Institutional Process and Assessment Specialist

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

JPL's Office of Contracts Management (OCM) leads the coordination and resolution of contract matters as they relate to NASA's Contract with Caltech/JPL. We work with cross-functional and diverse teams to solve contracting challenges. Our vision is providing our partners with trusted, innovative, and strategic contractual and compliance solutions. We have a culture of continuous learning and strive to provide formal training as well as mentorship for our team members.

This position in the Office of Internal Assessments (2480) is responsible for coordinating and conducting assessments in support of the Laboratory’s internal assessment program to promote institutional quality. Administer corrective action process and advises customers in developing plan to close nonconformances.  A successful candidate will collaborate with process owners in the design, assessment, and improvement of work processes.  

In this role, you will analyze/evaluate existing institutional processes and identify; process efficiency and effectiveness, improvement opportunities such as bottlenecks, business risks, duplicate activities, compliance to internal control requirements, and leads operational improvement activities.  As part of the OCM team, you will play a role in supporting the lifecycle management of contracts, maintaining compliance with regulations, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring a positive customer relationship management. You will manage your work consistent with JPL policies, contract & legal requirements, and customer specifications from inception to closeout.

Responsibilities  

The selected candidate will be expected to: 

• Facilitate Institutional process assessment, design, and continual improvement efforts as part of the Internal Assessment Office (2480) collaborating with Line Management and Subject Matter Experts in the analysis and design of work processes to identify and execute continual improvement opportunities. 

• Analyze/evaluate existing institutional processes and identify; process efficiency and effectiveness, improvement opportunities such as bottlenecks, business risks, duplicate activities, compliance to internal control requirements (when applicable).  

• Leads, plans, and conducts multifunctional internal assessments for non-technical and technical processes. 

• Identifies non-conformances and opportunities for improvement and advises process owners. 

• Conducts assessments to evaluate implemented action plans to close corrective/preventive actions for both non-technical and technical processes. 

• Facilitate/lead teams utilizing proven Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques to address opportunities for improvement utilizing techniques including: 

  • Lean Manufacturing 

  • Statistical Analysis/Process Control 

  • Value Stream Mapping 

  • Design of Experiment 

  • Product Development Kaizen  

  • Quality Functional Design 

• Has advanced knowledge of applicable Laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations. 

• Define, develop, and evaluate performance measurements to establish process success. Work with multiple groups and organizations, often with competing/conflicting objectives, to ensure cohesive and reachable measures of success. Reviews data post- implementation to measure success; participates in defining standards of improvement success.  

• Frequent interaction with customers and peers inside and outside organization on significant matters.  

• Develop, write, and review business case rationale and justification for operational improvement projects. 

• Contributes as a key team member on teams inside or outside own organization, project, activity, or function.  May lead teams. 

• Examine and develop strategies to address process structural issues across the institution, functional interdependencies, and cross-silo redundancies. 

• Management of operational improvement initiatives from a structural, functional, and organizational change management perspective. 

• Apply project management principles on projects and initiatives in leading scope, schedule, communications, risk and quality. 

• Communicate and build strong working relationships with all levels of personnel at JPL, key customers/suppliers, and NASA. 

• Collaborate with the management system team and key business partners to design, develop & implement strategies for improving business processes and support systems. 

• Coordinate internal certification program to develop in-house expertise for Lean Six Sigma 

• Analyze anomalies from distributed anomaly reporting systems and identify trends to Senior Management 

Qualifications  

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree with 6 years of related audit/continual improvement experience; a master’s degree with 4 years of related audit/continual improvement experience; or a PhD with 2 years of related audit/continual improvement experience.  

Other qualifications include: 

• AS9100 Certified Lead Auditor 

• LEAN Six Sigma training/certification (ASQ preferred) 

• Experience with NASA/JPL processes for manufacturing and technology development 

• Analytical skills with capability to evaluate complex work processes and identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of operations 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 

• Outstanding facilitation techniques with experience working in team environment 

• Statistical analysis experience and skills (e.g., JMP, SigmaXL, MiniTab, SAS) 

• Process orientation with excellent attention to detail 

• Professional demeanor and presentation with ability to interact with Executive Leadership and their direct reports 

• Ability to assimilate and disseminate information effectively 

• Project management orientation and driven to deliver results 

• Strong Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations 

   

Preferred qualifications include:  

• Experience in Aerospace Design, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Integration and Test, Verification and Validation, and Continual Improvement 

• Change Management Certification (e.g., ProSci or similar certification) 

• Complete knowledge of Laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations across a range of applications. 

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training. Hiring range for this job may be adjusted based on primary work location outside of Pasadena, California. This adjusted range will be provided to candidates by the Recruiter when applicable.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$97,656 - $127,816

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

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Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.