Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all US citizens who meet eligibility requirements. Please see the "Other Information" section for further information.

The Office of Polar Programs is responsible for planning, funding, and implementing scientific research programs in both Polar Regions. Its management activities extend to both Arctic and Antarctic research, meeting its objectives through award of merit-reviewed research grants, interagency and cooperative agreements, contracts for operational and logistical support and international agreements.

The discoveries of disciplinary science increasingly highlight the need for integrative approaches to forge new understanding of the complex interactions that govern Antarctica and its past, present and future roles in the earth system. To respond to this need and foster progress on some of societies’ most pressing issues on a planet subject to potentially accelerated change.

The responsibilities of the NSF Program Director are constantly evolving. The Program Director is guided by the goals of NSF’s Strategic Plan: (1) transform the frontiers of science and engineering; (2) stimulate innovation and address societal needs through research and education; and (3) excel as a Federal Science Agency. The core strategies NSF staff employ include developing intellectual capital, strengthening the physical infrastructure, integrating research and education, and promoting partnerships. Duties include the following:

PROGRAM PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

• Maintain a healthy balance of support for all the needs of the research and education enterprise either through program, division, directorate, Foundation, or interagency activities.
• Manage program resources so as to provide optimal appropriate scientific judgment to insure integrity and consistency in the grant/declination process without conflict-of-interests, and with balance among appropriate sub-fields and institutions, and participation of all qualified scientists. Incorporate cross-directorate responsibilities into program administration.
• Manage an effective, timely merit review process, with attention to increasing the size and quality of the reviewer pools and insuring participation by women, minorities and disabled scientists.
• Provide scientific expertise, evaluation and advice for other programs in NSF, including international programs, other research programs, and cross-directorate programs.
• Work with the research community to develop innovative approaches to encourage and support convergent scientific approaches to understand the Arctic’s social, natural and built systems and their intersections.
• Advise and assist in the development of short- and long-range plans, establishing goals and objectives for research programs. Plan the budget for the programs/programs considering past, present and future fiscal years, allocate resources within that budget distributing scarce resources among major competitive programs, and manage post-award evaluation.
• Control waste, fraud and abuse.

REPRESENTATION, COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP

• Represent the Program, Division and Foundation with the scientific community, with other NSF Divisions, with other appropriate agencies and organizations, and with the public, accurately reflecting NSF policy and positions.
• Create and maintain linkages to other NSF units and other Federal agencies in pursuit of the overall NSF mission.
• Participate in staff, panel, committee and other meetings, providing input relevant to Program area and/or Division.
• Pursue affirmative action and EEO goals.
• Pursue and/or be responsive to assignment on special projects and temporary functional teams from across the Foundation to solve problems, improve staff communication, and effect coordination for special programs.
• Contribute ideas and effort to improving the quality of policies and NSF's performance of the overall mission. Develop policies and plans for strengthening research and education programs. Provide information to the community on how NSF is pursuing its mission and gather data impressions from the community on the effectiveness of NSF's performance of its mission.
• Prepare and disseminate a variety of informational documents which may include data on progress being made toward NSF's goals, trends and opportunities papers, and budget plans.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Establish contacts and maintain active involvement in Program and related areas through participation in professional activities. Maintain familiarity with salient current research developments. Pursue individual research as workload and travel funds permit.
• Expand administrative capabilities through training courses or assumption of new management responsibilities.

Conditions of employment

• Background investigation.
• Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.

It is NSF policy that NSF personnel employed at or IPAs detailed to NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign government talent recruitment programs.  Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment and referral to the Office of Inspector General. Foreign Talent Definitions

You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed into this position.

All online applicants must provide a valid email address.  If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

Please preview "Evaluations" section and "Qualifications" for additional requirements and Quality Ranking Factors.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in an appropriate field plus after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research support and/or research administration experience pertinent to the position that demonstrate a progressively increasing level of responsibility; OR a Master’s degree in an appropriate field plus after award of the Master’s degree, eight or more years of successful research, research support and/or research administration experience pertinent to the position that demonstrate a progressively increasing level of responsibility.

An appropriate field is a science pertinent to the activities of the Arctic Observing Network (biology, geology, geophysics, oceanography, physical science, etc.) experience as evidenced by lead-authorship in peer-reviewed publications and/or demonstrated leadership role in science projects.

This position is outside the competitive civil service.

You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, expertise, education, and research activities relevant to the duties of the position. We strongly encourage you to specifically address the Quality Ranking Factors below. This will ensure that you receive full consideration in the evaluation process.

Quality Ranking Factors

1. Knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and theories applicable to activities within the purview of the Arctic Program.
2. Research, analytical and technical writing skills which evidence the ability to perform extensive inquiry into a wide variety of significant issues and make recommendations and decisions based on findings.
3. Professional bearing, interpersonal communications skills and ability to present and convincingly defend program policies and plans to peers, the science community, managers of related organizations and senior managers in NSF.
4. Ability to engage the research community to develop creative solutions to support system and convergent scientific approaches.
5. Ability to work well with peers, members of the scientific community, science managers from other organizations, and related stakeholders (including international partners) to effectively develop program policies, plans and goals.