SKA-Low Telescope Director

Submission Information
Publish Date: 
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Archive Date: 
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Job Summary
Job Category: 
Science Management
Institution Classification/Type: 
Other
Institution/Company: 
SKA Organisation
Department Name: 
Telescope Operations
City: 
Perth
State/Province: 
Western Australia
Country: 
Australia
Announcement
Job Announcement Text: 

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.

We are seeking a Director of the SKA-Low Telescope. A unique opportunity for an inclusive and collaborative leader with a record of success in a high tech environment, to establish operations in Australia 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.

During the Construction Phase, currently expected to last until 2028, the Telescope Director will work closely with the relevant Site Construction Director to ensure coordination of all SKAO activities. This period of overlap between the ramp up of the operations team and the extensive multi-national construction project will extend over nearly a decade, and the role of the Telescope Directors will be to establish the operational entities, more or less from scratch, managing a complex environment and set of relationships and stakeholders.

To find out more about this role and to apply follow this link: https://recruitment.skatelescope.org/vacancy/skalow-telescope-director-431587.html

Pay Compensation
Compensation Notes: 
Competitive salary with generous benefits
Included Benefits: 

The SKA Observatory offers a competitive salary and a generous pension and benefits package. As an employee of an Inter-Governmental Organisation, an appointee who is not a national of the country in which the role is based may be subject to personal Privileges and Immunities.

Application Deadline: 
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Selection Deadline: 
Sunday, March 21, 2021
Current Status of Position: 
Accepting Applicants
Apply to Job
Attention To: 
https://recruitment.skatelescope.org/vacancy/skalow-telescope-director-431587.html
Title: 
SKA-Low Telescope Director
Institution/Company: 
SKA Organisation
Department Name: 
Telescope Operations
Institution/Company Job ID or Reference Code: 
10108
Inquiries About Job
Attention To: 
Claire Taylor
Subject: 
SKA-Low Telescope Director