Senior Manager, Counterintelligence

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 vacation, 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.

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking a Senior Manager, Counterintelligence, to lead and execute an enterprise-wide Counterintelligence (CI) program that protects critical national security assets, scientific research, and Sandia facilities from hostile foreign intelligence and international terrorism threats. Reporting administratively to Sandia's Deputy Labs Director and with direct access to the Laboratory Director as required, the Sr Manger serves as the principal authority on counterintelligence and maintains strong, integrated partnerships with the DOE Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (DOE-IN) and the U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC).

The Senior Manager will develop and execute a comprehensive CI program to identify and mitigate foreign threats targeting Sandia's personnel, research, and infrastructure. This role requires addressing complex CI challenges where precedents or established practices may not exist. The Sr Manager will lead a team of CI professionals, manage resources, and ensure the program aligns with Sandia's strategic goals and national security priorities.

The Senior Manager must be an exceptional human-centered leader who can guide teams through ambiguity, operational pressure, and evolving national security threats. This role requires the ability to build trust, cultivate a respectful and collaborative team environment, develop people, and sustain team resilience while maintaining the highest standards of integrity, discretion, and mission performance. The successful candidate will demonstrate calm, ethical, and decisive leadership during sensitive or high-consequence situations and will communicate with clarity, empathy, and professionalism across all levels of the organization and with external partners.

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

• Serving as the central point of contact for Sandia with DOE Office of Counterintelligence oversight and the Intelligence Community on all CI matters.
• Leading and executing a comprehensive, enterprise-wide CI program supporting Sandia.
• Developing and implementing effective mitigation strategies to counter foreign intelligence and terrorism threats.
• Overseeing CI investigations, inquiries, and analytic activities in coordination with DOE-IN and federal partners.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, diverse Counterintelligence team by inspiring and motivating personnel to achieve mission objectives while managing competing priorities to maintain team morale and operational effectiveness.
• Integrating CI functions including analysis, cyber, awareness, insider threat mitigation, reporting, and briefing/debriefing programs.
• Managing personnel, budget, space, secure communications equipment, and classified program documents.
• Building and sustaining partnerships with USIC, law enforcement, and other external partners.
• Providing direct and timely advice and counsel to Sandia senior leadership and DOE-IN regarding CI issues.
• Leading strategic planning, resource prioritization, and program execution across the CI portfolio.
• Acting as a relationship manager with local USIC representatives and representing Sandia on all CI-related matters.

$163,700 - $278,000

*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.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline
• At least 15 years of direct experience with the U.S. Intelligence and/or Counterintelligence communities, including knowledge of their elements, leadership, missions, and current priorities.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-level CI or national security programs, including strategic planning and execution.
• Proven ability to manage complex investigations and sensitive national security matters.
• Experience working with USIC elements (e.g., FBI, CIA, DoD) or equivalent interagency environments.
• Strong leadership, collaboration, and communication skills, including experience briefing senior executives and classified audiences.
• Proven ability to overcome organizational and operational challenges and lead through change and uncertainty through effective leadership while maintaining focus on strategic goals and mission success.
• Proven ability to successfully handle all levels of classified and access controlled, sensitive information, and the demonstrated ability to plan and directly implement internal and external programs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance with SCI access and pass a DOE CI Polygraph.

• Masters degree in a relevant discipline.
• Active DOE Q and/or TS/SCI clearance.
• Experience within the DOE complex or familiarity with DOE CI directives and policies.
• Demonstrated success integrating CI with cyber, insider threat, and security programs.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, public speaking, and presentation skills.
• Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to build and motivate a diverse, high-performing organization.
• Ability to work effectively in a complex operational and administrative environment, including budgeting and resource allocation.
  

Labs Operations is a dynamic team at Sandia National Laboratories, committed to tackling some of our nation's most relevant and impactful security challenges. Our group brings together a diverse mix of professionals who share a dedication to making a difference every single day. As part of the Office of Counterintelligence, team members play a critical role in protecting and defending Sandia from insider threats, hostile foreign intelligence activities, and terrorism threats. Counterintelligence is instrumental in detecting, defending, and disrupting the actions of bad actors working for foreign intelligence services who seek to penetrate one of the premier national laboratories in the United States. Through our efforts, we significantly strengthen our nation's security by preventing foreign adversaries from gaining access to our nuclear weapons and other critical technologies.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by the DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

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.

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.