Chief of Staff, Strategic Deterrence - Active Security Clearance Required

Chief of Staff, Strategic Deterrence - Active Security Clearance Required

Director | Full-time
Executive | Livermore, CA | 06/29/2026
Reference #: REF8526D
Job Code: TSM.2 Technical Manager 2
Organization: Strategic Deterrence
Position Type: Career Indefinite
Security Clearance: Active DOE Q clearance (or active Top Secret clearance)
Drug Test: Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)
Medical Exam: A job-related pre-placement medical examination may be required Apply Now

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Chief of Staff in the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Directorate. You will serve as a senior advisor to the Deputy Director, establishing and driving priorities, decision-making cadence, and operating rhythm to ensure timely, high-quality execution of SD mission deliverables. You will operate with broad delegated authority to drive decisions and outcomes across SD, integrate responses to internal and external partners on high-consequence programmatic issues, and ensure SD leadership actions and communications are aligned with directorate and Laboratory strategy. You will play a key role in fostering a positive, collaborative culture across the organization.

You will work closely with the Deputy Director and Principal Associate Deputy Director to help ensure SD is effective in meeting mission needs and sponsor requirements. You will regularly interact with SD program leadership, senior internal managers and executives, external sponsors, Laboratory support organizations, NNSA/DOE, and LLNS senior management. As Chief of Staff, you will coordinate SD Office (SDO) activities that strengthen key SD relationships and partnerships, and support directorate-level mission execution, integration, and follow-through.

SD is a complex, multi-discipline program directorate with an annual funding portfolio of $2B, supporting more than 2,600 employees.

In partnership with the Principal Associate Deputy Director (PADD), serve as the Deputy Director’s principal integrator for SD programmatic, operational, and workforce activities, ensuring priorities are clear and leadership actions are timely and aligned with SD and Laboratory strategy.

• Ensure effective and timely responses to sponsor requirements by coordinating, reviewing, prioritizing, and communicating work products across SD program staff and leadership.
• Organize and oversee SD Senior Leadership Team engagements, including agenda-setting, issue framing, decision capture, action tracking, and facilitation of cross-organizational collaboration.
• Develop, implement, and refine operating mechanisms, policies and procedures in alignment with Laboratory and sponsor requirements. In partnership with the PADD, ensure the SD Office operates effectively, with clear roles, decision processes, and execution discipline that enable mission delivery.
• Oversee timely, accurate, and effective internal and external communications from the SD Office, ensuring clear, consistent strategic messaging aligned with Laboratory strategy. Provide strategic direction and priority-setting for SD communications activities.
• Lead preparation for SD executive engagements, including development and presentation of briefing materials, coordination with stakeholders, and follow-through on actions in partnership with the SD Events and Communications Teams.
• Help shape and implement SD organizational strategies, priorities, and objectives with medium to long-term impact, including informing tradeoffs, risk management, and resource alignment.
• Represent SD in senior-level internal and external engagements, building and sustaining strategic relationships and negotiating on matters of significance to SD and the Laboratory.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment by building strong relationships, encouraging teamwork, and supporting effective communication across the team and organization.
• Exercise delegated authority on behalf of the Deputy Director to resolve cross-cutting issues and advance SD priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Advanced degree in science, engineering, business administration, organizational leadership, public policy, communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Extensive experience resolving complex, high-consequence problems, developing integrated approaches, and driving execution across multiple organizations.
• Leadership experience with major scientific, technical, administrative and/or operational initiatives, with advanced knowledge spanning one or more specialized fields.
• Extensive experience managing with strategic focus, setting priorities, balancing competing requirements, delivering results under multiple deadlines, and building sustainable teams and processes.
• In-depth knowledge of Laboratory programs, policies, procedures, and governance mechanisms, and strong understanding of the mission, strategy, and sponsor environment relevant to SD.
• Expert communication, facilitation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills including experience briefing and influencing executive-level stakeholders.
• Extensive experience interacting with and negotiating on matters of significance with internal executives and external sponsors and partners, for example NNSA/DOE, DoW, and other organizations.
• Leadership experience, and ability to build alignment across a broad cross-section of technical, operational and administrative organizations.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across complex, multi-disciplinary environments.

Pay Range

$338,580 - $431,568 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. 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.

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible schedules (depending on project needs)

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.

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 .