Director

Description:

MAJOR DUTIES

Technical Leadership, Program, and Project Management
Serves as the primary manager for FLWO operations, overseeing technical staff across engineering, IT, education/outreach, and administrative roles. Implements policies and best practices for observatory operations, including installation, maintenance, and upgrades, while ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards. Manages timelines and resources for scientific equipment, troubleshooting and prioritizing projects effectively. Coordinates with the education and outreach team to support technical needs for public programs and visitor center activities.

Budgeting and Financial Management
Develops and oversees the FLWO’s annual budget, working closely with SAO leadership to ensure fiscal responsibility. Meets financial objectives by forecasting FLWO requirements, preparing an annual budget, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, and initiating budget corrective actions as needed. Monitors expenditures, aligns spending with operational priorities, and prepares detailed budget justifications to support program goals, including funding for educational and public outreach initiatives.

Visitor Center, Education, and Public Outreach
Oversees operations at the FLWO Visitor Center. Supports engagement efforts at the Visitor Center and promotes educational initiatives. Works with staff to develop and deliver programs to help the public understand FLWO’s mission and research. Oversees public tours, educational workshops, and extraordinary events, ensuring that information is accessible and aligned with the observatory’s mission. Supports the STARS education program to deliver telescopes to rural schools in Arizona and the surrounding region.

Operations Oversight and Staff Supervision
Directs daily FLWO operations, overseeing staff assignment, training, and evaluation. Provides guidance on project planning, professional development, and work quality to ensure high performance. Manages recruitment, addresses grievances, and promotes a positive and collaborative work environment, including support for educational outreach activities.

Community Engagement
Acts as the FLWO liaison, engaging respectfully with community leaders and local organizations. Leads discussions on-site management, fosters cultural sensitivity, and ensures open communication channels to align operations with community needs and expectations. Strengthens relationships with local stakeholders through outreach and visitor programs that respect cultural heritage and environmental values.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Basic Requirements:
Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 14 level in similar positions. Specialized experience is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:
Experience and knowledge in observational astronomy and facility management, with deep knowledge of optical telescopes and instrumentation, including their construction, installation, and integration into existing infrastructure.
Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret and analyze complex financial data.
Exceptional skills and proficient in financial software and applications, including advanced Excel.
Exceptional knowledge in detail and accuracy in financial reporting and analysis.
Superior communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
Proven superior ability to work independently and as part of a team, with strong collaboration and people skills.
Expert leadership skills, with the ability to provide guidance and support to finance and non-finance team members.
Skill in written and oral communication techniques sufficient to develop and deliver briefings, project papers, status/staff reports, and correspondence to managers to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations.
Mastery of project management to enable the tracking and completion of multiple projects simultaneously.
Excellent people skills and an ability to communicate orally and in writing required.
Mastery of a wide range of quantitative and qualitative methods for evaluating program effectiveness and for studying and improving the effectiveness of the assigned business units and/or complex systems that exist within these units.
Skill and ability to gather, analyze, evaluate, and interpret information to arrive at an opinion or decision.
Mastery of change management practices and principles to ensure that customers, partners, employees, technology, human resources, finance, and budget are all aligned to facilitate change to improve operations and meet goals for the assigned organizations.