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Advert. no. 2015_0023
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Working at ESO

Are you interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment? Do you feel your profile matches our requirements? Learn more about our current vacancies and apply online. Read more..

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a (sub)millimeter wave interferometer consisting of 66 antennas located on the Llano de Chajnantor in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, and equipped with receivers covering atmospheric windows between 30 and 950 GHz. ALMA is a partnership of the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO representing its member states), National Science Foundation (NSF USA) and National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS Japan), together with National Research Council (NRC Canada) and National Science Council (NSC) and Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA Taiwan), in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) is operated by ESO, Associated Universities Inc/National Radio Astronomy Observatory (AUI/NRAO) and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ).

The JAO is responsible for the overall leadership and management of ALMA.

 

The Joint ALMA Observatory invites applications for the position of:

ALMA Head of Administration

Santiago

Vacancy closed on 14/07/2015

Deadline 14/07/2015

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) is seeking a Head of Administration with extensive experience of coordinating and leading the administration and the financial planning of complex technical organizations.

The Head of Administration is an international, key management position within the Joint ALMA Observatory and she/he will report to the ALMA Director. A primary responsibility of the Head of Administration is high-level interface and negotiation with various parties with respect to the Observatory's overall administrative, financial and contractual obligations.

The staff of the Joint ALMA Observatory is composed of both international and local (Chilean) staff members, with a current total of 250 employees. There are presently more than 20 nationalities originating from six continents represented in ALMA. Local and international staff have duty stations at one of two sites, the Santiago office in Vitacura and the Operations Support Facility (OSF) near San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile.

Main Duties and Key responsibilities include:

  • Support the ALMA Director providing guidance and strategic advice in planning and establishing the general policy, scope and standards of professional performance for each of the Joint ALMA Observatory's functional areas.
  • Identify the financial resources required to support the Joint ALMA Observatory.
  • Responsible for oversight of facilities management functions of the Santiago office, which encompass building operation, safety, security, telecommunications and related facilities support function.
  • Responsible for the oversight of the hospitality facilities at the Observatory, which includes catering, cleaning and hotel management.
  • Administer the budget of all organizational units. Plans, projects needs, determines allocations, approves expenditures and ensures adequacy of the budget.
  • Responsible to administer the commuting to and from the observatory, including flights, buses, taxis and shuttles.
  • Provide the ALMA Director with data and reports necessary to communicate key JAO administrative and budgetary issues to the ALMA Board, Directors Council, Executives and the JAO Core Management Team. The Head of Administration will give presentations to, and interact with the ALMA Board and its Budget Committee.
  • Perform research and analysis and prepare reports and presentations, as required.
  • Chair the Head of Administration Advisory Group Committee (HAAG), a committee bringing together Administrators from the International Partners.
  • Manage the Administration Department and its staff, including training and mentoring.

Professional Requirements/Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or other related field.
  • Advanced degree highly desirable.
  • Extensive experience in the management of business operations, strategic and administering government contracts, preferably in a scientific or technical environment.
  • Extensive knowledge of management principles, practices, methods and techniques.
  • Sound practical knowledge of accounting and budgeting processes, computer applications for administrative information systems, and facilities operations.
  • Five years or more experience dealing with complex and multinational distribution of stakeholders is preferred.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills are mandatory.
  • Fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Knowledge of Spanish will be an asset.
  • Ability to travel internationally and to the observatory in the North of Chile.

Applicants for this position shall fulfill the above requirements. Due to travel requirements and work at high altitudes, a successful high altitude medical check is a necessary condition of employment for this position.

Duty Station / Location of Position:

The duty station is the Santiago office with travel to the Operations Support Facility (OSF) at 2900 meters near San Pedro de Atacama. International travel will be required.

Starting Date:

As soon as possible.

Contract:

The actual contractual terms will be defined by the selected employer (ESO, AUI/NRAO or NAOJ).

Remuneration:

ALMA International Staff will be recruited as employees of ESO, AUI/NRAO or NAOJ. Each of these employers offer competitive remuneration packages including a competitive salary as well as comprehensive social benefits, and provide financial support in relocating families. Furthermore, if applicable, an expatriation allowance as well as some other allowances will be added.

Qualified candidates with extensive relevant experience as outlined above are invited to apply by submitting an application to ESO, AUI/NRAO or NAOJ. Applications must be completed in English and should include a cover letter, CV, and three letters of reference.

Applicants submitting their application to ESO are invited to apply online at https://jobs.eso.org/. The position requires three letters of reference, which shall be sent to vacancies@alma.cl.

Applicants submitting their application to AUI/NRAO are invited to apply online at https://careers.nrao.edu. Also, three reference letters are required.

Applicants submitting their application to NAOJ are invited to apply by sending their cover letter, CV and three letters of reference via email to Tetsuo Hasegawa at tetsuo.hasegawa@nao.ac.jp.

Deadline for receipt of applications to be considered for the position is 14 July 2015. However, applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

For further information please consult (almaobservatory.org), as well as the ESO, NRAO, and/or NAOJ Home Pages: (www.eso.org), (www.nrao.edu) (alma.mtk.nao.ac.jp/e/).

ESO, AUI/NRAO and NAOJ are Equal Opportunity Employers. The post is equally open to suitably qualified female and male applicants.

Contact us

Email vacchile@eso.org

ESO