At the SKAO we are coordinating a global effort to deliver one of the largest science facilities on the planet. The SKAO telescopes will be next-generation instruments that will help to answer key questions in astrophysics, drive technological innovation and support human capital development.
More than a dozen partner countries and over a thousand scientists and engineers around the world are already on board, making the SKA project an international collaboration like no other, and one of the most ambitious science and engineering endeavours of the 21st century.
Headquartered in the UK, with telescope sites in Australia and South Africa, the SKAO will be one observatory operating two telescopes, an endeavour spanning three continents. Multinational by design, in early 2021 the SKAO became an intergovernmental organisation, one of only a select handful of science infrastructures to do so worldwide.
Construction activities for the SKAO’s telescopes in Australia and South Africa started in 2021, along with a ramping up of SKAO staff in both countries. It is expected that the transition from the Construction Phase to the Operations Phase will happen around 2028.
SKAO Operations in South Africa will be conducted in partnership with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). SKAO Operations in Australia will be conducted in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The Observatory will also partner closely with a global network of SKA Regional Centres through which astronomers will access science data products and a suite of tools and resources to further analyse the SKA telescopes’ data.
For more information on the SKA project visit https://www.skao.int/
The SKA Observatory offers a competitive salary and a generous pension and benefits package. As an employee of an intergovernmental organisation, an appointee who is not a national of the country in which the role is based may be subject to personal Privileges and Immunities.
At SKAO we’re one observatory building 2 radio telescopes that will transform our understanding of the Universe. We have people based in the UK, Australia and South Africa and collaborate with partners and contractors based all over the world. The Deputy Senior Project Manager for SKA-Low is the most senior delivery role within Australia and will engage with a diverse range of stakeholders locally, overseeing the Australian-based project managers and providing a critical link to the Global Headquarters in the UK.
The Role
The SKAO Project Management Group holds the project management and control expertise within the Observatory.
During Construction, the Senior Project Managers (SPMs) procure and deliver the SKA-Mid and SKA-Low telescope facilities and the enabling computing & software required by leading matrixed Telescope Delivery Teams (TDTs). Deputy Senior PMs for SKA-Low and SKA-Mid based in the telescope host countries are key members of these TDTs who provide local management and co-ordination and form critical links for the UK-based SPMs.
The role reports into the Senior Project Manager, SKA-Low and directly line manages several project managers.
This is a fixed term position with a duration of two years and is based at the SKAO Science Operations Centre in Perth, Western Australia, with frequent travel to Geraldton and the construction site.
SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory.
This role requires the post holder to work across different time zones and, in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.
Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties
- Represent the Senior Project Manager, SKA-Low in meetings with key stakeholders in Australia, managing effective communications through formal and informal channels. This includes forming links with local SKAO leadership, Site Management, Operations and across the collaboration between SKAO and CSIRO.
- Deputise for the SPM SKA-Low in leading TDT activities when needed.
- Guide and support local project managers in actively managing budget, schedule, changes, risks and issues and perform regular reporting and variance analysis within SKAO’s governance framework. In practice this means ensuring the Integrated Project Schedule is upto date and there are sufficient funds to complete.
- Manage project quality reviews in order to identify, assess and take action to mitigate risks to project success.
- Assess programmatic, safety, environmental and reputational risks, recommend appropriate actions and implement and report on agreed actions.
- Lead and co-ordinate efforts across the internal matrix organisation, including project control, engineering, procurement, assurance and operations, to guide and support the contractors and consultants, with all applicable processes overseen and integrated.
- Lead a diverse team, set objectives and review performance to ensure staff have the necessary skills and understanding to deliver their objectives, coaching more junior colleagues as appropriate.
- Stakeholder management of a diverse range of stakeholders ranging from contractors on site, other Observatory teams, to Governmental departments.
Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Degree qualified or equivalent experience supported by a relevant professional project or programme management qualification (e.g. PMI’s PMP or APM’s PMQ or ChPP), with deep understanding of the theoretical principles which apply to project and programme management.
- Substantial experience of managing delivery of complex projects, including in multi-year, multi-disciplinary, multi-national programmes.
- Financial and budgetary planning and management skills. Ability to agree resources for a defined area as part of forward planning, monitoring progress and adjusting resources or priorities to meet goals.
- Experience of stakeholder management in a diverse range of stakeholders such as agencies, contractors, consultants and member states and working with them to sell a vision for project outcomes.
- Proven ability to provide team leadership for a geographically dispersed, diverse and multi-cultural team working across several time-zones.
- Able to seek out and examine a range of information to identify patterns, trends and options, to solve multifaceted and complex problems, and apply this with due consideration to the specific operating context of the client.
- Proficient user of web-based tools and services used in the delivery of complex projects, including scheduling, financial, configuration, design, engineering, collaboration and risk tools.
Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Post-graduate qualification in management, engineering or physical sciences
- Full membership of a project management or engineering professional body
- Knowledge of international relations and working with Intergovernmental Organisations
- Industry experience and/or a track record in successful collaboration with industry
- Experience in using the NEC4 contract suite
- Experience in using CEMAR, Primavera P6, Confluence, Google Drive and Jira
- Experience of delivery in remote environments.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement
SKA Observatory recognises that our diversity is a strength. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong, and diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. As such, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are at the core of SKA Observatory’s agenda.
Our aim is to recruit and retain the most talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, nationality or background.
Women have traditionally been under-represented in the fields of science and engineering; SKA Observatory welcomes and encourages female applicants.
Where applicants with a disability need facilities or adjustments to enable them to participate in the recruitment process, these will be provided.
SKA Observatory welcome all candidates, especially those from member countries.
The “How to Apply” information contained within the SKA Observatory recruitment portal provides more detail regarding our application and selection approach.