Project Manager Africa Millimetre Telescope

Be part of the team bringing the Africa Millimetre Telescope to life and advancing groundbreaking black hole research.

In 2019, the first ever picture of a black hole was published by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, and in 2022 the first picture of the black hole in the centre of our Milky Way. Our current ERC-funded project 'BlackHolistic, making colour movies of black holes' focuses on better understanding the inner working of supermassive black holes and stellar mass black holes. To this end, the Event Horizon Telescope network will be expanded with a new mm-wave radio telescope in Africa, more specifically, in Namibia: the Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT).

As Project Manager, you will support the construction and commissioning of the Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT), a major international radio astronomy facility. The telescope in Namibia is being realised in close collaboration with the University of Namibia, the University of South Africa and many other international partners.

Based in the Netherlands, you will play a central role in coordinating technical, logistical and organisational processes required for the successful completion of the telescope in Namibia. You will work closely with the project director and technical teams, and you will ensure that all project activities are planned, executed and monitored effectively, with a particular focus on supplier coordination, system integration processes and overall project control.

You will report to the project director of the AMT and collaborate closely with the Radboud Radio Lab team and international partners. The role is central to ensuring that the technical, logistical and organisational elements of the project come together effectively to enable successful construction and commissioning of the telescope.

What has stayed with me from the very beginning is how helpful colleagues are. That open atmosphere makes working here a pleasure.

Charissa van Mourik, Project Manager, Savings Programme for University Operations

Does this sound like you?

• You have a Master’s degree in engineering, physics, project management, or a related technical field.
• You have proven experience in project management within complex technical or engineering projects.
• You have strong organisational and coordination skills, with attention to detail.
• You have experience working with suppliers, contractors and procurement processes.
• You have excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken).
• You are able to work in an international and interdisciplinary environment.

Desirable:

• You have experience with large-scale scientific infrastructure projects (e.g. astronomy, space, physics).
• You are familiar with systems engineering and integration processes.
• You have experience with project management tools and methodologies (e.g. PRINCE2, Agile or equivalent).

What we offer you

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 3 year(s).
• Your salary within salary scale 11 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Where you will be working

The AMT project is embedded in the Radboud Radio Lab (RRL). RRL is a dedicated lab of the department of Astrophysics at Radboud University whose main aim is to develop instrumentation for astronomical research. Other projects for which RRL offers expertise are ground-based projects such as BlackGem and the Pierre Auger Observatory, and space-based projects such as NCLE, SolarOrbiter and ESA's Terae Novae moon programme.

The AMT team is a diverse team in terms of skills, experience, background, abilities and gender.

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. In doing so, we push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and pass that knowledge on to the next generation.

We seek solutions to major societal challenges, such as cybercrime and climate change and work on major scientific challenges, such as those in the quantum world. At the same time, we prepare our students for careers both within and outside the scientific field.

Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all.

Radboud University

At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers.