Director of UK Astronomy Technology Centre

at  Springer Nature

DIRECTOR OF UK ASTRONOMY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

Employer
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) - UK Astronomy Technology Centre
Location
The Royal Observatory Edinburgh
Salary
£87,565 - £99,000 per annum (depending on skills and experience)
Closing date
1 Apr 2024
Discipline
Physics
Job Type
Director
Employment - Hours
Full time
Duration
Permanent
Qualification
Professional certification
Sector
Charity/NGO
You need to sign in or create an account to a job.

FULL-TIME, OPEN-ENDED APPOINTMENT

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is seeking an experienced scientific leader as Director of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) and Head of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (ROE) site. This role presents an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver a growing national programme, supported by exceptional staff and facilities, amid a period of outstanding scientific potential.

ABOUT US

The UK ATC is the national centre of expertise for the design and delivery of astronomical instrumentation and works closely with UK University partners and international collaborators to design and build transformative and ground-breaking instrumentation and software for large astronomical observatories around the world. The UK ATC supports our astronomy community through design, construction (and exploitation) for astronomy, and enables future science through:
A) research and development in instrumentation
B) maintaining facilities, expertise and talent in necessary professional engineering/technical areas with long-term career development for staff
C) helping to define the future programme together with UK and international partners Find out more about the UK Astronomy Technology Centre.

The Director will shape the future of the department through the articulation of a clear vision and strategy, guiding its next phase of development. As a collaborative leader, the Director will empower and steer the staff toward success, leveraging sound financial management expertise and leadership skills at an international level. The primary responsibilities include securing, implementing, and delivering large-scale national and international astronomy projects. As the Head of the ROE site, the Director will lead its strategic development and provide operational oversight.
Reporting to the Executive Director of National Laboratories Science and Technologies, the Director will oversee the UK Astronomy Technology Centre and manage the Department’s budget, ensuring effective financial and risk management. Collaboration with senior professionals in STFC and national and international astronomy institutes is essential for delivering the UK ATC programme and ensuring the safe operation of the ROE site. The Director is expected to inspire and lead large, complex teams and provide visible and proactive scientific and technical leadership. Strategic partnerships with key national and international organisations are crucial for achieving shared objectives.