Overview

This position will be a full-time position supporting the NASA White Sands Test Facility Materials & Components Laboratories Department located in Las Cruces, NM.

The Materials & Components Laboratories Department is currently organized into four branches: (MT1) Hypervelocity & Electrical Engineering, (MT2) Flight Acceptance & Standard Test and Oxygen Hazards, (MT3) Hazardous Test Engineering, and (MT4) Chemistry & Materials. This position would be one of the four Branch Manager slots and would report directly to the Department Manager. Candidate qualifications will be evaluated to determine a best fit for the position.

Responsibilities

The Labs Branch Manager is a key leadership position responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a team of approximately 15-22 individuals, broken into multiple groups. The branch workforce could consist of engineers, scientists, and technicians. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in managing a diverse group of personnel, both in years of experience and areas of expertise. The branch manager will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the branch's operations, including project management, technical performance, personnel management, personnel career/skill development and ensuring employee compliance to WSTF training and work practices.

The labs branches work a large number of task orders (TO) during the Fiscal Year, anywhere from four to thirty-five per branch, and an even larger number of TO revisions. The Branch Manager is responsible for his/her Project Leads to develop and submit task order, or task order revisions, accurately and on time with high first-time quality, as well as managing their respective TO's for cost and schedule performance. The Labs Branch Manager will also be required to interface with numerous NASA Project Managers (PM), as needed, to keep them informed or to engage them on issues affecting the branch. The Branch Manager is also responsible for ensuring the group leaders are providing the mentoring and guidance their teams require. It is also an expectation that the Branch Manager will be proactive in addressing issues, technical or programmatic, as soon as they are identified and will elevate the concern if they are unable to solve it within the branch efficiently. The Branch Manager will also participate in various department-level activities with, or in place of, the Department Manager as needed.

Qualifications

Minimum of a bachelor's degree in a technical or business field and 8+ years of experience in the field or in a related area. Demonstrated leadership ability and good communication skills are required, with previous management experience a plus. Experience in a testing environment is preferred. Previous experience leading or supervising union personnel is also preferred. Current or prior WSTF experience, especially within the Materials & Component Labs Department, is considered a plus. Must have demonstrated a very strong commitment to safety.