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We will begin reviewing
applications on March 31, 2008, but we will continue to accept applications
until the position is filled.
Basic Responsibilities
The National Optical
Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) seeks an astronomer with accomplishments in
research and research leadership to head the Cerro Tololo Inter-American
Observatory (CTIO).
The U.S. national
observatory’s research facilities in Chile
include CTIO and Gemini South, which is operated by the International Gemini
Observatory. CTIO operates the Blanco 4 meter telescope, the SOAR 4.2
meter telescope, and a number of smaller telescopes. Both the SOAR
telescope and the smaller telescopes are operated on behalf of
consortia. Logistical support for these facilities is provided by AURA
Observatories Support Services (AOSS). The CTIO Director participates in
management oversight of AOSS and is responsible for the scientific mission of
CTIO.
The CTIO Director is based
in La Serena, Chile.
The working language is English, although some facility with Spanish would be
advantageous. Staff members have excellent benefits and living conditions, an
overseas allowance, an educational stipend for dependent children,
international health care benefits, and annual travel to the point of hire.
Bilingual education for children is available at the International School of
La Serena, which was co-founded and is supported by AURA. The city of La Serena is a major seaside tourist
destination in South America, with a climate similar to San Diego, California.
The successful
candidate will hold a Ph.D. in astronomy, astrophysics or a related field;
will be creative and experienced in providing scientific and engineering
support, teamwork and leadership to peers, as well as mentorship to more
junior colleagues; and will be involved with research at the frontier of
astronomy. He/she will have a record of accomplishment in providing
user support for a major research facility, interfacing when needed with the
community and specific projects, and will have the ability to lead sixty
engineers, technicians, and scientists located in La Serena, Chile.
Experience in the development of innovative instrument concepts, and
deployment and use of optical or infrared instruments is desirable. The
candidate will have the opportunity to continue his/her research program in
astronomy.
NOAO’s long-range
plan, including that for CTIO, is embodied in the AURA Cooperative Agreement
renewal proposal, submitted to the National Science Foundation on December 1,
2007. The relevant parts of this proposal will be made public on the
NOAO web site in early January. In the interim, a good understanding of
the plan can be obtained by reading recent issues of the NOAO Newsletter and
the presentations made to the NOAO Users Committee (http://www.noao.edu/dir/usercom). Principal
elements of the plan include renewal of the observatory infrastructure, development
and deployment of more modern capabilities, and evolution of the U.S.
observing system as a whole. A number of NOAO’s programs are integrated north/south, and the CTIO
Director facilitates the interfaces in Chile.
The position reports to
the NOAO Director, and the CTIO Director is a member of NOAO’s Executive Council, which is responsible for
developing NOAO’s strategic plan
in concert with the Observatory Council and NOAO’s advisory committees. The term of the
appointment is five years, with the possibility of renewal for a second
five-year term.
Additional
Responsibilities
In addition to the
above duties, candidates may also propose to act as AURA Head of Mission in Chile
which carries the appointment of Director, AURA Observatories in Chile
(AURA-O). In carrying out these responsibilities, this individual
reports directly to the President of AURA for these duties, acts as the AURA’s principal legal representative in Chile, and
promotes the overall achievement of AURA’s goals for the development of astronomy in
Chile. This individual also acts as direct manager of AOSS in providing
services and as the focal point for common governance. A full
description of these responsibilities is found in Section A-XXI of the AURA
Policy manual (http://www.aura-astronomy.org/a/pp/a21.pdf)
NOAO offers an
excellent benefit package, competitive salary commensurate with experience,
and an extremely attractive work environment. Applicants should submit
to the HR Manager a vita, a publication list, a statement of recent research
experience, a statement of relevant management and service experience, a
description of future plans, along with the names of three references. We
will begin reviewing applications on March 31, 2008, but we will continue to
accept applications until the position is filled.
When
applying for this position please refer to the job title and job number.
Electronic submission preferred.
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