The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) is excited to announce a call for two job openings: Deputy Director and International Outreach Officer. Both positions are full-time and will be based at the OAO, which is located at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), Mitaka Campus, Tokyo, Japan. Remote working will not be considered for either position.

A joint venture of the IAU and NAOJ, the OAO is a hub for coordinating astronomy-related public outreach activities around the world. The Office’s mission is to make it easier for the public to access information about our Universe and local and global astronomy events while building networks to support and disseminate information to amateur astronomy and public outreach communities, primarily through its network of National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs).

Details of the two vacancies at the OAO are as follows:

International Outreach Officer

The International Outreach Officer is vital to the OAO team, providing expert programme management skills to support OAO and NAOJ projects and programmes. This role requires excellent time management and communication skills, both written and verbal. The International Outreach Officer should hold an honours degree or equivalent in astronomy or a closely related field and should have experience working on international projects. Please review the International Outreach Officer job description before applying.

Deputy Director

The Deputy Director is key to linking the OAO with the public and IAU community of astronomers through regular interactions with the IAU membership, the other IAU Offices and Centres, and the general public worldwide. This role requires a skilled multi-modal communicator with excellent time management and communication skills. The Deputy Director should hold a PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or a closely related field and should be comfortable working in diverse outreach or educational communities. Please review the Deputy Director job description before applying.

Each position above will be appointed according to the normal conditions of service of NAOJ employees. The International Outreach Officer and Deputy Director are contract positions for three years, with the possibility of renewal for an additional two years, subject to performance. The annual salary will be between 4.5 and 5.2 million Japanese Yen, depending on the appointee's experience and educational background.

Interested candidates should send the following documents by email to the OAO Director, Kelly Blumenthal (blumenthal.kelly@oao.iau.org), by the deadline of 17 May 2024 (23:59 UTC):

• Cover Letter
• Selected CV, maximum four (4) pages long
• The contact details of at least three (3) referees

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Links

• Deputy Director job description
• International Outreach Officer job description

Contacts

Kelly Blumenthal
IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Director
Tel: +81-(0)422-34-3966
Email: blumenthal.kelly@oao.iau.org 

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Director of Communications
Cell: +1 520 461 0433/+49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars.christensen@noirlab.edu