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

Description

OPENING 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

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
• Complete a Probationary Period if applicable.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
• This position requires access to export-controlled work. The candidate must be a U.S. person (citizen, permanent resident, approved asylee, or refugee) or a national of a country eligible for an export license who is eligible to work in the US.
• The incumbent of this position is required to file a Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interests (SI Form 1085).
  

OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.



SUMMARY
The purpose of the position is 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.

MAJOR DUTIES

Directs the day-to-day management of assigned complex instrumentation projects. Works with Principal Investigators and Project Engineers to ensure that tasks, procurements, and other project actions are progressing as planned. Maintains and tracks action and risk registers. Works with project staff and subcontractors to update and status the project schedule. Serves as the primary technical point of contact in establishing, and during the execution of, major subcontracts. Coordinates with SAO GMTO projects’ Business Manager and other administrative/management staff to ensure GMT projects are effectively supported.

Develop 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 at all levels and to subcontractors and partners. Prepares and oversees submission of periodic progress status reports as required by sponsors. Monitors project execution using recognized metrics and evaluation tools such as Earned Value Management. Identifies risks and implements corrective actions.

Organizes and conducts regularly recurring project technical status meetings. Leads the overall preparation and execution of major technical and management reviews including milestone and instrument Preliminary and Final Design Reviews. Conducts and leads progress meetings with industry subcontractors of major assemblies as needed. Develops and presents technical and programmatic briefings in support of proposals, functional 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 the development of SAO proposals for ground-based astronomy instruments for submission to the GMTO, government agencies, and private foundations. This will include, but is not limited to, working with Principal Investigators (PIs) to identify potential funding opportunities; identifying required resources and obtaining internal support for proposal preparation; developing formal Project Execution Plans, cost estimates, and schedules; writing programmatic sections of proposals; coordinating the contributions of other team members; and overseeing overall proposal preparation and submission. Leads the development of project replans re-plans, including adjustments to scope of work, budgets, and schedules as required to adapt to reductions or delays in project funding.

As a Smithsonian Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), serves as the SAO/project representative in the management of subcontracts. Works with subcontractors and SAO contracts’ management staff to ensure subcontracts are being executed on schedule, contractor performance is acceptable, invoices are being submitted in a timely manner, and subcontractors are paid expeditiously. Brings business management acumen to the GMT projects. Works with project staff and SAO administrative personnel collecting relevant information to evaluate project progress and cost status. Analyzes schedule and cost information to generate project performance metrics.

Works collaboratively with other members of the PMO to develop SAO-wide program improvement and management initiatives and contribute to the improvement of processes and procedures across the Observatory. Participates in reviews and meetings as needed, including design reviews of other Observatory projects. Works with project teams to identify areas where processes, both management and technical, might be improved and make recommendations for their implementation. Supports the Observatory Director and advancement teams in 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 is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position.



Specialized experience may include:

• Managing or coordinating complex technical or scientific projects involving the development of 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 associated with complex development efforts and implementing strategies to mitigate those risks.
• Coordinating the work of 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 or participating in formal technical or programmatic reviews conducted by government sponsors, funding agencies, or external oversight bodies.
• Interpreting sponsor requirements and technical objectives and translating them into actionable project plans and deliverables.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required :

• Mastery of the principles and practices of technical program management, including the methods and tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources; and monitoring and evaluating costs, work, and contractor performance. Professional knowledge and experience in implementing formal cost control methodologies including Earned Value Management. Ability to formally assess technical and programmatic risks and develop mitigation strategies for unique complex development projects according to known methodologies used by government sponsors such as NASA, NSF, DoD, DoE or similar.
• Advanced education and/or comprehensive professional experience in a scientific or technical discipline sufficient to enable the incumbent to provide overall direction to the development of scientific instrumentation that extends state of the art. This includes the ability to understand overall mission objectives and stakeholders’ responsibilities and goals, and to provide advice across the organization on programmatic and management issues. Mastery of executive leadership skills. Superior ability to determine project resource needs, plan and organize the work of diverse project teams that include both internal staff and national and international partners, determine short- and long-term goals and strategies, set priorities, and coordinate with other stakeholders-both internal and external
• -to achieve project goals.
• Ability to develop, justify, and control budgets for complex high value scientific instrument development projects to support ongoing project execution, calculate estimates to complete, and support proposal development.
• Extensive knowledge of multiple types of contracts, procurement strategies, and contract negotiation and administration. Experience managing industry partners with the development of hardware from design through delivery.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to convey complex project concepts both orally and in writing to internal and external stakeholders from scientists and engineering teams to sponsor review panels.
• Ability to resolve disagreements equitably and build consensus on critical issues about which there may be conflicting viewpoints.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.


What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.


The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [email protected]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer . We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information:

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit the SAO website at

About Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is joined by Harvard College Observatory to form the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. The Center is a collaboration between Harvard and Smithsonian designed to ask — and ultimately answer — humanity’s greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe. Founded in 1973, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is an ongoing collaboration designed to foster innovation and propel discovery. Our mission is to advance knowledge of the Universe through research in astronomy and astrophysics and in related areas of fundamental physics and geophysics.


At the CfA, scientists in a broad range of disciplines study the universe at every scale, from every wavelength, and using telescopes and instruments that span and orbit the globe, all with a single purpose: making groundbreaking discoveries that advance human knowledge.