Employment Opportunities
Staff Astronomer
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is expecting to make several staff astronomer appointments at its Observatories in Pasadena, California over the next few years. We are seeking outstanding candidates with observational, instrumental, theoretical or combined research interests in these fields. We are particularly interested in candidates with a record of distinguished scientific achievement in the following three areas:
1) Observational astronomers with a strong interest in pursuing major programs in stellar, galactic, or extragalactic astronomy with Carnegie's current and future facilities in Chile; 2) Instrumentalists with demonstrated experience designing and building optical/infrared instruments for large telescopes; and 3) Theorists with an interest in interacting closely with observational astronomers. These positions may be filled at any level and both junior and senior candidates are encouraged to apply.
Carnegie's observing facilities include the twin 6.5-meter Magellan telescopes, the 2.5-meter du Pont telescope and the Swope 1.0-meter telescope all at Las Campanas, Chile. Carnegie is also a leading partner in the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), a 25-meter class telescope currently scheduled for completion in 2019.
Applications should include a curriculum vitae, bibliography, and a research statement outlining the candidate’s previous and future research interests. In addition, applicants should arrange for at least three letters of reference to be sent directly to The Observatories. All application materials must be received by January 8, 2010 and may be submitted via email to staffsearch@ociw.edu or in hard copy to the address below. Applicants who would like more information about these positions or have questions about the application process should send email to staffsearch@ociw.edu. The Carnegie Institution of Washington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Attention: Dr. Michael Rauch, Chair, Staff Astronomer Search Committee
Carnegie Observatories
813 Santa Barbara Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
USA
Tel: 626-304-0262
FAX: 626-304-0266
Chief Advancement Officer - GMTO Corporation
The Giant Magellan Telescope Organization (GMTO) is a Pasadena, California-based nonprofit organization, operating on behalf of leading research institutions on three continents, that is engaged in an effort to design, build and operate an extremely large next-generation optical/near-infrared telescope at Las Campanas, Chile. The GMT partners represent hundreds of years of experience building and operating some of the most advanced and productive observatories on the ground and in space. The GMT is the critical next phase in the effort to make and share new discoveries about the cosmos.
Serving as the de facto leader of the GMT’s fundraising campaign and communications effort, the incumbent develops the overall strategies—as well as the plans, policies, procedures and metrics needed to carry out those strategies—to secure a minimum of $100M in major gifts to benefit the Giant Magellan Telescope project. This goal is expected to be accomplished through approaches made by the GMT partnership as a whole. Campaign counsel and a campaign cabinet may be appointed to support the advancement effort.
Essential Functions:
∙ Provide vision and leadership for securing principal gifts and organizing fundraising and communications activities
∙ Through face-to-face visits, written proposals, and other direct contacts with individuals, corporations, and foundations, identify, cultivate, solicit and steward principal gifts for the GMTO
∙ Work collaboratively with partners’ development staff, GMTO personnel and volunteers to identify relationship connections, giving ability, and interest of prospects
∙ Ask for gifts/grants personally or as part of a team
∙ Develop policies and procedures for gift acceptance, gift processing, pledge tracking, naming opportunities and other donor recognition
∙ Assist in identifying and supporting campaign cabinet
∙ Develop mechanism and format for evaluating campaign activities at regular intervals
∙ Build campaign’s messages and develop marketing materials
∙ Develop, implement and evaluate special events related to the GMT campaign.
Qualified candidates for this senior-level position will have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and twelve or more years of professional experience in major gift fundraising, or a twelve-year combination of experience in development, foundation or corporate relations and financial services, legal services, marketing, business or community development, or communications. They will have experience inspiring principal gifts within a large public research university or research institution, a proven track record of successful face-to-face interactions with prospective and current donors, capital campaign experience setting strategy and raising principal gifts for campaign initiatives, and experience working confidentially with high-level volunteer boards, alumni, corporate boards, business leaders and elected officials.
The preferred candidate will also be a collegial and collaborative leader passionate about astronomy and the power of discovery through science and research. They should exhibit a demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively, work well under pressure, and manage details of several concurrent projects. They should possess (1) some science background with the ability to learn the scientific and technical details of the GMT that will be relevant to managing the campaign activities; (2) excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communications skills and the ability to communicate complicated science programs to non-science constituents; and (3) self-confidence, sound judgment and a sense of humor.
The position reports to the director of the GMTO and the search is open until November 1, or until filled.
No phone calls please. Send Application via mail or e-mail to:
GMTO Corporation
ATTN: CAO Search
813 Santa Barbara Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
Email: gmtjobs@gmto.org
Subject: GMTO Business Manager