Program Manager, Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), IS-340-15

Overview The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory seeks a Program Manager for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) to provide overall program direction and technical leadership to the development of the GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF) and other instrumentation projects for the next generation Giant Magellan Telescope, and potentially to the development of other new or upgraded scientific instruments for astronomical and astrophysical data collection for existing ground-based telescopes. Open date: April 17, 2026; Closing date: May 15, 2026; Series/Grade: PROGRAM MANAGER IS-340-15; Type of Position: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal); Division: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE; Location: Cambridge, MA; Area of Consideration: This position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the U.S. SAO is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Compensation: $167,560 - $197,200 per year. Major Duties Directs the day-to-day management of assigned complex instrumentation projects. Works with Principal Investigators and Project Engineers to ensure tasks, procurements, and other project actions progress as planned. Maintains and tracks action and risk registers. Updates and status project schedules with project staff and subcontractors. Serves as the primary technical point of contact in establishing and executing major subcontracts. Coordinates with SAO GMTO projects’ Business Manager and other administrative/management staff to ensure GMT projects are effectively supported. Develops plans, budgets, schedules, resource allocations, work statements, and work breakdown structures for developing instruments for the GMT or other ground-based telescopes. Communicates overall project plans and detailed task expectations to SAO personnel and subcontractors. Oversees submission of periodic progress reports required by sponsors. Monitors project execution using recognized metrics and Earned Value Management. Identifies risks and implements corrective actions. Organizes and conducts regularly recurring project technical status meetings. Leads major technical and management reviews (milestone and instrument Preliminary and Final Design Reviews). Conducts progress meetings with industry subcontractors as needed. Develops and presents technical and programmatic briefings for proposals, working group meetings, status reviews, and formal program reviews. Serves on mission panels and technical working groups as appropriate. Provides technical and management expertise to SAO proposals for ground-based astronomy instruments for submission to GMTO, government agencies, and private foundations. Includes identifying funding opportunities, enabling resources for proposal preparation, developing project execution plans, cost estimates, and schedules, and coordinating contributions of team members. Leads development of re-plans, including adjustments to scope, budgets, and schedules in response to funding changes. As a Smithsonian Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), serves as SAO/project representative in subcontract management. Ensures subcontractor performance, timely Invoices, and expeditious payments. Brings business management acumen to GMT projects. Analyzes schedule and cost information to generate project performance metrics. Collaborates with the PMO and other teams to develop SAO-wide program improvements, participates in reviews, and supports process improvements across the Observatory. Supports philanthropic outreach as requested. Performs other duties as assigned. Qualification Requirements Additional Requirements: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 14 level in similar positions. Specialized experience includes knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work of the position. Specialized experience may include: Managing or coordinating complex technical or scientific projects involving instrumentation, engineering systems, or research infrastructure. Applying formal project management practices to plan and execute technical programs, including scheduling, cost monitoring, resource management, and performance tracking. Developing project budgets, estimating costs to complete, monitoring expenditures, and supporting proposal preparation for externally funded technical projects. Assessing technical and programmatic risks and implementing mitigation strategies. Coordinating multidisciplinary teams including engineers, scientists, technicians, contractors, and institutional partners. Managing relationships with industry partners or contractors responsible for design, fabrication, testing, or delivery of technical systems. Supporting formal technical or programmatic reviews conducted by government sponsors, funding agencies, or external oversight bodies. Interpreting sponsor requirements and translating them into actionable project plans and deliverables. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required Mastery of technical program management, including developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources; monitoring costs and contractor performance. Knowledge of cost control methodologies including Earned Value Management. Ability to assess technical and programmatic risks and develop mitigation strategies for complex development projects per government sponsor methodologies. Advanced education and/or professional experience in a scientific or technical discipline sufficient to direct the development of scientific instrumentation and understand stakeholder objectives. Mastery of executive leadership skills. Ability to determine project resource needs, plan and organize diverse project teams, set priorities, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to achieve project goals. Ability to develop, justify, and control budgets for complex high-value instrument development projects; estimate to complete and support proposal development. Extensive knowledge of contracts, procurement strategies, and contract negotiation/administration. Experience managing industry partners in hardware development. Exceptional communication skills to convey complex project concepts to diverse audiences including scientists, engineers, and sponsor review panels. Ability to resolve disagreements and build consensus on issues with differing viewpoints. Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to U.S. higher education; provide documentation with the application package. Any false statement may result in rejection or termination after employment begins. #J-18808-Ljbffr Smithsonian Institution