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Science Education Administrator (Program Director)

National Science Foundation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidate(s) for a Science Education Administrator (Program Director) with research expertise on teaching and learning of Mathematics at the pre K-12 level (including research on teacher education) for the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) within the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) Alexandria, VA.

For information on EHR please click here

For information on DRL please click here

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
02/05/2020 to 03/19/2020
Salary
$147,458 to - $189,056 per year
Pay scale & grade
AD 04
Location
Alexandria, VA
FEW vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation MAY be paid contingent upon the availability of funds.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
04
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DRL-2020-0002
Control number
558901500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

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

Duties

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DRL invests in projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM learning for people of all ages. Its mission includes promoting innovative research, development, and evaluation of learning and teaching across all STEM disciplines by advancing cutting-edge knowledge and practices in both formal and informal learning settings. DRL also promotes the broadening and deepening of capacity and impact in the educational sciences by encouraging the participation of scientists, engineers, and educators from the range of disciplines represented at NSF. Therefore, DRL's role in the larger context of Federal support for education research and evaluation is to be a catalyst for change—advancing theory, method, measurement, development, and application in STEM education. The Division seeks to advance both early, promising innovations as well as larger-scale adoptions of proven educational innovations. In doing so, it challenges the field to create the ideas, resources, and human capacity to bring about the needed transformation of STEM education for the 21st century.

The incumbent will work across programs in DRL as all programs support research and development on areas related to this announcement. These programs include but are not limited to Discovery Research preK-12 and EHR Core Research. The incumbent will help establish the research agenda for mathematics education research that will not only enhance current teaching and learning but catalyze new, more inclusive, creative and potentially transformative approaches. In addition, the incumbent may represent the Division on cross-Directorate programs with an emphasis on Mathematics, Data Science and related fields.

The responsibilities of the NSF program director are constantly evolving. The program director is guided by the goals of NSF's Strategic Plan: 1) enable the United States to uphold a position of world leadership in all aspects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, 2) promote the discovery, integration, dissemination and employment of new knowledge in service to society, and 3) achieve excellence in U.S. science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education at all levels. The core strategies NSF staff employ include developing intellectual capital, strengthening the physical infrastructure, integrating research and education, and promoting partnerships.

Additional duties and responsibilities include:

PROGRAM PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

  • Provides strategic support for all the needs of the research and education enterprise.
  • Manages program resources and exercises appropriate scientific judgment to ensure 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.
  • Assumes cross-directorate program administrative responsibilities as needed by the division and directorate.
  • Manages an effective, timely merit review process, with attention to increasing the size and quality, and diversity of the reviewer pool
  • Provides scientific expertise, evaluation and advice for other programs in NSF, including international programs, and other research programs, and cross-directorate activities.
  • Advises and assists in the development of short-and-long range plans, establishing goals and objectives for support of research programs.
  • Plans budgets for programs and allocates resources within the budget.
  • Monitors the merit review and award processes to avert waste, fraud and abuse.

REPRESENTATION, COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP

  • Represents the Program within the scientific community, accurately reflecting NSF policy and positions.
  • Creates and maintains linkages to other NSF units and other Federal agencies to support the overall NSF mission.
  • Participates meetings, providing input relevant to program area and/or Division.
  • Pursues affirmative action and EEO goals.
  • Pursues and/or is responsive to assignment on special projects and temporary function teams across the Foundation to solve problems, improve staff communication, and effect coordination for special programs.
  • Contributes ideas and effort to improve the quality of policies and NSF's performance of the overall mission.
  • Develops policies and plans for strengthening support of research and education programs.
  • Provides information to the community on how NSF is pursuing its mission.
  • Prepares and disseminates a variety of informational documents which may include data on progress being made toward NSF goals, trends and opportunities, and budget plans.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Establishes contacts and maintains active involvement in program and related areas through participation in professional activities.
  • Maintains familiarity with salient current research developments.
  • Pursues individual research as workload and travel funds permit.
  • Expands administrative capabilities through training courses or assumption of new management responsibilities.

Requirements

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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. or Ed.D. in Mathematics or Mathematics Education research or a related field, plus after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position; OR a Master’s degree in Mathematics or Mathematics Education research or a related field, plus after award of the degree, eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.

This position is outside the competitive civil service.

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

Additional information

Relocation expenses MAY be paid contingent upon the availability of funds

This announcement is open to (All US Citizens OR current NSF employees) who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements.

Federal Appropriations Law requires that Non-Citizens meet certain eligibility criteria to be considered. Therefore, Non-Citizens must certify eligibility by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered.

This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the National Science Foundation.

NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for telework. Work suitable for telework depends on job duties; therefore, employees must receive approval from their supervisor for telework and have a telework agreement in place. Entering into a telework agreement is voluntary.

The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.

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.  In some cases, additional assessment processes may also be used.

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. Experience and demonstrated scholarship in Mathematics Education research on teaching and/or learning at the pre K-12 level.
  2. Demonstrated knowledge of the theoretical and methodological issues involved in Mathematics Education research.
  3. Ability to review and analyze research proposals or articles in the area of Mathematics Education research and to develop well-reasoned recommendations about funding or publication.
  4. Knowledge and understanding of issues and challenges in Mathematics teaching and learning in pre K-12 and teacher education.
  5. Research, analytical, and/or technical writing expertise as evidence by publications, presentations or other documents
  6. Ability to interact, on a peer basis, with senior scientific and managerial personnel throughout NSF, other Federal agencies, academia and the private sector.




To preview questions please click here.

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