Research Project Manager

The Department of Astronomy & Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona is seeking a senior Research Project Manager (Research Manager IV) to serve on the NASA-funded Aspera Mission, in addition to other Steward Observatory projects. The selected candidate will be responsible for managing projects that utilize engineering and technical support in the development and implementation of space and ground-based telescopes. The selected candidate will develop, implement, and maintain operational plans, programs, systems, and technical aspects of contracts that require a high degree of innovation and creativity. Technical work includes optics handling/alignment, instrumentation development, and various supporting functions for subsystems of telescopes during development, fabrication, and operation. This position requires broad knowledge and experience across multiple professional disciplines.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• Manages technical research projects to oversee planning, execution, completion, scope, schedule, budget and risk of research on behalf of the Principal Investigator. Prepares proposals and assist with securing furture research funds in conjunction with Principal Investigators, Business Office and UA Administration. Develops, implements, and maintains operational plans, programs, systems and technical aspects of contracts requiring a high degree of innovation, creativity, and integration.
• Accountable for strategic and operational direction of a large and complex technical group within the College of Science and external colleges. Has significant impact on short-and mid-term research project plans. Coordinates, monitors, and/or supervises the activities of designated technical subgroups, monitoring progress of work to achieve success of research projects. Develops and schedules work plans in accordance with specifications and funding limitations; oversees daily operations and coordinates activities of project expenditures.
• Coordinates activities of projects, staff and departments with interrelated activities to ensure optimum efficiency of effort, conservation of funds and compliance with appropriate policies, procedures, and specifications.
  Managing research team(s) including technical professionals and other managers, including hiring and training. Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and standards for research.
• Manages projects that utilize engineering and technical support in the development and implementation of space- and ground-based telescopes. Technical work includes: optics handling/alignment, instrumentation development, and various supporting functions for subsystems of telescopes during development, fabrication, and operation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional
  teams and drive consensus on project priorities and decisions

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 9-years of related work experience, including 5 years of managerial experience, or equivalent
  combination of education and work experience.
• Experience leading a team, project, program, or function is required.

• Engineering experience with optics, telescopes, electronics, instrumentation, astronomy, and custom machines.
• Experience leading projects during all stages of the project lifecycle including concept development, design, integration, testing, and delivery.
• Experience managing external collaborators, including vendors and subcontractors.
• Expertise using project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Jira, Confluence, etc.)
• Previous experience working on NASA spaceflight projects preferred.
• Experience with hands-on integration and testing of contamination-sensitive flight hardware is a plus.