ISAAC NEWTON GROUP OF TELESCOPES

LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS

 

Band 3 Senior Staff Astronomer

 

CVN ref: LP2/02                                                            Closing Date: 15 April 2002

 

 

 

An opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Senior Staff Astronomer at ING. This will be an indefinite appointment on UK terms.

 

DUTIES

 

The jobholder will be responsible for the effective operation and development of the telescopes and instrumentation.  Responsibilities may include the roles of Telescope Manager and Instrument Specialist.  In these roles the jobholder will be responsible for the astronomical quality control of telescopes/instruments and will be expected to take an active role in ensuring the optimal functioning of these facilities.  As Telescope Manager the jobholder will also be expected to contribute to the generation and control of the astronomy schedule.

 

The jobholder's primary operational duties will consist of support activities for visiting astronomers and the commissioning of new instruments or enhancements. He/She will also take an active part in the service-observing programme.  Additionally, the jobholder will be expected to play a leading role in development projects and pursue a personal astronomy research programme. These activities may involve bidding for additional funding and negotiating for resources, either within ING or externally. The jobholder may also serve on the operations team and represent ING on external panels and committees.

 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

 

We are looking for an academic background with a PhD in astronomy plus several years observational experience.  Also important is a good technical understanding of telescope and instrument systems and extensive experience in the use of ground-based telescopes.  The jobholder must have an established track record in astronomical research.  An ability to make significant contributions to development projects as well as act as a Project Scientist/Leader are also considered to be essential traits.

 

He/she must be a self-starter and a vivid team player with good inter-personal skills, capable of presenting his/her vision.  Equally important are good communication skills including a good working knowledge of English plus the ability to work effectively with staff from other disciplines.

 

APPLICATIONS

 

Staff wishing to be considered for this post should complete an internal application form and pass this along with an internal candidate supplementary sheet on to their line manager.   Application forms and supplementary sheets are available from the Personnel Section or on ING's website at http://www.ing.iac.es/About-ING/Vacancies/vacancies1.html.  Completed applications should reach the Personnel Section on La Palma by 15 April 2002.  Applications from non-permanent employees can only be considered if they were recruited to their present posts through fair and open competition and have the necessary entry qualifications for the grade for which they are applying.

 

Applications for a request interview may be made against this Vacancy Notice by employees of PPARC who have served in their present grade for at least seven years (at the date of this Notice) and have not been interviewed for promotion for at least four years.  CEM 7D, section 8, refers.

 

For further information on this post contact Danny Lennon.

 

This vacancy is only being trawled across ING at this stage.