NSF NOIRLab Director

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy•Coquimbo, AZ

6d•$244,000 - $335,000

About The Position

The NOIRLab Director provides strategic, scientific, operational, and managerial leadership for the U.S. National Science Foundation National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NSF NOIRLab). Reporting through the AURA President to the AURA Board of Directors, the Director defines the Lab’s vision and structure, sets priorities and goals across its organization and programs, and provides oversight and support to senior management and staff. The Director works with national and international research partners and stakeholders to ensure programs succeed and foster scientific innovation. The Director will advance NOIRLab’s vision for astronomy in the 2030s by integrating observing capabilities, data products, analysis tools, infrastructure, and expertise to enable community-driven discoveries. The role leads a multidisciplinary workforce of nearly 600 FTEs across geographically distributed facilities in Arizona, Hawaiʻi, and Chile, and oversees complex national and international observing facilities and data science platforms. NOIRLab operates the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, International Gemini Observatory, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory, and Community Science Data Center. The Director collaborates with AURA leadership and the Board, coordinates closely with NSF as the primary funding agency and with the U.S. Department of Energy and other funding organizations, and serves as Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator overseeing scientific, technical, and budgetary aspects of projects and operations. The position works primarily from a NOIRLab location in Tucson, Arizona; Hilo, Hawaiʻi; or La Serena, Chile, with frequent travel to other locations. The targeted start date is October 1, 2027.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or a closely related scientific or engineering discipline.
Track record of success in executive leadership managing complex, international, and/or geographically distributed astronomy projects or major facilities.
Extensive experience in strategic planning, multi-agency budget planning and oversight, and complex financial management.
Demonstrated excellence in conflict resolution, critical analysis, and operational problem solving within a matrixed workforce.
Direct experience leading successful organizational change management and/or institutional restructuring.
Proven ability to balance and prioritize competing requirements from multiple stakeholders.
Exceptional interpersonal, diplomatic, and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to build, lead, and unify diverse, high-performing teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience overseeing programs that use large-scale datasets, data management systems, or time-domain astrophysics workflows.
Experience managing the lifecycle, development, and/or maintenance of complex hardware and software systems.
Strong commitment to and track record in scientific community engagement, support for regional host communities, educational outreach, and workforce development.
Deep knowledge of federal funding agency strategies, policies, and performance metrics.

Responsibilities

Innovate, motivate, and advance the NOIRLab mission in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
Develop and implement NOIRLab strategic plans, initiatives, budgets, and priorities.
Build and sustain relationships with federal funding agencies, international scientific partners, complex labor environments, and regional host communities; pursue strategic collaborations and advocate for NOIRLab’s mission and plan.
Oversee complex, distributed operations of national and international multi-user observing facilities and data science platforms.
Ensure effective integration and alignment of NOIRLab leadership, and build employee trust, competencies, and agility.
Lead change management so NOIRLab can meet current requirements and future needs.
Collaborate with the AURA President, corporate leaders, and Board on key efforts, risks, challenges, and opportunities.
Work directly with NSF, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other funding organizations to steward federal investments in astronomy research and education.
Collaborate with the AURA Leadership Team to advance AURA’s mission and the combined scientific impact of its federally funded research capabilities.
Serve as PI or co-PI, overseeing scientific, technical, and budgetary aspects of NOIRLab projects and operations, including working with AURA staff to prepare funding proposals.
Work with the NOIRLab Deputy Director, senior leadership team, and AURA Corporate to champion safety, operational excellence, and the Lab’s long-term scientific mission.