Clarification from the agency

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

The Section Head for Evaluation and Assessment Capability has leadership responsibility for the Evaluation and Assessment Capability (EAC) unit, located in the Office of Integrative Activities and serves as NSF’s Chief Evaluation Officer. EAC provides centralized technical support and resources to generate and use evidence for decision making; coordinates evaluation activities of the agency; and directly focuses on the Administration's call for rigorous program evaluation and the increased agency capacity for conducting independent evaluations. The unit is responsible for integrating program assessment/evaluation, policy analysis, and strategic decision making.

NSF is responsible for promoting and advancing scientific progress in the United States by sponsoring scientific and engineering research and by supporting selected programs and activities in science and engineering education. The Foundation currently awards grants and contracts to more than 2,000 colleges and universities, businesses, informal science organizations and other research institutions throughout the country and accounts for about 25 percent of Federal support for basic research going to academic institutions. Each year on average, the Foundation supports about 200,000 scientists, engineers, educators and students at universities, laboratories and field sites all over the United States and throughout the world. NSF supports all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences. In addition to funding research in the traditional academic areas, the agency also supports "high risk, high pay off" ideas, novel collaborations, and numerous projects that allow scientists, engineers, and students to work at the frontiers of knowledge, keeping the United States at the leading edge of discovery.

The incumbent serves as a senior official of the agency. The position has statutorily mandated responsibilities under the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, particularly with respect to Title I of the act, “Federal Evidence-Building Activities.” Title I sets forth requirements for agencies to plan to develop statistical evidence to support policymaking and for the Evaluation Officer to coordinate agency evidence- building activities.

As a national expert in evaluation, the incumbent will ensure that the unit has the capability to provide theoretical and analytic expertise for the assessment of policies and programs and provide oversight for independent investments in evaluation models and program evaluations that collect meaningful information to answer NSF evaluative questions about policies and programmatic investments.

Conditions of employment

• One year probationary period required for all new Career SES appointments
• Requires an Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure OGE278
• US Citizenship or appropriate affidavit, depending on position

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.

Qualifications

EXECUTIVE/MANAGERIAL (E/Ms): Unless you are currently under a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program approved by OPM, you must submit written statements (narrative format) describing accomplishments that would satisfy the E/Ms. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as "ineligible."

Essential

1. Leading Change.  This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent in this E/M is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

2. Leading People.  This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent in this E/M is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

3. Results-Driven Leadership.  This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent in this E/M is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

4. Business Acumen.  This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

5. Building Coalitions.  This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, non-profit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL (P/Ts): All applicants must submit written statements (narrative format) of accomplishments that would satisfy the P/T qualifications. You must address each P/T qualification separately.

Essential

1. Education strongly preferred at the Ph.D.level or equivalent professional experience or a combination of education and experience in evaluation. In addition to evaluation expertise, a degree and professional experience in a science or engineering discipline related to the NSF mission is preferred.

2. Demonstrated knowledge of Federal planning and programming processes, including grants and contracts administration, fiscal management, and budget preparation with experience in scientific research support and infrastructure building, as well as planning and managing evaluations of scientific research and education activities for a multidisciplinary organization.

3. Experience that demonstrates the ability to enhance organizational structures and culture that promote organizational learning, coordination, collaboration, effectiveness and accountability, as well as demonstrated ability to communicate, on a peer basis, with senior scientific and managerial personnel in Federal agencies and the general science community.

4. Demonstrated knowledge of state-of-the art evaluation methods, tools, and skill in assessing and evaluating science and engineering research programs, complex STEM education programs, and attainment of high-level organizational goals.

5. Demonstrated ability to build evaluation capacity to support communication, cooperation, and collaboration in using evidence to inform strategic planning, program implementation, and decision making.

•    When responding to the P/T and E/M qualifications, you must clearly show that you possess the experience, knowledge, skills and ability to perform the duties of this position by submitting narrative responses in which you detail your experience in each of the E/Ms and P/Ts.
•    Your examples should be clear and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope, and complexity of the programs managed and program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives and level of contacts.

Applicants currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by OPM are not required to address the Executive/Managerial (E/M) Qualifications (ECQs); but a narrative statement for each of the Professional/Technical (P/T) Qualifications (PTQs) is required.

To view additional information on the proper preparation of Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)
statements, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications.

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 for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applicants will be screened for basic eligibility according to the qualification requirements.  Eligible applicants will be reviewed by an Evaluation Panel according to the criteria based on the qualification requirements.  The best qualified candidates will be referred to the appropriate official who will recommend selection.  All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, physical disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit reason.