NSF NOIRLab Director

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is seeking an accomplished scientific leader and executive to serve as the next Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NSF NOIRLab). In this emerging era of extremely large datasets and time-domain astrophysics, the Director will shepherd and promote NOIRLab as a world-class scientific and technological resource for the astronomy research community. This pivotal role requires a candidate with a proven track record of managing large, complex scientific or technical organizations. The incoming Director will be charged with advancing merit-driven science across an integrated system of data and observing facilities.

The incoming Director will champion NOIRLab’s vision for astronomy in the 2030s: to enable scientific discoveries that would otherwise be impossible. The Director is responsible for building an integrated national astronomy ecosystem by connecting advanced observing capabilities, expanding access to data products and analysis tools, and modernizing operations across geographically dispersed facilities. By optimizing shared infrastructure and expertise across the organization, the successful candidate will position NOIRLab as a central hub for community-driven science—building innovative scientific programs, accelerating the exchange of ideas, and enabling transformative breakthroughs in our understanding of the universe.

NOIRLab is driven by a sophisticated, multidisciplinary workforce of nearly 600 FTEs, spanning scientific, technical, and engineering disciplines, as well as specialized expertise in project management, communications, education and outreach, finance, and business administration. The incoming Director must skillfully lead this dynamic organization, align operational priorities, and foster a cohesive organizational culture across matrixed, geographically distributed teams in Arizona, Hawaii, and Chile.

General Description of Position:

The NOIRLab Director, reporting through the AURA President to the AURA Board of Directors, is responsible for NOIRLab’s strategic, scientific, operational, and managerial leadership. This includes defining NOIRLab’s vision and structure; setting priorities and establishing goals across the organization and its programs; and providing leadership, guidance, oversight, and support to the NOIRLab senior management team and staff across the organization. The NOIRLab Director is responsible for working with partners and stakeholders within the broad national and international research community to ensure existing and future programs are conducted successfully and drive scientific innovation.

The Director will work primarily from a NOIRLab location in Tucson, Arizona; Hilo, Hawaii; or La Serena, Chile, with frequent travel to other locations.

The Director will be selected through an open competition, with a targeted start by October 1, 2027.

About NOIRLab

NSF NOIRLab is the preeminent U.S. national center for ground-based, nighttime optical and infrared astronomy. NOIRLab’s mission is to enable breakthrough discoveries in astrophysics by developing and operating state-of-the-art ground-based observatories and providing data products and services for the astronomical community.

NOIRLab operates the following programs in collaboration with federal, national, and international entities:

• NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
• International Gemini Observatory
• Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
• Kitt Peak National Observatory
• Community Science Data Center

NOIRLab’s open-access facilities and data pipelines enable data-intensive and community-driven research across all scales of astrophysics—from cosmological studies of dark energy and dark matter to galactic evolution, exoplanetary systems, and planetary science within our own Solar System.

As a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), NOIRLab provides the U.S. Government with long-term, independent, and objective scientific, technical, and analytical expertise that cannot be met by other means. As such, close coordination and collaboration with NSF, as the primary funding agency, is an important role the NOIRLab Director must fulfill in collaboration with AURA’s corporate leadership.

About AURA

AURA manages world-class facilities and science to enable the next decade of astronomical discoveries by providing access and opportunities for all astronomers. Our 1700 highly skilled professionals—located across the continental United States, Hawaii, and Chile—build, operate, and support state-of-the-art facilities, data centers, and science platforms. On behalf of U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), we manage NSF NOIRLab and NSF National Solar Observatory (including the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope). On behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), we manage the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is the science operations center for the Hubble and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescopes. and the science and mission operations center for the James Webb Space Telescope.

Essential Functions:

• Innovate, motivate and drive forward the NOIRLab mission, in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and implement NOIRLab strategic plans, initiatives, budgets, and priorities.
• Develop and sustain critical relationships across federal funding agencies, international scientific partnerships, complex labor environments, and regional host communities; seek strategic collaborations and advocate for the NOIRLab mission and strategic plan.
• Oversee complex and distributed operations of national and international multi-user observing facilities and data science platforms.
• Ensure the effectiveness, integration, and alignment of NOIRLab leadership; motivate and build employee trust, competencies, and agility across the organization.
• Facilitate and lead effective change management to ensure NOIRLab delivers against current requirements and future needs.
• Collaborate effectively with AURA’s President, corporate leaders, and the Board to address key efforts, risks, challenges, and opportunities.
• Interact directly with NSF, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other funding organizations to steward substantial federal investments in astronomy research and education.
• Collaborate with the AURA Leadership Team to enhance AURA’s mission and the combined scientific impacts of its federally funded research capabilities.
• Serve as the Principal Investigator (PI/co-PI) by overseeing scientific, technical, and budgetary aspects of NOIRLab’s projects and operations, including working with other AURA staff to prepare NSF and other funding proposals.
• Work with the NOIRLab Deputy Director, members of the NOIRLab senior leadership team, and AURA Corporate to champion the institutional safety, operational excellence, and long-term scientific mission of the Lab.

Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or a closely related scientific or engineering discipline.
• Track record of success in an executive leadership role managing complex, international, and/or geographically distributed astronomy projects or major facilities.
• Extensive experience in strategic planning, multi-agency budgetary planning and oversight, and complex financial management.
• Demonstrated excellence in conflict resolution, critical analysis, and operational problem solving within a matrixed workforce.
• Direct experience leading successful organizational change management and/or institutional restructuring.
• Proven ability to balance and prioritize competing requirements from multiple stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal, diplomatic, and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to build, lead, and unify diverse, high-performing teams.

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Experience overseeing programs utilizing large-scale datasets, data management systems, or time-domain astrophysics workflows.
• Experience managing the lifecycle, development, and/or maintenance of complex hardware and software systems.
• A strong commitment to, and track record of, scientific community engagement, supporting regional host communities, educational outreach, and workforce development.
• Deep knowledge of federal funding agency strategies, policies, and performance metrics.

Salary 

The final salary will depend on skills, qualifications, experience and job location.

Explore the Opportunity

Choosing your next executive leadership role begins with a conversation. If you would like to learn more about this opportunity before applying, discuss your potential fit, or recommend a prospective candidate, please contact:

Amber Chasse

Global Recruiting Manager

achasse@aura-astronomy.org

Amber will serve as your dedicated recruiting contact throughout the search and can coordinate conversations with designated leaders to help you explore the role. An initial exploratory conversation does not require an application.

Apply for the Position

For full consideration, please apply by January 15, 2027. This position will remain open until it is filled. Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. 

Individuals needing assistance with the employment process can request assistance here.