Deputy Director for Technology

Lowell Observatory invites applications for the position of Deputy Director for Technology (DDT), a member of Lowell's leadership team. S/he will supervise Lowell's technical staff and will assume principal responsibility for the management, operation, and development of Lowell's observing facilities and informational technology (IT) systems.

The DDT will play a lead role in ensuring that (1) the Observatory's technical resources are appropriate to the projects being undertaken, (2) the prioritization of technical projects is aligned with the Observatory's scientific and outreach missions and long-term strategic goals, and is understood and supported throughout the organization and across Lowell's partner institutions, and (3) projects undertaken are adequately supported and completed in a timely fashion. The DDT also provides the vision for the future of the technological assets of Lowell Observatory.

The DDT will facilitate communication of priorities and goals between the scientific, technical, and outreach staff, the fundraising staff, and the business office, and will play a leading role in ensuring that the Observatory has sufficient personnel and resources to undertake and support all its existing and new technical facilities and instruments.

With Lowell's near-term and long-term technology goals as benchmarks, the DDT will be responsible for developing operating and capital budgets for Lowell's observing sites as well as the IT and instrument shop budgets. S/he will work with Lowell management to develop and maintain an appropriate staffing profile (both FTEs and skill sets) in the technology department.

The DDT will work closely with the Deputy Director for Science (DDS) to ensure the Observatory's technological efforts are aligned with the scientific vision and goals developed by the DDS and the faculty. Interaction with Lowell staff, as well as with the staff of Lowell's scientific partners, to support their needs at the observing sites will also be necessary. This position therefore requires good interpersonal skills, project management skills, and the ability to balance and drive forward multiple efforts based on established priorities.

Lowell operates telescopes at three sites: its main Mars Hill campus (both research and public viewing telescopes), Anderson Mesa (including 1.1-meter, 0.9-meter, and 0.6-meter telescopes, as well as the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer), and Happy Jack (the 4.3-meter Discovery Channel Telescope). Lowell also operates a well-equipped instrument shop that supports projects from design and development of modern instrumentation to restoration and preservation of historic observing facilities such as Percival Lowell's 24" Alvan Clark refractor and the Pluto discovery telescope.

Requirements for this position include (1) an advanced degree in astronomy, physics, engineering, or closely related field, and (2) experience building, maintaining, and/or operating research-grade astronomical telescopes, instrumentation, and observing sites.

This position is open due to a planned retirement. In order to spend adequate time with existing staff, we expect the candidate selected to begin duties November 1, 2018.