General Description of Position:

Share the scientific excitement of NOIRLab’s facilities in Chile in this unique position which is responsible for conducting daytime tours of these facilities.

NSF' NOIRLab is seeking an Education & Engagement Visits Guide. The successful candidate implements local E&E programming that aligns with strategic goals, mission and vision for NOIRLab’s Communications Education and Engagement (CEE) Division using processes and workflows across the Programs established in line with the NOIRLab and CEE Values: scientific authenticity, transparency, collaboration, inclusion, creativity, and efficiency.

Position Description:

A critical element of the NOIRLab Education and Engagement (E&E) activities is a visits program that provides opportunities for the public and students to visit our facilities in Chile. Summit visits are scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays each week (excluding weather cancellations, operational problems and holidays) so the successful candidate will need to be available to conduct these tours with reasonable accommodations for vacations and personal scheduling conflicts. The position requires excellent communications skills, leadership, and safety awareness to assure the safety of public visitors. As a remote location, at almost 9,000 feet elevation, working on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachón requires special precautions and the successful candidate for this position will require special safety and procedural training before conducting visits.

The candidate will conduct weekly daytime public visits to facilities at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) each Saturday, and tours of the Gemini South telescope on Cerro Pachón (eventually also Rubin Observatory) on Fridays, as well as occasional tours of the AURA Recinto in La Serena. Tours involve greeting and checking in visitors at the gated base facility and accompanying them on a bus to the summit facilities (on Cerro Tololo and Pachón), providing educational interpretive presentations and information on the facilities in a safe, informative, and engaging manner. The position will average 20 hours per week (0.5 FTE) and reports to the Chile Outreach Manager in La Serena Chile.

The candidate will support the administrative process of receiving visitors at sites, including answering questions from the community.

It is expected that the Guide will be an active contribution to the improvement of the visitors' experiences, providing suggestions to the Visit Coordinator for continuous improvement.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Guide summit and base public tours (under supervision of the Visits Coordinator) corresponding to approximately 2-3 visits/week as required and ensuring the safety of guests and providing accurate and timely information to visitors at our facilities.
• Handle some administrative duties related to the public visits, including answering questions from the community. and maintaining attendance metrics.
• Continuously improve the visitor experience.
• Other duties as assigned.
• 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, https://cas.aura-astronomy.org/Awards.

Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Experience in delivering astronomy public engagement activities and presentations
• An ability to clearly, accurately, and succinctly present scientific information to a general audience and students.
• Good conversational English and excellent Spanish language skills.
• Valid driver’s license, with clean driving record and ability to drive SUV 4-wheel drive vehicles.

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• A degree in astronomy, physics or related field
• Experience in leading groups at scientific/technical facilities at a remote location.
• Experience in delivering public engagement focused on the natural history/cultural significance of NOIRLab facility sites in Chile.
• Familiarity with the scientific mission of NOIRLab and the facilities on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachón and how they support the advancement of the science of astronomy

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and other office machines.
• Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately
• Ability to work at ~9,000 foot elevation; working during inclement weather occasionally required.

The position will remain open until it is filled. To be considered in the first round of reviews, please submit your application in English by August 4, 2023.

• Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume in English, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: Lastname Docname.
• Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the application may be sent to employment@aura-astronomy.org.
• Please enter 3 professional references in your application (references will only be contacted later in the recruitment process).

Veterans, disabled individuals or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process should request assistance at employment@aura-astronomy.org

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of 49 US institutions and 3 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories for the National Science Foundation and NASA . AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. In addition, AURA is deeply committed to public and educational outreach, and to diversity throughout the astronomical and scientific workforce. AURA carries out its role through its astronomical facilities.

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment. Details on benefits can be found at https://hr.aura-astronomy.org/employee-benefits-guide/

Consistent with the actions of the Biden Administration, as of 12 May 2023, AURA will no longer require COVID-19 vaccination of its employees in the U.S. AURA employees in the U.S. may be subject to COVID-19 vaccination requirements from other entities, such as host institutions or partner affiliations.

As a recipient of U.S. Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and/or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. The statements below as well as the requests for self-identification are required pursuant to these regulations. We encourage your participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements which are included for protection and to assist us in our recordkeeping and reporting. Your responses are kept strictly confidential.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)