Manager of Tours, Hosting & Protocol

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Manager of Tours, Hosting & Protocol to lead the laboratory's visitor engagement organization and oversee the teams responsible for protocol, executive hosting, tours and institutional events.

Reporting to the Communications Director, this manager will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for delivering exceptional visitor experiences that strengthen understanding of INL's mission and reinforce the laboratory's reputation with government leaders, industry partners, academic institutions, Tribal Nations, international delegations and community stakeholders.

The Manager of Tours, Hosting & Protocol establishes operational priorities, develops service standards, allocates resources and partners across the laboratory to ensure visits and events reflect INL's commitment to excellence, safety and professionalism. This position combines people leadership, operational management and stakeholder engagement while supporting some of the laboratory's highest-profile activities.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the laboratory's Tours, Hosting & Protocol organization, providing direction, coaching and professional development for teams responsible for protocol, executive hosting, tours and institutional events.
• Establish operational priorities, performance expectations and service standards for protocol, hosting, tours and events while ensuring consistent, high-quality execution across the organization.
• Provide leadership and guidance on protocol, executive hosting and visitor engagement practices, ensuring activities comply with laboratory policies, security requirements and established protocol standards.
• Oversee planning and execution of high-profile visits involving Department of Energy leadership, elected officials, foreign delegations, industry executives, university partners, Tribal Nations and other distinguished visitors.
• Direct laboratory tour programs that communicate INL's scientific, engineering and operational capabilities through engaging, accurate and audience-centered experiences.
• Oversee planning and execution of institutional events, executive engagements and ceremonial activities, coordinating across Communications, Safeguards & Security, Facilities & Site Services, senior leadership and other laboratory organizations.
• Build collaborative relationships across the laboratory to ensure seamless coordination of visitor experiences and consistent execution of hosting activities.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures and best practices for protocol, hosting, tours and events while driving continuous improvement through customer feedback, operational metrics and lessons learned.
• Manage organizational budgets, staffing, workforce planning and resource allocation to meet organizational objectives.
• Develop contingency plans and provide operational leadership during evolving situations, balancing visitor experience with safety, security and mission requirements.
• Partner with Communications leadership to align visitor engagement activities with laboratory messaging, communications priorities and organizational objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness through technology, AI-enabled tools, process improvements and data-informed decision making.
• Support emergency response activities, including participation in the Emergency Operations Center or Joint Information Center as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in communications, public relations, hospitality, business, public administration, English, political science, international relations or a related discipline and 5 years of experience. Degrees in other disciplines may be considered when combined with relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams in communications, protocol, hospitality, visitor services, stakeholder engagement or related operational environments.
• Experience planning and executing complex visits, executive engagements, institutional events or stakeholder programs.
• Experience managing budgets, staffing, organizational priorities and operational performance.
• Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across a complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and customer service.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a "L" DOE security clearance.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess

• Experience supporting executive leadership, government relations, protocol or stakeholder engagement programs.
• Knowledge of diplomatic protocol, executive hosting, visitor engagement and institutional event management.
• Experience working within federal agencies, national laboratories, research organizations, higher education or similarly complex institutions.
• Demonstrated success developing operational processes and improving organizational effectiveness.
• Experience leading teams through changing priorities while maintaining exceptional customer service.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled planning tools and operational management technologies.
• A collaborative leadership style, sound judgment and the ability to remain composed in fast-paced, high-visibility environments.

Job Information

The target pay range for this position is ($104,649-$160,458) annually.

The full pay range is grade 520 ($93,840 - $225,180). At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office and field/laboratory environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment and driving a vehicle. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.