Program/project Associate

The Program/ Project Associate is an early career position with responsibilities to support their assigned NOIRLab Program(s) and/or Project(s). NOIRLab is a matrixed organization, and the Program/ Project Associate supports the coordination of programs and/or projects on behalf of one or more Program Directorates and/or Services as determined by NORILab priorities and availability of funding.

This position will be primarily focused in supporting more senior staff in the coordination & management of NOIRLab cross-cutting projects:

- Central Operations Services (COS) facilities, infrastructure and/or construction related projects
- Carry-forward funded projects
- Sustainability projects
- Dark Skies Protection and Satellite Constellation mitigation related projects
- This position may also be reassigned to support various other projects or programs

The Program/ Project Associate will also be expected to provide contributions to the NOIRLab Center of Excellence (CoE). CoE is an area of the NOIRLab PMO which specializes in providing project management services as well as project management standards, methods, processes, tools, knowledge management, assurance and training throughout NOIRLab. This position will administratively report to the Head of PMO and will be a member of a wider community of NOIRLab Project Managers.

The position will work onsite at the NOIRLab offices in Tucson, AZ or La Serena, Chile and is eligible for a hybrid workplace arrangement.

**Essential Functions**:
Project Management
- Support Project Manager(s)s in managing projects from planning to closing.
- Assist in ensuring that all projects are delivered on-time, within scope and within budget.
- Assist in the definition of project scope and objectives, involving all relevant stakeholders and ensuring technical feasibility.
- Collect information needed to coordinate and ensure labor resource availability and allocation.
- Assist in developing a detailed project plan to monitor and track progress.
- Assist in registering changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs using appropriate verification techniques, to report and escalate to management as needed.
- Assist in measuring project performance using appropriate tools and techniques.
- Assist in registering and monitoring risk on a regular basis to minimize potential impacts using the in-house tool available.
- Support the maintenance of comprehensive project documentation and regular progress reporting following the NOIRLab standards.
- Assist in providing project status reporting following NOIRLab portfolio management procedures.

Program Management
- Support the Program Manager(s) in assuring one or more project outcomes and benefits are aligned with overall program goals and strategy.
- Assist in providing program status reporting following NOIRLab portfolio management procedures
- Assist in ensuring the quality of information provided to the monthly and quarterly milestone reporting processes, and project Dashboard/ Balanced Scorecard reporting processes.
- Support the Program Manager in the management of Program level benefits and threats
- Assist in registering and monitoring risks on a regular basis to minimize program risks using the in-house tool available.
- Assist in maintaining comprehensive program documentation and regular progress reporting following the NOIRLab standards.
- Support the tracking projects performance, specifically to analyze the successful completion of short and long-term goals.
- Assist in monitoring budgets
- Partner closely with other PMO staff, Leaders and managers across NOIRLab and AURA Corporate/Central Administration Services (CAS) on high priority projects and PMO activities.

**Other Functions**:

- All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else. This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.
- Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position as defined in the Vela Award Management system.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities**:

- Bachelors in a relevant discipline or equivalent qualification
- 2 to 4 years of relevant work experience (e.g., project management, Portfolio/Project Management Office, Control Account Manager, Program/Project Controller, Project Coordinator)
- Good understanding of program/project management and its various processes involved (planning, scheduling, resourcing, procurement, asset management, risks, budgeting, reporting, benefits, etc.).
- Ability to cope under pressure and balancing multiple priorities
- Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills
- Diligent and attentive to details
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to influe