ALMA NA Operations - Development Director at National Radio Astronomy Observatory

National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Title: ALMA NA Operations - Development Director
Requisition Number: 152

Job Family: Mgmt & Senior Admin

Pay Type: Salary

Required Education: MGT

Position Description:

Position Summary

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) invites applications for North American (NA) ALMA Development Program Director. The NA ALMA Development Program works in concert with Joint ALMA Observatory and the ALMA Partnership to sustain and enhance the scientific capabilities of ALMA. The development program is presently executing an ambitious program known as the ALMA 2030 Development Roadmap, which has as its top priorities to at least double the observing bandwidth of the complete ALMA system and to enhance the sensitivity and performance of most receiver bands. NRAO and its NA partners have a key role in the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU) portion of the roadmap, which includes an upgrade to the Band 6 receiver, the development of a 2nd Generation Correlator, related infrastructure, and participation in other WSU subsystem upgrades. In the longer term, initial discussions are underway on further upgrades to ALMA for up to a factor of 10 increase in sensitivity, extension of baselines, and other capability enhancements. The NA ALMA Development Program Director will be responsible for the successful delivery of NA contributions to the WSU, and for the planning and execution of NA projects for future, significant upgrades to ALMA.

The NA ALMA Development Program Director will report to the AD, NA ALMA and will work closely with the NA ALMA Program Scientist, and a team of project managers, system engineers, and scientists engaged in its individual projects. The Development Program Director will coordinate with the ALMA / JAO development project manager and systems engineer, and with development teams in the other regions to maintain cohesion and achieve success for the overall ALMA development program.

The position is initially available for a two-year appointment but may be extended or converted to a non-term appointment with budget and mutual interest.

The location for this position may be based at NRAO / NA ALMA Headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia, or a remote workstation within the United States may be considered for a candidate with sufficient experience, who can work independently while still communicating effectively with the team.

What you will be doing:

Responsibilities for the positions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Lead NA ALMA development upgrade projects
• Ensure the efficient and successful delivery of NA’s Wideband Sensitivity Upgrades

• Organize and execute the NA program for future major upgrades to ALMA, such as the potential x10 sensitivity upgrade/Line management of assigned project office staff
• Presentations and reports, as required

Work Environment:

The successful candidate will join a team of professionals engaged in research and development in the fields of science, engineering, software development, and education. Work is typically performed in a research or development environment. Must be able to operate a personal computer. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Domestic and international travel will be required.

Who You Are:

• You have a PhD in astronomy, physics, engineering, or a related field

• 15 years of program and/or operations management, including budget and staff management, and familiarity with leading-edge technical systems. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in the design, construction, and operation of radio interferometers.
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Demonstrated proficiency working in a remote team setting

Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position.

Total Rewards:

Associated Universities Inc. (AUI) offers a comprehensive total rewards package for this position, subject to eligibility requirements. We are committed to serving our employees and their families with an extensive and competitive compensation and benefits package that supports our employees’ overall well-being and career growth.

Compensation

AUI strives to attract and retain dedicated, highly qualified, competent, and motivated employees by offering competitive compensation and recognition for performance.

Factors which may affect starting pay and level may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions.

The range for this position is $160,000 - $200,000.

Benefits:

AUI’s benefits package addresses the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment. AUI provides excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days and 15 sick days, additional time off for doctor/dentist visits, and 8 weeks of paid parental leave). Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. AUI’s retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant’s base pay with no required employee contribution; we also offer an optional supplemental, tax-deferred plan for employee retirement contributions.

Application Instructions:

Select the “Apply Now” button. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position.

Consideration of applications will begin immediately.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit https://public.nrao.edu/careers/. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to resumes@nrao.edu