Program Manager, Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), IS-340-14

Smithsonian Institution•Cambridge, MA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of the position is to provide overall program direction and technical leadership to the development of the GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF), and potentially to both other instrumentation projects for the next generation Giant Magellan Telescope, and/or to the development of new or upgraded scientific instruments for astronomical and astrophysical data collection for existing ground-based telescopes.

Requirements

Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 13 level in similar positions. Specialized experience is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position such as:
Demonstrated experience supporting or directing complex technical projects or programs involving scientific instrumentation, engineering systems, or large research facilities.
Experience working with multidisciplinary teams that may include scientists, engineers, technical specialists, contractors, and administrative personnel.
Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and coordinate complex technical work involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and evolving technical requirements.
Advanced comprehensive professional experience in a scientific or technical discipline sufficient to enable the incumbent to provide overall direction to the development of scientific instrumentation that extends state of the art. This includes the ability to understand overall mission science and technical objectives and stakeholders’ responsibilities and goals.
Expert knowledge of the principles and practices of technical program management, particularly as they pertain to the development of scientific instrumentation; including the methods and tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources; and monitoring and evaluating costs, work, and contractor performance.
Professional knowledge and experience in implementing formal cost control methodologies such as Earned Value Management. Ability to formally assess risks and develop mitigation strategies on complex one-of-a-kind development projects according to known methodologies used by government sponsors such as NASA, NSF, DoD, DoE or similar.
Ability to determine project resource needs, plan and organize the work of diverse project teams that include both internal staff and national and international partners, determine short- and long-term goals and strategies, set priorities, and coordinate with other stakeholders--both internal and external--to achieve project goals.
Ability to develop, justify, and control budgets for complex high value scientific instrument development projects to support ongoing project execution, calculate estimates to complete, and support proposal development.
Superior knowledge of multiple types of contracts, procurement strategies, and contract negotiation and administration. Experience managing industry partners with the development of hardware from design through delivery.
Exceptional knowledge and skills in communication and the ability to convey complex project concepts both orally and in writing to internal and external stakeholders from scientists and engineering teams to sponsor review panels. Ability to resolve disagreements equitably and build consensus on critical issues about which there may be conflicting viewpoints. Experience organizing teams in preparation for formal external technical and programmatic reviews.

Responsibilities

Facilitates the day to day management of complex scientific instrumentation projects.
Supports the Principal Investigator (PI) in the development of project plans, budgets, schedules, resource allocation, work statements, and work breakdown structures.
Works with the PI and Project Engineer to ensure that tasks, procurements, and other project actions are progressing as planned.
Maintains and tracks action and risk registers.
Works with project staff and subcontractors to update and status the project schedule.
Serves as the primary technical point of contact in establishing, and during the execution of, major subcontracts.
Coordinates with SAO GMTO projects’ Business Manager and other administrative/management staff to ensure effective project support.
Communicates overall project plans and detailed task expectations to SAO personnel at all levels, and to subcontractors and partners.
Prepares and oversees submission of periodic progress status reports as required by sponsors.
Coordinates and conducts regularly recurring technical status meetings.
Leads the overall preparation and execution of major technical and management reviews including milestone and instrument Preliminary and Final Design Reviews.
Holds progress meeting with industry subcontractors of major assemblies.
Develops and presents technical and programmatic briefings in support of proposals, functional working group meetings, status reviews, and formal program reviews.
Provides support to mission panels and working groups as requested.
Provides technical and management expertise to the development of proposals for external funding for ground-based astronomy instruments for submission to a variety of sponsors including government agencies and private organizations.
Coordinates the development of project re-plans, including adjustments to scope of work, budgets, and schedules as required to adapt to reductions or delays in project funding.
As a Smithsonian Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), serves as the SAO/project representative in the management of subcontracts.
Works with subcontractors and SAO contracts’ management staff to ensure subcontracts are being executed on schedule, contractor performance is acceptable, invoices are being submitted in a timely manner, and subcontractors are paid expeditiously.
Brings business management acumen to the GMT projects.
Works with project staff and funds management personnel to collect relevant information to evaluate project progress and cost status.
Analyzes schedule and cost information to generate project performance metrics.
As a member of the PMO, works collaboratively to identify and promote best practices for project management across SAO.
Works with project teams to identify areas where processes-- both management and technical might be improved and provide guidance on how improvements might be implemented effectively.
Participates in reviews as requested, including design reviews of other Observatory projects.
Supports the Principal Investigator in working with SAO advancement teams in philanthropic outreach as requested.
Performs other duties as assigned.