Position
Title: Head of AAT Science
Work
Unit: Astronomy
Classification:
Level 6.1 to Level 7.5
Manager:
Director
Job Description
Overall
Responsibilities
The Head
of AAT Science (HOAS) is the leader of the AAT Science group and is
responsible for the management and development of the AAO’s
astronomy
program, including the scientific output of group staff and AAT users,
the
research training of students, and the supervision and mentoring of
staff
astronomers and fellows. Reporting
directly to the Director, the HOAS is a member of the AAO’s Executive team,
which is
responsible for strategic planning for the observatory and its
facilities. The HOAS will
manage the 6 astronomy staff at the AAO
and participate in related tasks including staff hiring, budget
preparation,
resource allocation, and reporting to the AAT Board and Users’
Committee.
Research
The Head of AAT Science will:
·
maintain a personal research program of
international stature;
·
foster the research of the other members
of the AAT Science group;
·
help shape the scientific vision of the
AAO in response to the needs of
the user community and the specific opportunities afforded by the
AAO’s
facilities, instrumentation program and other resources; and
·
assist in developing the scientific cases
for new optical/infrared
instruments and facilities, and in setting the priorities for new
initiatives.
Scientific support
The
Head of AAT Science is responsible for the scientific
support for the users of the AAO’s facilities. The HOAS will
monitor the
results achieved with data from the facilities and work to optimize
research
outcomes. This could include decisions about the instrumentation suite;
archive
policy and practice; instrument manuals; astronomy support; software
support;
scheduling; and representations to the AAT Board, relevant Users'
Committees
and time assignment committees.
People Management
The
Head of AAT Science will:
·
foster the research
of the other members of the AAT
Science group;
·
develop, in conjunction with the
group, an
annual work plan for the group as well individual objectives
for each member of
the group; and
·
ensure that all staff members
have appropriate
access to training and career
development
opportunities
Financial Management
The
Head of AAT Science will prepare and monitor the
astronomy budget, ensuring that adequate provision is made for the
delivery of
the astronomy program, and that the budget is delivered within 2% of
allocation.
Risk Management
The
Head of AAT Science will:
·
ensure that members
of the work group are
provided with information, instruction, training and
supervision to the extent
necessary to enable them to perform their work safely; and
· continuously
review risks and controls with a
view to ensuring that risks are effectively mitigated.
People
reporting directly to this position: 6 members of AAT Science Group
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