Chief of Operations

The W. M. Keck Observatory (https://keckobservatory.org/) invites nominations and applications for the position of Chief of Operations (CoO).

Reporting to the WMKO Director, the CoO leads teams across a portfolio of departments including Operations and Infrastructure, Engineering, and Environmental Health and Safety.

In overseeing the Operations and Infrastructure Department (OID), the CoO formulates and executes OID strategy, plans, budgets, and priorities. The CoO oversees the technical day operations at the summit; HQ and summit facilities maintenance and renewal; and HQ-summit transportation operations. The CoO will travel at least monthly to Keck’s 14,000-foot Observatory to provide leadership to summit operations teams.

The CoO also leads Keck’s matrixed engineering department which supports all technical activities at the Observatory (optics engineering, electronics and instrument engineering, system engineering and documentation, mechanical engineering, and software engineering).

As head of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S), the CoO oversees the planning and execution of risk assessments and root cause analyses by EH&S staff.

The CoO will contribute to the development of Observatory strategy as a member of the Director’s Advisory Committee (DAC). Specifically, the CoO will be tasked with the strategic approach to facility infrastructure renewal and risk reduction.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Assess and mitigate operating risks at the summit facilities and maintain the top-level risk register for the summit facility.
• Serve as Chair of the ELM, responsible for tactical reallocation of technical resources to meet emergent needs at the observatory.
• Participate in the annual and long-range planning processes.
• Responsible for evaluating and proposing the annual OID budget and staffing needs.
• Prepare materials for Board meetings related to summit day operations activities.
• Member of the DAC and the Management Council.

Qualifications

The CoO will fully commit to WMKO’s Mission, Vision, and Values, and will exemplify these values in their conduct and performance.

Required qualifications include:

• Ten years of increasing responsibility in managing and leading a technology-based operation.
• Five years at a senior level in an engineering or scientific organization.
• B. Sc. in engineering or a closely related science field.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of teams and projects.
• Demonstrated experience creating and managing budgets at the $1M-$5M level.
• Experience in, and an understanding of, a variety of engineering disciplines.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Familiarity with safety risk assessment and mitigation methodologies
• Experience in the operation of a 24/7 facility
• Advanced degree in engineering or related science field
• Experience in and commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workforce

W. M. Keck Observatory is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the Observatory’s policy to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or genetic information.

WMKO has retained Opus Partners (www.opuspartners.net) to support this recruitment. Craig Smith, Partner, and Chris Stadler, Associate, are leading the search. Applicants should submit a letter of interest and CV or resume to [email protected] and [email protected].