TELESCOPE SITE MANAGER

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) has an opening for Site Manager for the SOAR Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile (CTIO). This position is responsible for coordinating all routine operations, maintenance and repairs on site at the SOAR Telescope. The site manager may also be responsible for leading such activities in areas where his/her technical qualifications and experience are appropriate, including project planning.

Essential Functions:
• Coordination of daily and weekly activities at and around the SOAR telescope site, including those undertaken by scientific and engineering staff from La Serena.
• Scheduling and executing regular preventive maintenance on the telescope, instruments and facility.
• Managing most repairs on the telescope, instruments and facility; this may require a request for assistance from operations, engineering, or scientific staff.
• Planning and execution of approved small- or mid-scale improvement projects, including identification of such improvements for consideration.
• Participation in major repairs and improvement projects, under the direction of the SOAR director or delegated project manager. Such participation may include planning of schedules and budgets, and will often require the site manager to fill a leading role within the project plan.
• Coordination of leave requests, including interaction with the SOAR director, TelOps manager or other supervisors as appropriate.
• Coordination of day-crew training activities.
• Formal supervision of day-crew staff in relevant disciplines; participation in evaluations of additional day crew staff.
• Oversight of site safety, including coordination with the NOAO-S safety officer.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:
• Bachelor's/Ingeniero Civil degree in a relevant field of engineering or physical sciences, plus 5 or more years of experience at a large telescope facility or other large industrial facility engaged in scientific research or technology development.
• A demonstrated ability to successfully manage a team of 4-7 individuals in an operational, industrial facility.
• A demonstrated ability to plan mid-scale projects, including cost, labor and schedule estimates. Familiarity with basic project management tools.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team to define and implement common observatory goals.
• Creativity, flexibility and excellent decision-making skills.
• Very good inter-personal and communications skills (oral and written).
• Basic ability to speak and read both Spanish and English; ability to produce written communications in both languages is desirable.
• Ability to prepare technical documents and presentations and to present technical material.
• Computer skills including the ability to manage standard office and technical tools
• Must be able to work at a 9,000-foot altitude (2800 m).
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, have a clean driving record, and be able to drive a 4WD vehicle.
• Must have, or be able to obtain, a valid passport and be willing to travel internationally, as required.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and other office machines.
• Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to
perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately

• Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.
• Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.
• The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

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