[ASA] Job Opportunity: Director, Australian Astronomical Optics - Macquarie

[Daniel Zucker]

Dear Colleagues,

Please bring the following job opportunity to the attention of suitable 
candidates:*

Director AAO-Macquarie and Professor

*

Macquarie is a university engaged with the real and often complex 
problems and opportunities that define our lives.

Since our foundation 54 years ago, we have aspired to be a different 
type of university: one unbound by ivory towers and sandstone walls. 
Rather, we are focused on fostering collaboration between students, 
academics, industry and society, encouraging all to traverse the 
boundaries of their own perspective and affect change.

Over the years, we’ve grown to become the centre of a vibrant local and 
global community. A place of constant stimulus and human interaction.

Together, we advance world-class theoretical thinking and translate it 
into real-world solutions. We’re connecting people across the most 
diverse fields of knowledge to create bold new possibilities: for their 
careers, intellectual endeavors, enterprises and the common good.

At Macquarie, people become skilled at switching between specialist and 
generalist mindsets; mastering complexity, thinking holistically and 
helping to create a better future.

Connect with us today.

*AAO-Macquarie *

On 1 July 2018, Macquarie became the new home for the instrumentation 
group of the former Australian Astronomical Observatory. Over decades, 
this Sydney-based group has established an enviable international 
reputation for its precision engineering capability and expertise within 
astronomy instrumentation across optical, mechanical, electronic and 
software domains.

AAO-Macquarie comes to the University with a new vision and an exciting 
agenda for transformation in both scale and efficiency.  As part of its 
expansive new vision, AAO-Macquarie’s team of experts will build on the 
University’s existing strengths in astronomy, photonics, laser 
technology, microfabrication, applied optics, sensing, and 
communications. We seek to increase industry engagement, identify 
opportunities to apply AAO-Macquarie’s expertise to medicine and 
defence, and expand its presence in the fields of optics and sensing, in 
addition to growing the ongoing mission of world-leading excellence in 
astronomical instrumentation.

Macquarie is also excited to take a significant role in leading and 
growing Australia’s global position in astronomical instrumentation, 
partnering with the Australian National University, the University of 
Sydney and Astronomy Australia Limited to establish a new national 
capability for astronomical instrumentation under the banner /Australian 
Astronomical Optics/ (AAO). This collaboration will combine unique 
capabilities in wide-field and adaptive optics, precision mechanical and 
optical engineering, design and testing, and software to build 
cutting-edge instruments for the leading 8m and next generation 30m 
telescopes.

The AAO-Macquarie group has a long-standing commitment to advancing 
equity and diversity principles, one shared deeply with Macquarie 
University. We hold silver status in the Pleiades awards, Australia’s 
scheme for certifying commitment and progress in equity, diversity and 
inclusion in astronomy and physics, and are committed to continual 
improvement in these principles.

*The Role *

In this newly created role, which carries the status of Head of 
Department, the Director of AAO-Macquarie will take the central role in 
creating and sustaining a holistic vision for the group, leading the 
development of strategy and setting the directions for discovery, 
industry engagement and future directions for business development.

We are looking for an outstanding individual with experience in growing, 
developing and leading high performance teams, to build on the 
considerable skills and knowledge of the technical experts and academics 
within AAO-Macquarie. The Director will work to nurture, embed and 
uphold a culture of excellence and outstanding service in 
AAO-Macquarie’s exciting mission to produce highly specialised and 
innovative technological systems. The Director will also drive 
strategies to develop a new focus on industry engagement and introduce 
innovative research-focused teaching programs at graduate and 
potentially undergraduate levels.

To be successful in this role, you will have demonstrated proven 
academic leadership in your discipline and be known as an eminent 
authority in your field. You will be a committed enabler of 
multi-disciplinary collaborations, playing an active role in 
collaborating with researchers across the discipline, faculty and wider 
academic community. You will have demonstrated the ability to lead and 
uplift large technical teams.

Your proven track record of developing trust, building commitment, 
modelling core university values and fostering an environment of 
innovation and excellence will enable you to succeed in this role.

*Selection Criteria *

To be considered for this position, you must provide your CV and 
demonstrate the following selection criteria in a supporting document 
(of no more than four pages), providing examples of relevant experience 
and achievements.

·A PhD in a suitable discipline and outstanding contributions to 
scholarship and research in Astronomy, Astronomical Instrumentation or 
Optical Engineering which have resulted in a strong research impact in 
your field and recognition as an eminent authority in your discipline

·Holistic strategic thinking with the demonstrated aptitude to develop 
and set the new direction for AAO-Macquarie in consultation with faculty 
leadership

·Demonstrated capability to build and develop a comprehensive industry 
engagement and business development plan

·Demonstrated track record of building a sustained culture of high 
performance and service excellence in a group or department of 
substantial size

·Proven track record of driving a culture of research within a group or 
department including enabling multi-disciplinary collaborations within a 
department, faculty, university and/or the wider community

·Demonstrated capability to develop an innovative research focused 
teaching program and to attract quality students

·Demonstrated ability to engage in external collaborative partnerships

·Demonstrated ability to attract significant external funding for 
research and/or contract services

·Strong capability to manage financial, human and physical resources to 
deliver successful outcomes

·Demonstrated track record of building trust, nurturing, supporting, 
mentoring and ensuring the professional development of academic and 
professional staff

·A demonstrated commitment to promoting and advancing principles of 
equity, inclusion and diversity in STEMM workplaces

*For further information, please view the Candidate Brochure.*

*Salary Package:*A competitive salary package will be negotiated with 
the successful applicant.

*Appointment Type:*5 year fixed term role as AAO Director with a 
full-time, continuing substantive appointment as Professor

For a*confidential discussion *about this role, please contact Professor 
Michael Steel, Interim AAO Director and Head of Department, Physics and 
Astronomy, via e-mail michael.steel at mq.edu.au 
<mailto:michael.steel at mq.edu.au>

*General Recruitment Enquiries:*Roberta Palfreeman, HR Manager via 
e-mail roberta.palfreeman at mq.edu.au <mailto:roberta.palfreeman at mq.edu.au>

*Applications Close:*Thursday 13 September 2018 at 11.55pm EST

Applications must be made through the online portal at 
http://jobs.mq.edu.au/cw/en/job/504459/director-australian-astronomical-optics-macquarie

/Macquarie University is an EO Employer committed to diversity and 
social inclusion. Applications are encouraged from people with 
disability; women (particularly for senior and non-traditional roles); 
Indigenous Australians, people who identify as GLBTIQ; and those from 
culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds./

/Applications need to be submitted through the Macquarie University 
online recruitment system. Where circumstances such as disability or 
remote location prohibit your access to our online system please contact 
the enquiries person listed in this advertisement for assistance./

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