Job Classifications

• Specialist Staff Member (SSM)
• Technical Support (TEC)
• Technical Staff Member (TSM)
• Organizational Support (OS)
• Administrative Specialist (AS)

Specialist Staff Member (SSM)

The SSM series includes administrative and managerial jobs in non-technical professional and administrative staff occupations. SSM jobs are in generally recognized professional or administrative occupations that require specialized knowledge normally gained through the combination of a bachelor's degree (or higher) and relevant, progressively responsible experience. All jobs in the SSM series are exempt. They are classified into six pay levels. Individual contributors are found primarily in the first three levels with the top three levels mostly being reserved for managers.

SSM1 (This is an entry level professional position) Level of Education: BA/BS + 3-5 years experience, MS=0 years of experience, Experience = 9 years.
Expectations:

• Knowledge may be learned or gained through guided or progressive work experience.
• Full use of techniques as recognized within a professional administrative specialty.
• Provide solutions to a variety of problems of minimal complexity.
• Position requires little or no responsibility for contacts outside of organization.

SSM2: (This is an intermediate level professional position) Level of Education: BA/BS + 5-8 years experience, MS+2 years experience, Experience=11 years.
Expectations:

• Complete understanding and wide application of standard techniques within administrative specialty.
• Work is subject to review upon completion (i.e. work is not released without higher level review).
• Develops solutions for a variety of problems of moderate complexity.
• Limited contacts on general matters outside of the organization.

SSM3: (This is an advanced level professional position) Level of Education: BA/BS+ 10 years experience, MS+7 years experience, Experience=16 years.
Expectations:

• Applies complex specialized knowledge to assignments.
• Work is performed with minimal direction.
• May create or write new guidelines or policies.
• Position requires some responsibility for making responsible contacts across directorates within the laboratory and occasionally external to the laboratory.

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Technical Support (TEC)

The TEC series includes scientific and engineering technicians, technologists and skilled craft workers who directly support the scientific work of the Laboratory. Skills and knowledge are typically acquired through completion of two-year college or trade school courses of study or work experience. They may design, assemble, operate and maintain electronic, mechanical and optical instruments and devices. They may produce designs and fabricate parts.

TEC 1: Entry-level technician position for those having no relevant experience, training or education. Education: High School diploma or equivalent.
Expectations:

• Majority of time is spent in on-the-job training.
• Tasks performed are relatively simple, but may require little judgment.

TEC 2: Entry-level technician position with some relevant experience and training. Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Expectations:

• Tasks performed are relatively simple, but require the application of basic skills related to the technical specialty.
• Work is closely supervised.

TEC 3: Semi-skilled entry-level technician position and one to three years of experience. Education: High school diploma, or GED, Technical Institute Graduation, or AA degree.
Expectations:

• May perform some non-routine tasks requiring independent judgment.
• Job includes some responsibility for end products.

TEC 4: Skilled/fully proficient/journey-person intermediate level technician position. Education: AA Degree in the natural sciences, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience is required. Experience: Three to five years of experience.
Expectations:

• Work is performed under general supervision.
• Primary work areas may include, but are not limited to, maintaining and repairing equipment, performing analytical tests, operation equipment/instruments, processing materials or chemicals.

TEC 5: Senior skilled level technician position. Education: AA Degree in Engineering, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience required. Experience five to eight years in an area of scientific or engineering technology. Expectations:

• Completing assignments requires independence.
• Contributions should have an impact on the outcome of entire project or group accomplishment.

TEC 6: Advance level technician position. Education: Bachelors degree, or equivalent experience and one year independent spectral interpretation or demonstrated expertise.
Expectations:

• Assignments are wide in scope broad background of experience and capability in all areas, but limited technical depth.
• May include formal supervisory responsibilities, but certainly includes technical leadership.

TEC7: Highly advanced level technician position. Education: BS in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Physics, or equivalent combination of formal training and/or experience.
Expectations:

• Development of solutions to complex problems, which require the regular use of, applied engineering or scientific principles.
• Tasks or projects assigned are highly complex and are performed independently.

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Technical Staff Member (TSM)

TSM: Technical Staff Member series includes practicing scientists and engineers with technical academic credentials (BS or higher) who are conducting, supporting or managing the Laboratory's research and development programs. All positions in the TSM series are exempt. LANL Technical Staff Member (TSM) jobs are not evaluated, classified or assigned to different pay levels.

Education: BS/MS/PhD. Education level could vary based on specific posted job requirements. Fields of studies may include but are not limited to computer science, engineering, chemical, mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, physical science, physics, optical sciences, mathematics, computer engineering, materials science, chemistry, management information systems, material science, physical metallurgy theoretical particle physics, nuclear engineering, theoretical nuclear physics, physical chemistry, aerospace/mechanical engineering, industrial safety, industrial hygiene, safety. nuclear physics, statistical sciences, operations research, economics, environmental science, hazardous materials technology, and astrophysics, architect, astronomy, biology bio-physics, earth and environmental science, engineering aerospace, civil engineering, and cryogenic engineering. For further information for individuals working on IT/MIS fields, please see qualification requirements.
Expectations:
Will vary based on specific posted job requirements. In order to find more information about what to expect, please go to http://www.lanl.gov/jobs. Then click on “Open to All” to view all posted jobs, then click on desired job number.

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Oganizational Support (OS)

The Organizational Support (OS) series includes non-exempt and exempt support that provide various services to their employing organizations. For example, workers who maintain records and files within Laboratory technical organizations are included in the OS series. The General Support (GS) series includes non-exempt and exempt support that provides similar services to the Laboratory as a whole. (Workers who maintain the Laboratory's central record and file systems are included in the GS series.)

OS/GS 2: Entry-level office position that requires knowledge of routine, or repetitive tasks. Experience: Little or no previous training or experience.
Expectations:

• Is given tasks one at a time and is told specifically how to do them.
• Follows prescribed standard involving straightforward rules and procedures.
• Decision-making is limited.

OS/GS 3: Entry-level office position that requires knowledge of common procedures. Experience: Some previous training or experience.
Expectations:

• Closely supervised in the performance of new or non-routine tasks.
• Refers questions on all non-routine problems to supervisor for resolution.

OS/GS 4: Intermediate-level office position that requires knowledge of standardized rules. Experience: Experience is a must.
Expectations:

• Ability to set priorities and organizing work.
• Perform complex duties that require the application of practices and procedures.
• May serve as a work leader for a group of employees performing related work: may provide training and instructions, assign tasks, and check work.

OS/GS 5: Advanced level office position that requires knowledge of an extensive body of rules. Experience: Several years of experience is required.
Expectations:

• Independent action is required in interpreting data and information.
• Independent in carrying out most regular job duties.
• May recommend policy and procedural changes but is held fully accountable for the viability or success of those recommendation.

OS/GS 6: Professional level position that requires the understanding and application of fundamental concepts. Education may include, but is not limited to, business school, formal secretarial training, AA degree in business-related field preferred. Experience: Must be related with laboratory policies and procedures.
Expectations:

• Works with minimal supervision.
• Develops solutions to problems.
• Implement changes of policies and procedures.

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Administrative Specialist (AS)

Administrative Specialists (AS) employees perform general administrative tasks, as opposed to specific administrative tasks that are directly related to a specialty function (e.g., marketing, engineering, human resources, etc.).

AS I: Education: Formal secretarial training, or relevant professional-level work experience.
Expectations:

• Ability to work with limited supervision.
• Perform moderately difficult administrative and/or secretarial duties with conflicting priorities.
• Arranges local and domestic travel, may arrange non-complex foreign travel.
• Backups other employees at same or more senior levels.

AS II: Education: Business school or other formal secretarial training, or combination of education and relevant work experience.
Expectations:

• Acts as an information source on LANL/unit policies and procedures.
• Reports information relevant to unit work requiring exposure to sensitive/proprietary information.
• Independently prepares, processes, tracks and verifies documents, forms and requests.
• Leads and coordinates assignment of work unit.

AS III: Education: Business school or other formal secretarial training, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
Expectations:

• Work will involve high-level internal/external contacts and exposure to sensitive information.
• Conducts research and compiles data for reports.
• Manages complex calendars, establishes priorities and independently commits time.
• Gathers, compiles and monitors budget data.

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