Director, Remote Sensing Laboratory

Job Description

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site’s Cold War legacy. Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.
• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.
  
  

Responsibilities

The Director of the Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL) reports to the Senior Director for Global Security and provides overall leadership for two Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) satellite locations, the Remote Sensing Laboratories on Nellis Air Force Base and Joint Base Andrews. The Remote Sensing Laboratory is responsible for oversight of approximately 200 full-time staff representing scientific, engineering, operations/training, aviation, and project management skillsets spread across three primary geographically separated locations in Nevada, New York, and the National Capital Region.

The Global Security Directorate at the NNSS is comprised of the RSL, the Special Technologies Laboratory in Santa Barbara, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Programs, Global Mission Communications Programs, and management for multiple experimental and operational research, development, test, and evaluation facilities. The RSL Director plays a pivotal leadership role in fostering cross-divisional collaboration, working in close partnership with fellow directors and managers to drive the development and execution of organizational strategy. This role demands a proactive and innovative mindset, contributing creative ideas and solutions aimed at enhancing Directorate-wide technical capabilities and operational performance.

The RSL plays a critical role in executing the Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) mission for the National Nuclear Security Administration. As a core NEST operational component, the RSL provides around-the-clock, year-round deployable support for nuclear incident response, including access to leading scientific experts and the management of ground and aerial radiological monitoring and assessment. The RSL’s demanding operational tempo and wide range of mission capabilities call for a dynamic leader with proven experience in managing diverse skill sets and navigating complex resource constraints.

RSL personnel are trained to respond swiftly and effectively, deploying across the U.S. and internationally as needed. Their mission readiness is underpinned by rigorous training, continuous development and maintenance of advanced scientific capabilities, and a steadfast commitment to operational preparedness. This position offers the opportunity to deliver both tactical and strategic leadership within this high-stakes environment, ensuring RSL operations continue to meet the highest standards of technical precision and mission excellence.

Programmatically, this Director position has oversight of a large and varied project portfolio that includes work for NA-80’s Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation, Counterterrorism Operations Support for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, and a variety of Strategic Partnership Projects for other government agencies. Execution of project work can take place in a variety of locations, including at the main Nevada National Security Site.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of integrated, long-range programs, plans, and budgets that align with enterprise-wide strategic objectives and evolving mission needs.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and other federal agencies, ensuring clear communication of RSL capabilities, commitments, and performance.
• Build enduring partnerships with sponsors to establish mutual understanding of expectations and deliverables, while consistently communicating progress, accomplishments, and challenges through performance evaluation processes.
• Proactively position portfolios for expanded mission responsibilities by driving forward-looking initiatives that right-size organizations, optimize cost performance, and strengthen the execution of baseline schedules.
• Lead a coordinated and strategic approach to delivering customer and stakeholder priorities across programs, projects, and mission-critical activities.
• Ensure program leadership is focused on stakeholder engagement, disciplined program management, and enhancing mission agility and readiness.
• Oversee integrated risk management across multiple programs, ensuring timely issue escalation and alignment of mitigation strategies across the portfolio and enterprise levels.
• Actively support and promote health and safety programs, robust work planning practices, and a strong safety culture.
• Collaborate with enterprise functional teams to ensure alignment and execution of mission schedules, cost profiles, budgets, and comprehensive risk management plans.
• Identify and prioritize strategic investments to advance mission capabilities and seize emerging opportunities.
• Set clear expectations and accountability for direct reports, engage in regular performance assessments, and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Model and champion the Company’s core values and commitment to operational excellence.
• Foster a workplace culture where employees feel safe to speak up, empowered to take action, and supported in resolving challenges.
  
  

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in related field or equivalent training and experience, plus a minimum of 20 years of related and progressively responsible experience.
• Experience in oversight of programs for the National Nuclear Security Administration is highly desired.
• Demonstrated success as a strategic leader for an organization with operational and technical deliverables.
• Progressively increasing responsibility for personnel management in a high-tempo organization. Demonstrated ability to lead and/or influence large organizations over 100 full time employees.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills on technical, business, and strategic topics.
• Customer focused with demonstrated expertise in rigorous program management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholders through multiple competing constraints ultimately delivering mission objectives.
• Strategically minded with the ability to successfully delegate tactical plans to trusted management teams.
• Passionate about developing and mentoring successful leaders dedicated to mission delivery.
• The primary work location will be at the Remote Sensing Laboratory on Nellis Air Force base with frequent travel to NNSA headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the Remote Sensing Laboratory on Joint Base Andrews.
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
  
  

MSTS is required by DOE directive 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 offered employment with MSTS are also 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 DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2 , “Personnel Security”. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4 , “Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites,” will be conducted. Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709 , “Counterintelligence Evaluation Program.”

MSTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

Annual salary range for this position is: $216,777.60 to $357,676.80.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.