SKA Observatory: Project Manager SKA-Mid Digital (10145)

At the SKAO we are coordinating a global effort to deliver one fo the largest science facilities on the planet. The SKAO telescopes will be next-generation instruments that will help to answer key questions in astrophysics, drive technological innovation and support human capital development. 

More than a dozen partner countries and over a thousand scientists and engineers around the world are already on board, making the SKA project an international collaboration like no other, and one of the most ambitious science and engineering endeavours of the 21st century.

Headquartered in the UK, with telescope sites in Australia and South Africa, the SKAO will be one observatory operating two telescopes, an endeavour spanning three continents. Multinational by design, in early 2021 the SKAO became an intergovernmental organisation, one of only a select handful of science infrastructures to do so worldwide.

Our Global HQ is located near the buzzing city of Manchester at the historic Jodrell Bank Observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Cheshire countryside. It is home to a rapidly expanding international team of more than a hundred, working in a highly collaborative and inclusive way, in coordination with SKAO teams in Australia and South Africa as part of a global astronomy and engineering community.

Being part of Team SKA means contributing to something extraordinary: a uniquely exciting project to advance human knowledge that will last for decades. In return, we offer a diverse multicultural working environment, 30 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme, regular social events, a family-friendly environment and much more. Come and join us!

A unique opportunity for a technical project manager with ability to effectively manage geographically dispersed teams to support the delivery of a ground-breaking scientific facility.

The Role

The Project Manager SKA-Mid Digital will lead the Mid Digital Product Delivery Team via a matrix structure and will be responsible for the sucessful delivering of the digital products for the Mid Telescope. The Project Manager SKA-Mid Digital will manage the contract preparation and delivery of the Mid Digitiser/Single Pixel Feed receivers, the Mid Central Signal Processor and Correlator Beamformer, and the Mid Synchronisation and Timing for the SKA-Mid Telescope.

These work packages are technically challenging and will be delivered via international collaboration, meaning the successful candidate will need a sound technical background and ability to effectively manage geographically dispersed teams.

The Project Manager SKA-Mid Digital reports to the Senior Project Manager SKA-Mid and will contribute to the activities of the Telescope Delivery Team responsible for the overall delivery of the SKA-Mid Telescope. They are responsible for the overall management, control and successful delivery of the specific work packages under their stewardship.

The Project Manager SKA-Mid Digital will be responsible for managing the creation of procurement packs for the delivery of their assigned parts of the construction project, and will assist in the assessment of bids and contract negotiation. They will then manage these contracts through to successful completion. The project managers will form the primary managerial link between the SKAO and the contractors.

Within the SKAO, the successful applicant will work closely with other project managers, engineers, scientists and operations planners. They will ensure that the project management outputs for these contracts and the work of the internal team are integrated into the project level tools and systems.

In line with our Flexible Working Policy, flexibility around working hours may be accommodated in agreement with the Line Manager where operationally viable, ensuring telescope delivery is not impacted.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties

• Lead, manage and develop the Mid Digital Product Delivery Team within the matrix organisation at SKAO HQ
• Manage communications with the contractors and other stakeholders
• Contribute to the procurement preparation activities for Mid Digital
• Manage costs, schedule, issues and risks
• Monitor and report on progress
• Manage the configuration and review of the work package and contract documentation
• Deliver the Mid Digital contracts and successfully handover to operations
• Ensure project controls implemented for Mid Digital such that these work packages are delivered to the expected cost, time and quality, and stakeholders are appropriately engaged
• Occasionally travel nationally and internationally as necessary and when possible in the context of any international travel restrictions (usually for one week, 3-4 times per year)
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the SKA-Mid Senior Project Manager or a member of the SKAO Senior Leadership Team.

For more information, including how to apply for this role, please visit our website:

https://recruitment.skatelescope.org/vacancy/project-manager-skamid-digital-452290.html