Head of Engineering Operations - Gemini South
Location: La Serena, Chile
Deadline for Application:
Job Code: DOP105P
Description Position Summary:
Oversees the Gemini [North/South] Engineering Operations group and all Gemini [North/South] Engineering activities. Ensures that it is responsive to scientific and operational priorities established by the Observatory and coordinated between the Operations and Development groups, and that this support is consistent with the overall scientific mission and budget of the Observatory.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Manages all Gemini [North/South] Engineers and the Gemini [North/South] Site Manager; includes performance assessment, staff training and the development of engineering talent
2. Oversees near- and long-term telescope facilities, instrument maintenance and upgrades
3. Effectively manages staff effort requests originating from Gemini North and requests effort from there as necessary.
4. Supports Development group activities by in particular providing engineering resources to Development activities enabling instruments to meet technical specifications and be delivered within budget and on schedule.
5 Conducts on-going evaluations of engineering operations activities.
7. Develops appropriate instrument maintenance and improvement costs and scope with the Associate Director of Development
8. Plans to provide supporting infrastructure and resources to future and current operational instruments and for visiting instruments as needed.
9. Plans and schedules strategic projects; develops strategic management goals
10. Maintains excellent relations with internal and external customers
11. Financial management responsibility: Controls Gemini [North/South] Operations Engineering budget and authorizes purchases.
Requirements Job Specifications:
Requires high degree of professionalism and discretion. Must possess the skills to build and maintain a high-performing team. Requires the ability to delegate and to give employees a chance to reach their full potential. Must be able to handle conflict in such a way as to maintain productive relationships. Must have the ability to maintain a view of the “big picture” and communicate it to colleagues at all levels. Requires flexibility, adaptability and unflappable demeanor. Ability to reconcile competing demands and ensure that important issues are handled along with emergency or urgent issues. Requires excellent judgment and insight. Frequent international travel required. Must be willing to live in [Hilo, Hawaii/La Serena, Chile].
• Strategic Management: Work with the Associate Directors and the engineering staff to ensure that, at the highest levels the Observatory continues to realize the goal of a single, cohesive, competent, focused, productive Observatory-wide Operations team of the highest quality. Requires a desire and the know-how to drive the effort to make the telescopes the best possible in ground-based astronomy. Responsible for management and planning of strategic, future engineering functions. As a member of Senior Management, will report directly to the Gemini Associate Director of Operations.
• Operations Management: Responsibilities include oversight of infrastructure and support services required to conduct the day-to-day technical and observing functions of all systems within the telescope enclosures as well as daily and long-term maintenance of telescope facilities and instruments, hardware and software, telescope facility upgrades and instrument development; and engineering interfaces across all levels, internally within the Observatory and externally, as appropriate. Specifically, must provide line management of all engineers in Gemini [North/South] Engineering Operations, and for the [Mauna Kea/Cerro Pachon] Site Manager.
• Budgetary Management: Manages Gemini [North/South] Operations Engineering budget.
Education Required:
Master’s Degree in Engineering or related discipline required; in exceptional cases, a BS in Engineering with equivalent, relevant experience may substitute for Master’s Degree. PhD in Engineering or Physics would be an advantage.
Experience Required:
Previous experience managing large projects and facilities; background in astronomical observatories, aerospace or similar area helpful; experience managing large software and or adaptive optics programs a plus. Previous experience in astronomical facility highly desirable. Previous experience managing large budgets for large projects required. Proven track record in establishing programs of excellence, innovation and inspiration. Previous experience in managing or overseeing large technical projects, and managing a multidisciplinary engineering team, is desirable.
Skills Required:
Requires change agent and change management skills; demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team in an operational environment; proven track record in establishing programs of excellence, innovation and inspiration; excellent communication skills; ability to write clearly-worded reports at a level required by Gemini Governance and to develop/deliver clear and inspiring presentations using Power Point or other media/software. Must possess financial and accounting knowledge as well as experience with budgetary management software.
Consensus-building skills; ability to think on feet; requires flexibility and adaptability to work in a fluid environment. [Gemini South: Bilingual (Spanish-English) preferred].
