SKA-Mid Telescope Director

Preparation by the SKA member countries to establish the SKA Observatory as an Inter-Governmental Organisation is well advanced; the SKA Observatory is expected to be established by early in 2021 and construction of SKA-Low in Western Australia and SKA-Mid in South Africa is expected to begin later that year. The start of the ramp up of SKA Operations staff in Australia and in South Africa will also begin in 2021, and the transition of the observatory from the Construction Phase to the Operations Phase is planned for 2028.

SKA Operations in South Africa will be conducted in partnership with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). SKA Operations in Australia will be conducted in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The Observatory will also partner closely with a global network of SKA Regional Centres through which SKA users will access science data products and a suite of tools and resources to further analyse SKA data.

SKA Organisation are seeking a Director of the SKA-Mid Telescope. A unique opportunity for an inclusive and collaborative leader with a record of success in a high tech environment, to establish operations in South Africa for a complex, sizeable and ground-breaking scientific facility.

The Director will establish and ultimately lead the operations of one of two SKA telescopes, a complex, high-tech, state-of-the art scientific facility, with staff and elements of the respective telescope systems located at a Science Operations Centre, an Engineering Operations Centre, a Science Processing Centre, and at the remote telescope site. The Telescope Director will have a high degree of autonomy, but the successful candidates will also be responsible for instilling a cohesive approach to Telescope operations, and will be an inclusive and collaborative leader.

Working initially as part of a small team based at the relevant SKA Science Operations Centre (SOC), the Telescope Director will lead a rapidly-growing cohort working at the SOC, the Engineering Operations Centre (EOC) and at the remote telescope site. The Telescope Director will be responsible for growing and implementing local operations activities according to the SKA Operations Plan, and will provide input to the continued evolution of the operational model of the Observatory as a whole.

To find out more about this role and to apply follow this link:

https://recruitment.skatelescope.org/vacancy/skamid-telescope-director-431588.html