quality control, and quality assurance processes.
- Knowledge of ASME NQA-1 quality assurance requirements.
- Experience managing complex technical issues and implementing corrective actions.
- Previous experience coordinating construction craft personnel, subcontractors, and facility operations.
- Experience developing and improving technical procedures, operational processes, and work execution practices.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position requires regular onsite presence within nuclear facility and construction environments. The selected candidate must be able to enter designated facility work areas, participate in field coordination activities, and comply with applicable safety and security requirements. The position involves coordination of construction, D&D, and facility operations activities in a highly regulated environment where safety, technical accuracy, and operational compliance are essential.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline with a minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience.
- An equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.
- Demonstrated experience supporting construction, facility operations, technical project management, or related field activities.
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams, construction personnel, and operational support organizations.
- Knowledge of construction project execution, field operations, and work coordination processes.
- Ability to manage technical deliverables, schedules, resources, and operational priorities.
- Experience reviewing or developing technical documentation, procedures, and work processes.
- Understanding of workplace safety, quality requirements, and regulatory compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical and operational issues.
- Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with facility operations, project management, construction personnel, and technical stakeholders.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance.
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE & CAPABILITIES
- Construction and field operations coordination.
- Nuclear facility work control processes.
- Technical project management and operational planning.
- Construction safety and regulatory compliance.
- Quality control and quality assurance practices.
- Technical procedure development and documentation.
- Work readiness and activity authorization processes.
- Personnel and subcontractor oversight.
- Budget and resource management.
- Incident investigation and corrective action processes.
- Process improvement and operational efficiency.
- Cross-functional communication and stakeholder management.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Fifteen or more years of construction field experience.
- Five or more years supporting Department of Energy missions.
- Previous DOE construction or deactivation and decommissioning experience.
- Experience supporting nuclear facility construction, modernization, or D&D projects.
- Previous experience working within DOE plutonium facilities.
- Familiarity with Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility operations.
- Experience working in highly regulated nuclear or radiological environments.
- Previous qualification as an Electrical Field Work Supervisor.
- Previous qualification as a Field Work Supervisor.
- Previous qualification as a Responsible Line Manager.
- Experience with nuclear facility work control, quality control, and quality assurance processes.
- Knowledge of ASME NQA-1 quality assurance requirements.
- Experience managing complex technical issues and implementing corrective actions.
- Previous experience coordinating construction craft personnel, subcontractors, and facility operations.
- Experience developing and improving technical procedures, operational processes, and work execution practices.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position requires regular onsite presence within nuclear facility and construction environments. The selected candidate must be able to enter designated facility work areas, participate in field coordination activities, and comply with applicable safety and security requirements. The position involves coordination of construction, D&D, and facility operations activities in a highly regulated environment where safety, technical accuracy, and operational compliance are essential.