President

The Board of Directors of the GMTO Corporation (GMTO) invites nominations and applications for the position of President. The President will lead GMTO in its international effort to fund, design, construct, and operate the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT).

Upon completion, GMT will be among the largest optical telescopes in the world and the first US-led telescope in a new class of “Extremely Large Telescopes” poised to usher in a new era of discovery. GMT is designed to provide unprecedented clarity and sensitivity for the observation of astronomical phenomena. With unmatched image quality, seven of the world’s largest mirrors will launch a view into the Universe to explore the origins of planetary systems, biomarkers in the atmospheres of exoplanets, the formation of the first stars and galaxies, and the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.

First light and commissioning for the telescope is expected in the early 2030s. Once in operation, GMT will be an “anchor” for astronomy for 50 years or longer.

We invite you to join our team and leave your mark on astronomy’s future and beyond.

The Universe Awaits™

The GMTO Corporation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization created by an international consortium of leading academic and research institutions with the mission of funding, engineering, constructing and operating the Giant Magellan Telescope — one of the world’s largest optical telescopes.

The initial partnership for GMT was established in 2004, starting with the Carnegie Institution for Science, the University of Arizona, Harvard University, and the Smithsonian Institution to build on the technological leaps in adaptive optics and mirror segment technology of the telescopes of the 1990s. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, the University of Chicago, Arizona State University, and Northwestern University joined in the following years. Several international partners including the Australian National University, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), Astronomy Australia Limited, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Weizmann Institute of Science, and Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) have also joined the project. GMTO continues to seek national and international partner organizations to join in this historic endeavor.

GMTO’s main business office is located in Pasadena, California, approximately 16 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. Pasadena is a national innovation hub known for world-class research institutions such as the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS). Pasadena is home to 32 Nobel Laureates, amongst the highest concentrations in the world. GMTO also maintains a Chilean business office based in Santiago and an engineering office in La Serena, Chile.

The President is responsible for setting the vision, ensuring effective leadership and management, working with GMTO’s team and staff, and representing GMT to the community, state, region, nation, and world. The President exercises overall leadership for GMTO’s resource development and fundraising initiatives and is responsible for ensuring the fiscal well-being of the organization.

GMTO seeks a dynamic and strategic thinker who possesses excellent judgment and diplomatic skill, personal and professional integrity, and a reputation for working collegially and collaboratively with internal and external constituencies. The President will act as a catalyst for creativity, innovation, and progress within GMTO and beyond. Reporting to GMTO’s Board of Directors, the President will lead the effort to fund, engineer, construct, and operate GMT.

The President is the CEO of GMTO, with leadership responsibilities on behalf of the corporation and its Board of Directors.

To view the full position profile, please visit https://www.spaexec.com/pd/GMTOPresident.pdf

Candidates from all disciplines are encouraged to apply for the opportunity. A background in astronomy, physics, or astrophysics is not required; however, the best candidates will possess the natural ability to lead a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and managers and a clearly discernible passion for science.

Key Requirements

• A proven history of executive level administrative experience and a record of sound fiscal, organizational and management practices.
• Demonstrated experience developing and growing new revenue streams, including such areas as private philanthropy, extramural grants from federal agencies like the National Science Foundation, governmental and private sector contracts, and securing foundation support.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability and a commitment to listening and problem solving.
• Experience developing enthusiasm and an esprit-de-corps among staff coupled with the ability to create a culture that is proactive, transparent, and collaborative.
• The ability to delegate responsibility to senior colleagues, allowing them to identify the ways and means to accomplish specific operational goals and objectives.
• Experience developing and executing a powerful, yet realistic vision for a complex organization and success in implementing a strategic plan to achieve that vision.

• The ability to serve as GMTO’s principal spokesperson with well-developed diplomatic and political skills.
• A demonstrated ability to translate relationships with partners and new supporters into effective fundraising efforts on behalf of GMTO.
• An earned doctorate or other terminal degree.

GMTO will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae and a letter of interest describing relevant experience and interest in the position to the email address below. Nomination letters should include the name, position, address and telephone number of the nominee. All nominations and applications will be handled in confidence.

Applications and letters of nomination should be submitted to:

• Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner
  Will Gates, Partner
• Email: apsearch@spaexec.com
• Refer to code “GMTO-President” in the subject line

SP&A Executive Search
6512 Painter Avenue
Whittier, CA 90601

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance

The GMTO Corporation is an equal employment opportunity employer and will consider all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.