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Deputy Division Director, Division of Astronomical Sciences, MPS

National Science Foundation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This announcement has been amended to extend the closing date to September 30, 2019.

Become a part of our mission to maintain and strengthen the vitality of the US science and engineering enterprise.  For over 70 years, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has remained the premier Federal agency supporting basic research at the frontiers of discovery across all fields, as well as science and engineering education at all levels.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/05/2019 to 09/30/2019
Salary
$168,165 to - $184,664 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
Alexandria, VA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation may be paid contingent on availability of funds.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
AST-2019-0004
Control number
541678400

Duties

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Serves as Deputy Division Director for the Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. The Division contributes to NSF’s mission by supporting research in all areas of astronomy and astrophysics and related multidisciplinary studies. Modes of support include single-investigator and collaborative awards, construction, operations, and maintenance of national observatories, as well as funding for acquisition and development of astronomical instrumentation, technology development and future ground-based facilities, and education projects that leverage the Division’s research investments to build research and workforce capacity and to increase scientific literacy. Through the national observatories, including international partnerships, the Division provides support for a system of multi-aperture, research-class telescopes as well as frontier facilities that enable transformational capabilities in both radio and optical/infrared astronomy. Within the Division, the Deputy Division Director works with the Division Director in providing leadership and management to the Division’s programs and assists the Division Director in carrying out Division-wide responsibilities such as the preparation of budget submissions for Congress, oversight and management of the Division budgets, and the recruitment of scientific staff. The incumbent also supervises and provides leadership and guidance to administrative and support personnel within the Division. Externally, the Deputy Division Director represents the Division in a variety of NSF-wide and interagency activities related to research and education, and in interactions with the community. The Deputy Division Director assumes the Division Director’s role in the absence of the Division Director.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • One year probationary period required for all new Career SES appointments.
  • Requires an "Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report" (OGE-278).

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 equivalent experience in astronomical sciences or a closely related field.
  2. Substantial research contributions and strong evidence of scholarship in one or more of the major fields in Astronomy and Astrophysics or a related field, as evidenced in publications and other professional contributions. Demonstrated professional standing in the greater scientific community as evidenced by leadership activities and awards.
  3. Experience in working with major research instrumentation or large research facilities such as astronomical telescopes, including activities such as advisory or review committees, time allocation to researchers, instrument development, or facility management.
  4. Broad understanding of universities and other institutions where research and education in science and engineering is conducted including knowledge of grant administration, fiscal management, and budget preparation with experience in scientific research support.

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  is required.

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

(http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-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 evaluated by an Evaluation Panel of senior officials. The panel will rate and rank applicants on the basis of the quality and extent of total accomplishments, experience and education. The panel will assess the degree to which candidates possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the professional/technical qualifications of the position and the executive/managerial qualifications to determine the best qualified candidates. 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.


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