Assistant Director, Facilities and Administration

Position Description:

Position Summary

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. The Observatory operates a variety of radio telescopes that span the globe, including the famous Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, the Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA) distributed across the United States and its territories, the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. These telescopes are among the most advanced in the world, allowing astronomers to explore the universe in unprecedented detail.

The NRAO announces an employment opportunity for an Assistant Director for Facilities and Administration.

The Assistant Director for Facilities and Administration is the chief administrative officer for the Observatory and is responsible for business administration and other Observatory support services. The role is also responsible for the management and oversight of the following administrative areas: Budget, Procurement, Facilities Planning, Technology Transfer and the oversight of the site Business Offices, and other service divisions as may be assigned. An essential and ongoing requirement is to optimize business systems and increase their cost effectiveness. As part of NRAO Operations, the AD will work with the Joint Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Observatory (JAO), a joint facility of NRAO located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the National Astronomical Observatories of Japan (NAOJ) to address the administrative and budgetary issues concerning the operation of ALMA.

The AD will also work closely with the Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) executive office on business, administrative, and auditing matters. AUI is the non-profit organization that manages NRAO on behalf of the National Science Foundation under a cooperative agreement.

The location for the position will be based at our headquarters in Charlottesville, VA.

Job Duties Summary

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for all programmatic, technical, and personnel aspects of the Facilities and Administration department including: Budget; Contracts & Procurement; Management Information Services; Technology Transfer; and Facilities coordination; meeting planning. Acts as a close collaborator to and/or head of: the AUI Retirement Plans Committee; AUI Benefit Committee member; ALMA budgetary and fiscal issues, including relationships with Heads of Administration at ESO, NAOJ, JAO. Represents NRAO at ALMA Heads of Administration Advisory Group quarterly and special meetings. Is a key contact with AUI officers and the AUI Fiscal Division.
• Oversees facilities in Charlottesville on Edgemont Road and Boxwood Lane. Is the primary contact with UVA departments of Facilities Management and Real Estate Management. Advises on the Central Development Laboratory (CDL) building matters and Landlord relations. Responsible for Edgemont Road office space allocation. Oversees the facilities roundtable and cross observatory facilities processes and project such as our Computerized Maintenance Management System and Facilities Condition Assessment. NRAO real estate management and site acquisition needs are expected to expand in coming years, and a new office to support these activities may be established in this department.
• Oversees the Observatory Budget department and services, including the annual budget process; budget reporting; interim forecasts; and proposal budget guidelines.
• Provides programmatic management involving oversight of development planning and budgets of the various groups including regular reporting on development status, compliance with deadlines, with periodic presentations to senior management or advisory bodies in formal or informal reviews including quarterly status reports and NSF Program Review meetings.
• Manages the AUI non-benefits insurance portfolio and broker relationship. Initial point of contact for insurance claims.

• Responsible for providing coherent and dependable planning across the department, following also the Observatory project management procedures. Particularly, focusing on projects that have an observatory wide perspective, while keeping orderly but pro-active interactions with the other departments that act as stakeholders.
• Provides technical expertise and management, particularly on projects that concern different department groups and/or are particularly visible, promotes discussion and collaboration among groups while maintaining a consistent view and quality of implementation across the site/department or Observatory. As part of the technical management, this position leads processes that maintains and extends cross-observatory procedural standards and development of best practices.
• Personnel management concerns building and maintaining a culture of trust, mutual collaboration, accountability, and excellence within the department/division and with the Stakeholders. The administrative part of this work involves review of timesheets and periodic performance reviews, including interacting with the Human Resources and Business departments of the Observatory when necessary.
• Effectively communicates technical and strategic information to (and among) group leads, stakeholders and others. Facilitates and participates in top-level technical discussions and decision-making process.

Provides consultancy and support on request of the Observatory Director and other senior management on any matters that are relevant for NRAO and in fulfilling its mission. Effectively communicate NRAO mission and accomplishments to target audiences.

• Proactive compliance with all safety procedures.

Work Environment

Work is typically performed in a research and development environment. Must be able to travel both domestically and internationally by air carrier.

Compensation and Total Rewards:

Associated Universities, Inc (AUI) offers a comprehensive total rewards package to eligible staff members. We are committed to serving our employees and their families with a wide-ranging and competitive total rewards package that supports employees and their overall well-being and career growth.

Compensation

AUI strives to attract and retain dedicated, highly qualified, competent, and motivated employees by offering competitive compensation and recognition for performance. Factors which may affect starting pay within the following rankings include; education, experience, competency, internal equity, and labor market conditions.

Benefits

In addition to competitive pay and benefits, AUI provides excellent paid time off (13 holidays, up to 24 vacation days and 15 sick days per year, time off for doctor/dentist visits, and 8 weeks of parental leave). Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. AUI's retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10% of a qualified participant's base pay with no required employee contribution; we also offer an optional supplemental, tax-deferred plan for employee retirement contributions.

Position Requirements:

Minimum Education

Master's degree or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Minimum Experience

At least seven years of experience in a relevant field of work.

Preferred Education

Masters of Business Administration

Preferred Experience

A demonstrated background in research, engineering or observatory operations, and the ability to work closely with site managers and scientific researchers are also highly desirable.

Competency Summary

Must possess excellent analytical, communication and organizational skills. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Strong leadership ability is required.

Additional Requirement

Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B visas for this position.

Application Instructions:

Select the "Apply" button. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position. The position will remain open until filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit http://jobs.jobvite.com/nrao/jobs. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email to resumes@nrao.edu.