Project Manager
Company: Association of Universities for Research in Astron
Location: Hilo
Posted on: April 6, 2021
Job Description:
NSF's NOIRLab has immediate openings for two or more--Project
Managers--within the Development Division of the international
Gemini Observatory. Gemini Project Managers primarily support
instrumentation development efforts and have opportunities to work
a portion of their time on operations-related projects. The project
manager career path at Gemini includes five unique levels and we
are particularly interested in hiring at least one candidate at a
higher, more experienced level, and one at a lower, less
experienced level. At the senior levels, we have multiple needs,
one of which would particularly benefit from candidates with
adaptive optics experience. At the entry levels, we are
particularly interested in candidates with a background in
observatory science and/or technology and an interest and some
experience in project management. In general, we prefer candidates
with experience in astronomy, observatories, and/or related
technologies, but will consider applicants at all levels with or
without this experience. We do not expect candidates to have
experience in all our listed essential function areas, nor meet all
our preferred requirements and will work with the successful
candidate to develop any needed additional skills. Current projects
in Gemini include a new facility adaptive optics system for Gemini
North (GNAO), three facility instrument projects (GHOST, SCORPIO,
and IGRINS-2), two additional strategic facility instrument
collaborations (GIRMOS and MAROON-X), and a number of instrument
upgrade projects. Active projects span the entire development
lifecycle, with larger projects typically taking 7-10 years to
complete. Our largest projects involve internal work packages and
multiple external contracts with total budgets up to $20-30 million
USD. The successful candidates will likely work on one or more of
these projects. We seek individuals who thrive in a culturally
diverse environment. NOIRLab is committed to diversity and
inclusion. This position can be based at any of our primary
locations: Hilo Hawai'i, Tucson Arizona, or La Serena Chile. NSF's
National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab)
is the preeminent US national center for ground-based, nighttime
optical and infrared astronomy. NOIRLab is a Federally Funded
Research and Development Center that operates as a matrix
organization, providing services across a range of programs: the
international Gemini Observatory, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory,
the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, Kitt Peak National
Observatory, and the Community Science and Data Center; with
facilities in three geographic locations: Arizona, Chile and
Hawai'i. The mission of NOIRLab is to enable breakthrough
discoveries in astrophysics by developing and operating
state-of-the-art ground-based observatories and providing data
products and services for a diverse and inclusive community.
Essential Functions:
- Lead and perform all stages of project management including
project initiation and approval; contract and statement of work
development; plan development; resource allocation and scheduling;
plan execution, monitoring, and control; stakeholder communication
and management; cost, schedule, scope, quality, and risk
management; product delivery; and closeout.
- Help define the project's benefits and ensure they meet the
Observatory's needs.
- Ensure the Observatory is ready to receive the project's
product(s) and realize the intended benefits.
- May provide relevant science and technical advice and
leadership when required.
- Actively manage team members, effectively communicating project
expectations and progress to team members and stakeholders in a
timely and clear fashion.
- Provide the necessary project reports and updates to meet the
Observatory's and Lab's tracking, managing, and reporting
needs.
- Coach, mentor, motivate and supervise project team members and
contractors and influence them to take positive action and
accountability for their assigned work.
- Manage external contractors and vendors as appropriate.
- Provide project management expertise and training to other
Observatory staff and projects as needed.
- Build, develop, and grow any business relationships vital to
the success of the project.
- Work closely with project Systems Engineers to successfully
deliver the project's products and cross-train on and support each
other's activities.
- Develop effective partnerships with internal and external
project stakeholders.
- Obtain project resources by working with the relevant resource
holders within Gemini and NOIRLab.
- Actively prevent, identify, and resolve issues and conflicts
within the project.
- Promptly escalate project issues as needed with a recommended
option or range of possible solutions.
- Support the Observatory and NOIRLab efforts to build a mature
Project Management framework through developing templates,
procedures, documented best practices and lessons learned, and
other related activities. Other Functions:
- All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management
and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether
assigned to them or someone else. This responsibility includes
reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in
their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property
Officer.
- Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms
and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this
position as defined in the Vela Award Management system.
- Other duties as assigned. Required
Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:
- Bachelor's degree or greater in a related discipline, or an
equivalent combination of education and experience
- Experience working in astronomy or similar technical field
- A working knowledge and understanding of project management
processes
- Flexibility and adaptability to work in a fluid
environment
- Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international
environment
- High integrity and ethical behavior
- A commitment to inclusion and valuing diversity
- Strong teamwork and collaboration skills Preferred
Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:
- Three or more years of relevant experience
- PMP or PRINCE2 Practitioner certification
- Excellent management, negotiation, and leadership
abilities
- Experience developing project contract documents and managing
in accordance with them
- Proficiency with relevant computer systems, documentation and
presentation tools, and project management tools like Microsoft
Project.
- Spanish language ability
- An understanding of a broad range of astronomy science and
terminology
- Prior experience in an astronomy-related environment
- Prior experience working with astronomical instrumentation
and/or contributing technologies including software, optics,
electronics, detectors, cryogenic systems, and mechanical
design
- Prior experience and knowledge of adaptive optics and related
systems
- Ability to frequently travel internationally Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those
that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the
essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be
made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is
regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel;
and talk or hear.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach
with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
- The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds
and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close
vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
- Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in
both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways,
downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and
dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and
other office machines.
- Must possess - 1) ability to read and understand instructions,
drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to
perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the
applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than
eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to
hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or
shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than
a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that
others understand and can respond appropriately.
- Given the international nature of NOIRLab, occasional work at
high elevation summit sites may be required (summit elevations
range from 6,800 feet to 14,000 feet)
- Required to travel internationally AURA is responsible for
ensuring that access to International Traffic in Arms Regulations
(ITAR) controlled information is limited to those individuals
meeting citizenship, residency, or licensing qualifications, and
that appropriate due diligence is used to limit risk of access by
others. Due to the nature of how work is performed for this
position it is only open to U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.
AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off
and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate
with experience, and a very attractive work environment.-- At
NOIRLab we are committed to diversity and inclusion; our managing
organization, AURA, as a leader in the astronomical community,
develops and supports programs that advance our organizational
commitment to diversity, broaden participation, and encourage the
advancement of diversity throughout the astronomical scientific
workforce. Learn more at
http://www.aura-astronomy.org/diversity.asp-- Please list 3
professional references in your application (references will only
be contacted later in the recruitment process) and attach: a cover
letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any
attachments with the following format: Lastname Docname.
Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the
application may be sent to--employment@aura-astronomy.org Veterans,
disabled individuals or wounded warriors needing assistance with
the employment process should request assistance at
employment@aura-astronomy.org-- We will begin interviewing
qualified candidates as we receive applications and guarantee
consideration for all applications submitted by 27 April 2021.
Positions will remain open until filled. ****NOIRLab has the
majority of staff working remotely during COVID-19 crisis. The
safety of our staff and community is our top priority. We will
continue to interview and screen candidates in this new virtual
landscape. Offers of employment can be extended and new hires can
on-board virtually and arrangements may be made for remote work.
Relocation benefits will be available to those eligible when travel
can be supported****-- The Association of Universities for Research
in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of over 40 US institutions and
three international affiliates that operates world-class
astronomical observatories. AURA's role is to establish, nurture,
and promote public observatories and facilities that advance
innovative astronomical research. AURA is responsible for managing
the operations of the NSF's NOIRLab, the National Solar
Observatory, and the construction of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory
and the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope under cooperative
agreements with the National Science Foundation and operations of
the Space Telescope Science Institute under contracts with NASA. As
a recipient of U.S. Government funding, AURA is considered a
government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment
Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. As an Equal
Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not
discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national
origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender identity
expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status,
disability, and/or any other legally protected status under
applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. The
statements below as well as the requests for self-identification
are required pursuant to these regulations. We encourage your
participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements which
are included for protection and to assist us in our recordkeeping
and reporting. Your responses are kept strictly confidential. Equal
Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with
Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other
manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they
have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the
pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have
access to the compensation information of other employees or
applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot
disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals
who do not otherwise have access to compensation information,
unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or
charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding,
hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the
employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to
furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
Keywords: Association of Universities for Research in Astron, Hilo , Project Manager, Executive , Hilo, Hawaii
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