Classification Advisor

Company Description
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.
Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.
We are committed to a diverse and equitable workforce with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This is essential to innovation and creativity for continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.
Pay Range
$159,330 - $245,544 Annually
$159,330 - $204,636 Annually for the SES.3 level
$191,220 - $245,544 Annually for the SES.4 level
Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.
Job Description
Embark on a mission vital to both national and global security as a Classification Advisor within the Office of Classification and Export Control (OCEC) at LLNL. Here, you'll be at the forefront of safeguarding critical information across a diverse spectrum of programs, including Strategic Deterrence (SD), Global Security, the National Ignition Facility (NIF), and various cutting-edge Science and Technology disciplines. As a Classification Advisor, you won't just fill a role - you'll be a subject matter expert (SME) shaping the landscape of our security protocols. Imagine being the go-to resource, collaborating with brilliant minds - scientists, engineers, innovators, and authors - to ensure the proper classification of information at every stage of its development. This position will be in the Strategic Deterrence Directorate.
This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at a higher level.
In this role, you will

• Mentor Derivative Classifiers (DCs), Reviewing Officials (ROs), and Laboratory staff in support of compliance with LLNL Classification and Export Control policies and procedures.
• Analyze complex information and apply advanced knowledge related to current DOE and other government-approved classification guidance to determine classification in assigned document DC reviews, confirming OCEC reviews, and recommend changes to guidance when approved guides no longer address the full scope of classified program activities.
• Maintain advanced competency and diplomacy in assisting clients in answering their classification questions and guiding them through the information review and release (IM) process.
• Work cooperatively within the office and participate in the decision process for applying classification and export control guidance and regulations.
• Develop and communicate information on complex classification issues and policies by means of briefings, correspondence, and bulletins given to the laboratory population.
• Recognize when an additional export control review is needed.
• Develop DOE and other government-wide classification guidance as part of a team of classification specialists.
• Review potential security incidents and advise if classified information was mishandled.
• Recognize and support plans to promote and foster a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability within the workplace.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

In Addition, at the SES.4 Level

• Develop defensible determinations/solutions, develop new ideas or modify current approaches when challenges are not well defined, are highly complex, and require in-depth analysis of multiple factors.
• Serve on external committees for DOE or NNSA and may be the primary Classification Advisor as well as a technical contact for a specified program.
• Research, develop and prepare draft input to government or local classification guidance authority, for institutional and government-wide use, and/or develop and prepares draft classification bulletins to satisfy DOE updates, and locally driven needs to communicate classification guidance information to laboratory users.
• Act as a classification officer leader for specific subject areas. This task may include direct interaction with the government sponsor, NNSA, or HQ DOE.
• Help define Security plans or Information plans for specific programs or experiments which will clearly define what is unclassified and what information requires additional protection, based on approved classification guides or bulletins.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. Citizenship.
• Master’s degree in technical fields such as physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, or related fields or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Ability to analyze and solve complex problems as will be encountered in classification and export control tasks.
• Understand guidance and how it applies to information.
• Experience exercising sound judgment in considering conflicts between complex missions, goals, and administrative classification constraints.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills to achieve clarity and conciseness, demonstrating diplomacy when interacting with customers who have conflicting interests and opinions.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently as a technical expert both independently and as part of a team towards specific objectives, while performing duties and assignments on a tight schedule.
• Experience performing tasks both with competency and with diplomacy, in working with the diverse technical laboratory population.

In Addition, at the SES.4 Level

• Significant relevant experience working in technical subject areas that can support major programs within the laboratory.
• Significant experience working as a Derivative Classifier (DC) or as a federal Original Classifier (OC).
• Significant experience working successfully on challenges that are not well defined, consistently requiring creativity and innovation, and the ability to establish objectives, which may include documenting classification determinations, consulting HQ DOE or other government agencies (OGA), and assisting the program or P.I. with direct sponsor interaction on classification guidance.
• Recognized as a subject matter expert in an area of technical development, understand classification applied to the technical area, yet be supportive of goals, milestones, and deadlines for the Program.
• Significant experience succeeding in assignments where the consequence of error may result in long-term inability to reach laboratory objectives and demonstrate the ability to serve as a primary technical/organizational contact, mentor other personnel, become an organization spokesperson, and advise senior management and/or external sponsors.

Desired Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in a scientific or engineering field; or an equivalent level of demonstrated knowledge.
• Derivative Classifier (DC) authority and/or Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information Reviewing Official (RO) authority.
• Experience in programmatic areas within or relevant to the laboratory. This includes nuclear weapons design and related weapons sciences, computer science, non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), remote sensing technologies, Department of Defense programs, Global Security and Department of Homeland Security programs, Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) and Lasers.
• Demonstrated ability/commitment to promote and value inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability principles in the workplace.

Additional Information
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 2024 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity
• Our core beliefs - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/our-values
• Employee engagement - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/employee-engagement

Security Clearance
This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance. If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship.
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.
Pre-Placement Medical Exam
A job related pre-placement medical examination may be required.
How to identify fake job advertisements
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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.
We invite you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.
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.
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