Overview:
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a $430 million dollar observatory project dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology. For the next three decades NEON will collect a comprehensive range of ecological data on a continental scale across 20 eco-climatic domains representing US ecosystems. NEON will use cutting edge technology including an airborne observation platform that will capture images of regional landscapes and vegetation; mobile, re-locatable, and fixed data collection sites with automated ground sensors to monitor soil and atmosphere; and trained field crews who will observe and sample populations of diverse organisms and collect soil and water data. A leading edge cyber-infrastructure will calibrate, store and publish this information. The Observatory will grow to 300+ personnel and will be the first of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales.
Summary:
This position is responsible for leading a high performance team providing IT design, implementation and management of an administrative computing infrastructure, and support of a large-scale dynamic scientific computing infrastructure under construction for the National Ecological Observatory Network.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Oversees helpdesk function and assures responsive assistance for a variety of technology needs for diverse users for different platforms.
• Manages a Network group that performs high-level architecture activities, and network deployment for the organization and remote Domains.
• Manages and plans for the Systems Administration function, ensuring that installation, support, server maintenance and service outage response so that end users have reliable service.
• Manages and coordinates projects across IT department, tracking resources, schedules and dependencies; and taking into consideration deliverables with concurrent or competing timelines.
• Anticipates and plans for future IT needs, both long- and short-term, and remains current in changing technology trends. Oversees and manages technological life-cycle plans. Recommends and implements technical solutions.
• Manages a complex, multi-platform environment in a growing organization.
• Conducts risk and cost-benefit analyses for proposed computing and storage solutions, and coordinates with senior management, CyberInfrastructure, and scientific staff to determine prioritization.
• Participates in and collaborates with planning and policy-making committees.
• Develops, reviews, and certifies IT back-up, and disaster recovery procedures and plans.
• Manages IT budget, ensuring that organization needs are met within budget guidelines.
• Coordinates with Procurement to negotiate purchases of hardware and software.
• Communicates with diverse audiences including senior non-technical management, technical staff, scientists, vendors and contractors, and non-technical end users.
• Oversees the planning and management of the company's network, telephone, and communication services; and manages company-wide upgrade efforts.
• Performs personnel related activities (e.g., selection, performance management, mentoring, scheduling) for technical staff to create a team with a variety of skill levels for optimal performance in dynamic environment.
• Maintains current knowledge of information security and implements into operational processes.
• Provides client and mobile device support (e.g., notebook, workstation, mobile device) including wireless facility services, and develops cost effective strategies for mobile computing including smartphones, PDA’s and laptops.
• Participates as a member of the leadership team, building and creating effective and productive relationships with members of other departments.
• Travels to assigned domain sites up to 20% of work time.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and develop plans to address gaps.
• Follows NEON and site specific environmental protection requirements, policy and procedures.
Required Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills:
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred. Degree in computer science or engineering preferred. Equivalent education and related experience may be considered.
• Ten (10) or more years of successful management experience with a growing organization, managing technical environments that include UNIX/Linux, Windows and Mac systems and supporting a 400+ user environment.
• Five (5) or more years’ direct supervisory experience of 5 or more professional IT employees.
• Knowledge of, and experience with, the economics of high-performance computing, storage and networking.
• Broad and current knowledge and experience in providing a tight integration of computing systems, software, storage, and networking technologies in support of a scientific research agenda.
• Experience in the following areas:
o TCP/IP networking, enterprise networking platforms such as Cisco.
o Enterprise operations system platforms including Windows, UNIX/Linux, OS virtualization.
o Large scale storage architecture and storage networking.
o Client operating systems (Windows, MacOS).
o Enterprise, finance, administrative, and project management systems (for example, Microsoft Dynamics, COBRA, Oracle)
o High End Video Conferencing and Video Streaming Technologies
• Very effective problem solving skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to multitask.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Very effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Very effective interpersonal skills with the ability to work with various levels of end-users including scientists, administrators, remote operations staff, and vendors.
• Ability to work effectively and professionally with diverse teams.
Preferred Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills:
• Experience deploying and managing teams deploying instrumentation at remote field locations.
• Experience in quality assurance, document control, and configuration management.
• Experience with mechanical, electrical, software, IT, requirement documentation.
• Experience working with electrical, mechanical, network, RF communication and power systems.
• Experience with full life cycle product development and good engineering practices.
• Three (3) or more years project management experience.
Must have permanent authorization for US employment.
NEON Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans and Disabled Persons are encouraged to apply.
