Senior Administrator (Engineering Division)

Berkeley Lab’s (LBNL) Engineering Division is hiring a Senior Administrator to serve as a key partner to Division Leadership, supporting critical programs, operations, and strategic initiatives. This role performs and coordinates highly complex and sensitive administrative functions, requiring exceptional judgment, discretion, initiative, and the ability to navigate a dynamic environment.

Reporting to the Senior Supervisor of Administrative Services, this role will serve as a trusted resource to management, planning, coordinating, and implementing a broad range of division-wide activities, including workforce administration, executive support, financial and procurement coordination, communications, event management, and special projects. You will research, interpret, and apply Laboratory policies and procedures to resolve complex issues to develop effective administrative solutions and ensure efficient operations. This position may also provide functional leadership, training, and guidance to administrative staff while serving as a key liaison between Division Leadership and internal and external stakeholders.

This position has an anticipated start date of August 3, 2026.

***If you are a current or former Berkeley Lab employee experiencing technical difficulties with submitting your application, please contact talent-acquisition@lbl.gov.***

We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!

Why join Berkeley Lab?

We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on:

• Exceptional health benefits.
• Generous paid time off, sick time off, and holidays.
• A culture where you’ll belong - we are invested in our teams!

What You Will Do:

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to Division Leadership, serving as a trusted advisor on administrative and operational matters.
• Manage highly complex calendars, schedules, commitments, and competing priorities involving multiple stakeholders and shifting business needs.
• Draft, edit, and coordinate complex correspondence, reports, presentations, briefing materials, and communications on behalf of Division Leadership.
• Lead the planning and execution of large-scale meetings, reviews, workshops, conferences, retreats, and special events involving internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop project plans, schedules, budgets, and logistics while ensuring compliance with Laboratory policies and sponsor requirements.
• Coordinate communications and interactions with senior Laboratory leadership, government sponsors, external organizations, academic institutions, and industry partners.

• Serve as the primary administrative liaison between Human Resources and Division leadership regarding workforce planning and personnel actions.

• Serve as division specialist for procurement and consultant service agreements, coordinating complex requisitions, approvals, and supporting documentation.
• Partner with financial management staff to support budget administration, expenditure monitoring, forecasting activities, and resolution of financial and administrative issues.

• Provide functional leadership, training, mentoring, and work coordination for administrative support staff.

What We Are Looking For:

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience providing administrative and operational support to senior-level management in a professional, academic, or research environment.
• Experience supporting senior management, executive leadership, or large organizational units.
• Experience providing work direction, mentoring, training, or functional leadership to administrative staff or project teams.
• Extensive experience delivering high-level administrative support, encompassing email correspondence, complex calendar management, scheduling, meeting planning, document management, travel coordination, expense reports, project coordination, data management, report generation, and navigating complex computerized systems in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced experience providing executive level and project management oriented support using prominent cloud-based software platforms, applications, and project management tools, including Google Applications Suite, MS Office Suite, and Zoom video conferencing on Mac or PC platforms.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting applicable institutional policies and procedures, including procurement, equipment inventory, travel, space management, etc.
• Exceptional organizational skills, showcasing the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, take initiative, and adapt quickly to changing work priorities.
• Proven interpersonal skills, including experience in which one has had to maintain a high level of professionalism, diplomacy, discretion, and confidentiality while interfacing with personnel at all organizational levels, internally and externally.
• Excellent written communication skills, with a history of producing professional, error-free emails, documents, reports, and presentations.

Desired Skills/Knowledge:

• A Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent knowledge/training) in Business Administration or a related field.
• Experience working within a national laboratory, research institution, higher education, government, or similarly complex organization.
• Experience with Berkeley Lab systems and tools (LETS, FMS, Trex, RezDesk, Cognos, etc.)
• Knowledge of Berkeley Lab, the University of California (UC), the Department of Energy (DOE), and/or local, state, and federal policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ability to work evenings and/or weekends as needed. 

Additional Information:

• Application Date: Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply with a resume and cover letter describing their interest in the position by Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.

• Appointment Type: This is a full time, career appointment, exempt from overtime pay (monthly paid).

• Salary Range: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes and has a budgeted salary of $90,276 - $116,233 annually for job code A40.3. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, and aligned with the internal peer group (if applicable, and union contract agreement).
• Background Check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work Modality: This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule - a combination of teleworking and performing work onsite at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, located at 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720. This position will operate onsite 5 days per week during the initial 6 month probationary period. Thereafter, a minimum of 3 onsite days per week is required. Work schedules are dependent on business needs. Individuals working a hybrid schedule must reside within 150 miles of Berkeley Lab. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here).
• Relocation Assistance: This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
• Work Authorization: Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. For additional information, click here.