Job Title: Operations Specialist - Biological Surveillance (NWS 00836)

North Wind Services is actively seeking individuals who can contribute to national security within the science, technology, and engineering fields as part of our supplemental labor team at vital federal research and development installations supporting the Department of Energy. NWS has an established history of contributing to the success of their customer's mission. Available employment opportunities may range from administrative and logistical support to advanced technical positions.

Qualified applicants must be a US citizen, at least 18 years of age, and able to meet pre-employment requirements including any required physicals, drug screen, and/or background investigation to satisfy clearance requirements from the Department of Energy.

Successful candidates will be employees of NWS, a premier government contractor charged with employing highly motivated and well-qualified personnel who can advance the missions of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, CA. Though employed by NWS, the employee will take day-to-day direction from technical personnel employed directly by the research laboratories. Pay, benefits, Human Resource, and Employment Management functions are provided by NWS.

The Global Security Directorate has an immediate opening within the Z Program for an Operations Specialist with a strong background in technical biological surveillance strategy to support our work enabling government agencies to detect and intercept illicit material associated with nuclear, radiological, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction. The successful candidate will support the Adversary and Interdiction Methods (AIM) program; a component of the Biological Science and Security (BSS) program. The position will lead AIM efforts to optimize support to federal sponsors during the rapidly changing landscape of biological threat detection through technical surveillance, with an emphasis on next generation sequencing techniques linked to artificial intelligence. Additional responsibilities will include informing AIM in Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program requirements for conducting realistic exercises.

Essential Duties

1. Provide expertise and creative solutions to LLNL scientists and managers to address sponsor needs during the current period of dual rapid advancement in technical biological threat detection and artificial intelligence. Support may include the evaluation of current portable DNA sequencing technology and the assessment of remote bioinformatics options.
2. Provide expertise as a member of an interdisciplinary team, to support a composite team of government and contracted experts addressing complex, often broadly defined, facets of WMD interdiction tailored to specific levels of state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal government jurisdictions.
3. Document proposed innovations and conceptual implementation strategies via the generation of applicable white papers and/or feasibility reports.
4. Leverage direct experience to advise LLNL on the collaborative relationships between DHS and other federal agencies in biological threat detection and interdiction.
5. Provide expertise to LLNL on Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) requirements linked to exercises and training in the mission of countering weapons of mass destruction related to LLNL tasks and deliverables.
6. Support the creation, review, and finalization of various exercise-specific HSEEP documents.
7. Maintain high quality standards for tasks and deliverables; especially while under pressure or under less-than-ideal conditions.
8. Maintain required security and discretion in classified environments.
9. Perform other job duties as assigned.

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

1. Doctoral degree in biology, or equivalent experience, relevant to identifying and countering vulnerabilities from biological threats.
2. At least ten years of firsthand experience in the WMD interdiction mission space.
3. Extensive firsthand experience with flagship US government WMD interdiction capabilities, e.g., DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
4. Experience working in a role that requires interagency collaboration with various federal partners in the biodefense mission space.
5. Experience with technical equipment or methods for detecting and identifying signatures linked to biological threats with WMD potential.
6. Knowledge and experience supporting the requirements of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program.
7. Skilled at explaining complex technical concepts to non-expert audiences, both verbally and in writing.
8. A US citizen with an active Top Secret security clearance.

Special Requirements

Pre-Placement Medical Exam: A job-related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

Pre-employment drug test: External applicant(s) selected for this position will be required to pass a post offer, pre-employment drug test.

Anticipated Government Clearance Level: Q (position will be cleared to this level). Applicants selected will be subject to a federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. In addition, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold multiple citizenships (U.S. and another country), you may be required to renounce your non-U.S. citizenship before a DOE L or Q clearance will be processed/granted.

North Wind offers a competitive pay and benefits package to include health, life, and disability insurance benefits, 401(k) with company match, generous paid leave, and tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. As a company, we are committed to employee wellness, professional development, and work-life balance. We value safety, reliability, and commitment to our people! For more information about our benefits or hiring philosophy, visit the North Wind Career Opportunities Page.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The nature of those accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Helpline 1-208-528-8714 for assistance.

North Wind is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, religion or other legally protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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