SKA Mid – Head of Engineering Operations

Job level: Management
Work location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: 31 July 2022

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Telescope is an international effort by more than a dozen countries to build the world’s largest, most advanced radio telescopes in South Africa and Australia. Both South Africa and Australia are co-host members of the SKA Observatory (SKAO), a UK-based intergovernmental organisation responsible for the construction and operation of the SKA telescopes.

The first phase of the SKA will consist of two telescopes:
South Africa will host the mid-frequency telescope (SKA-Mid). SKA-Mid will comprise up to 197 dishes spread along spiral arms spanning 150 km in the Karoo, Northern Cape. The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), a facility of the National Research Foundation, is responsible for managing all radio astronomy initiatives and facilities in South Africa, including the MeerKAT Radio
Telescope, a precursor to the SKA telescope.

Australia will host the SKA’s low-frequency telescope (SKA-Low). SKA-Low will comprise up to 131,072 antennas in clusters along spiral arms spanning 65 km at CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) in WA.

The Head of Engineering Operations will be responsible for managing and directing the work of the engineering operations and maintenance teams to deliver the engineering objectives of the telescope as well as leading engineering upgrades and development through the lifetime of the telescope. You will report to the SKA Mid – Deputy Telescope Director.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide the vision and leadership for a group of 40-50 staff who will be responsible for the engineering needs of SKAO in South Africa, as well as the operational support and local development of the SKA-Mid telescope, building an inclusive and high performing culture.
• Lead engineering upgrades and development through the lifetime of the SKA-Mid telescope
• Work with SARAO and SKAO to hire a diverse and talented team of staff to support the engineering operations needs of the SKAO in South Africa.
• Work as one of the senior staff of the SKAO in South Africa as a core member of the SKA-Mid Management Team.
• Own the SKA-Mid telescope Standard Operating Procedures for engineering and maintenance activities to plan and implement engineering operations end-to-end, providing updates and reports as necessary.
• Work as a senior member of the Operations group to represent engineering performance issues, to promote and encourage best engineering practices.
• Work closely with the SKAO Engineering Managers in all aspects of engineering operations and performance across the Observatory to deliver common approaches that maximise efficiency and performance.
• Support the roadmap development for the tools, processes and techniques that will be required for the oversight and management of engineering performance of the Observatory.
• Provide updates and reports as necessary on the status of SKA-Mid Engineering Operations in South Africa.
• Travel, as required, to national and international meetings to represent the SKAO and the engineering Operations of SKA-Mid in South Africa in particular.
• Communicate openly, effectively, and respectfully with all staff, clients, and suppliers in the interests of good business practice, collaboration, and enhancement of SKAO and SARAO’s reputation.
• Adhere to the spirit and practice of both SKAO and SARAO􀂷s Values as well as the Code of Conduct, Health, Safety and Environment procedures and policy, Diversity initiatives and Zero Harm goals.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as directed.

Key requirements:
Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline (preferably HPC or Electronics)
• Pr. Eng registration or membership to SAIEE or IEEE or ECSA

Experience:

• A total of 15 years’ experience of which:
  • 10+ years’ relevant professional experience in engineering leadership of a high-technology or scientific facility including maintenance management; and
  • a further 5 years’ leading engineering operational teams; and
• Demonstrable record of successfully delivering long-term monitoring of engineering performance, tracking of metrics, and of driving performance improvements to manage an efficient engineering and maintenance operation.
• A demonstrated record of successful leadership and management of teams, promoting diversity and developing an inclusive, highperforming culture. Experience of all aspects of people management including recruitment, capability development and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and confidently at all levels, presenting complex engineering issues and concepts in a style appropriate to the audience, and the ability to represent SKAO externally.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence, build trust, shape conversations, and change behaviours through effective relationship-building.
• Managing remote work
• A demonstrated record of establishing and running of service level agreements preferably in the NEC4 suite of contracts.

Knowledge:

• Teamwork and Collaboration: Creates and fosters an environment in which there is a high level of cooperation within and between teams. Facilitates positive team relationships to build interactions across Business Units and the organisation.
• Influence and Communication: Uses complex influencing strategies, for example, assembling strategic coalitions, building behind the scenes support and the tactical use of information to gain support.
• Resource Management/Leadership: Provides leadership that fosters an environment that encourages new ideas and provides support for the development of emerging skills. Creates trust by displaying consistency, understanding, integrity and patience. Plans, seeks, allocates and monitors resources to achieve outcomes.
• Judgement and Problem Solving: Resolves major conceptual scientific, technical, commercial or management problems, which have a significant impact upon the field of research, professional function, the Business Unit or the Organisation. Situations faced have little or no precedent and require original concepts and approaches.
• Independence: Commits significant resources in the face of uncertainty and takes calculated risks to improve performance and achieve challenging goals. Uses personal energy to drive change strategies. Formulates and implements contingency plans to minimise the impact of potential risks. Accepts personal responsibility for the outcomes of decisions/risks taken.
• Adaptability: Is flexible in response to external change or when faced with external constraints. Identifies and promotes the opportunities arising as a result of change.

Additional notes:

Organisational Values
The SKA-Mid Head of Engineering Operations will be expected to demonstrate the SARAO and SKAO’s values, and to work actively to instill those behaviours in all SKA-Mid staff in South Africa.

SKAO’s values are:

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Excellence
• Collaboration
• Creativity and Innovation
• Sustainability

SARAO’s values are:

• Passion for Excellence
• World-class service
• People-centered
• Respect
• Integrity and Ethics
• Accountability

Both SARAO and SKAO value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance.

Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you,
please raise this during your interview, as we are open to discussing flexible working opportunities during the hiring process.

Information:

The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Applications:

Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging to https://ess.nrf.ac.za/Account/Recruitment and apply online. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant’s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.

The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only.