CSIRO seeks deputy chief for SKA project (updated)

The CSIRO has advertised for the position of deputy chief for its astronomy and space science division; a role that will include the responsibility of overseeing the Australian SKA pathfinder project.

Australia’s bid for the $13 billion SKA project has seen the rollout of 426km of fibre between Perth and Geraldton in Western Australia, and a large volume of government funding aimed at securing the agreement.

Chief of the astronomy and space science division, Phil Diamond, told CIO the role ticks a number of boxes.

“It’s a mixture of both a strategic and operational role. There’s definitely a strategic element to it as someone will be assisting me, but it will also be about bringing someone to the team who can hopefully help bring the SKA to Australia,” Diamond said.

“We’re also trying to position the organisation effectively by having state of the art equipment and facilities.”

The advertisement said the role will require someone with “excellent organisational skills and the ability to think strategically” who has had “a minimum of five years leadership experience in a research or technology based organisation”.

Diamond said the role is the only managerial one currently up for offer in the division.

“We continually have people coming and going, but nobody else is coming in at a senior level right now,” he said.

Diamond said the election-induced freeze on the NBN won’t affect the project’s development.