Manager of the project and systems engineering group

Are you a strong people leader with a passion guiding and enriching project management, system engineering and agile leadership skills, people and processes in a high-tech organisation? Would you like to contribute to state of the art research and development for radio astronomy instrumentation? Then you are our new

Group manager

of the project management and systems engineering group

Within the Research & Development (R&D) department, we realise all the technological innovation within ASTRON: from research into new concepts for radio telescope receivers to the delivery of software systems to support telescope operations. This we do through a mix of project teams and more permanent agile teams. The latter deliver the necessary software components to our systems. Currently, we have a separate group, named COMPAS, with our professional project managers and system engineers. We aim to expand that group with program and agile leadership positions. Our aim is to use the combination of these disciplines for raising the organisations maturity level in handling complex projects. The projects need to be acquired in competition via European, national and/or regional calls for innovation proposals or personal science grants.

What You'll Do

You will lead and develop COMPAS, a growing group of project managers, systems engineers and agile leaders that sit at the process heart of the R&D department. Your mission is to raise the organisation’s maturity in handling complex innovation: embedding better ways of working, connecting disciplines, and making sure ambitious projects are delivered well.

In this role, you will:

• Lead, coach and grow a multidisciplinary group of around 12 professionals
• Shape and continuously improve the project and agile landscape across ASTRON
• Translate organisational strategy into a clear direction for the group, including instrument and technology roadmaps
• Build and maintain strong connections with science, engineering and operational teams, you make things happen by bringing people together
• Manage the operational aspects of the group: finances, resource planning and people development
• Actively participate in the R&D management team, contributing to strategy and acquisition of projects where you will closely collaborate on department strategy, acquisition of projects and personnel related activities.
• Act as a visible catalyst for cultural change — the COMPAS group has a responsibility in leading by example and implementing culture and cultural change.

Your impact

COMPAS is not a support function, it's a strategic lever. The way projects are led, the way agile principles are applied, the way complexity is managed: that all flows through your group. You are the connective tissue between ambition and execution, between teams, and between the organisation’s present and its future. You will have the opportunity to shape and improve the organisation’s project- and agile landscape with your team.

Why Astron?

Why should you choose ASTRON? Everybody here works on the forefront of innovation. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is technologically possible to make discoveries in radio astronomy happen. Further, we care deeply about the wider impact of our work: we aim to innovate in a way that benefits society as a whole. This includes a commitment to reduce the environmental footprint of our work, leading to a real focus on circular and green computing.

We believe that diversity is key to our success. We are dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive workspace for everybody, and we are especially interested in applications from women and other traditionally under-represented groups. We are building an institute where you can work alongside international experts from a variety of fields in a culture of mutual respect and support. We want to see all of our staff, whatever their background or characteristics, thrive and grow in an inspirational environment.

What you bring:

• You have experience in a leadership/management position of a project organisation (high-tech or scientific development environment is preferred).
• You can develop a vision of where the group should be heading, translate that into an executable strategy and take ownership of the activities leading there.
• You have solid, hands-on experience in project management and agile leadership. You know the methods, keep up with the field and actively transfer that knowledge to your team.
• Stakeholder management comes naturally to you, you build connections across levels and disciplines, make yourself visible, ask the right questions and bring people together around a shared direction.
• You foster an inclusive group culture and can mentor individual group members with your experience and trust.
• You recognize organisational/operational needs and enjoy optimizing processes that satisfy those needs.
• You have excellent communication skills in English, both writing and orally.

What do we offer:

• An inclusive, innovative, and pleasant working environment with an international and inspiring work culture.
• A genuinely complex and varied portfolio. Hardware, software, fundamental research, applied development.
• A role at the heart of world-class science, every project you lead or enable contributes to discoveries in radio astronomy that matter globally.
• Opportunities and encouragement to accelerate and develop yourself and your career.
• Employment conditions tailored to your needs (part-time appointment, parental leave, working from home, etc.).
• A temporary appointment of 2 years in the service of the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I). Depending on financial resources and your performance, the contract may be extended.
• A gross monthly salary in the range of €6.803 to €8.285 (full-time salary), based on relevant experience, an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.33% year-end bonus.
• 42 vacation days per year on a full-time basis.

LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR APPLICATION

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, then we would very much like to meet you! Please visit our website www.jobsatastron.nl to apply. For more information, please contact Roelien Attema, Director of R&D, [email protected] or Iris Bom ([email protected]) for questions about HR (visa etc.).

REACTIONS

You can apply for this job by sending your letter and curriculum vitae to ASTRON through www.jobsatastron.nl. The first closing date is 21st of May. The application process consists of two interviews, which take place over the course of half a day. Following this phase, another half day is set aside for introductory meetings, after which a decision will be made. Candidates will be considered until the position has been filled.

We are seeking responses from individual candidates, not employment agencies.