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Division Director, Division of Undergraduate Education, EHR

National Science Foundation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This announcement has been amended to extend the closing date to June 29, 2020.

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
03/05/2020 to 06/29/2020
Salary
$172,508 to - $191,600 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 of availability of funds.
Appointment type
Permanent - SES Career, SES Limited -Term Appt. (1-3 years) or Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignment
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00 - All new SES members serve a one-year probationary period
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
EHR-EXEC-2020-0004
Control number
562008900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens. Recent changes in Federal Appropriations Law requires Non-Citizens to meet certain eligibility criteria to be considered. Therefore, Non-Citizens must certify eligibility by signing and attaching the Citizenship Affidavit to their application. (See Required Documents). This also applies to individuals considered for IPA assignments to NSF. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered eligible.

Duties

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Serves as a member of the leadership team of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, and as the Foundation’s principal spokesperson, and expert in the area of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education research. Provides leadership and direction to the NSF division responsible for promoting excellence in undergraduate STEM education. The Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) provides a comprehensive approach to strengthening STEM undergraduate education at two and four-year colleges and universities by investing in research, development, institutional capacity building and change, and direct support to students. By attracting diverse learners to and retaining them in STEM fields, and enhancing their education and workforce preparation by improving curricula, instruction, learning environments, research experiences, and assessment, DUE investments support the preparation of an expert STEM and STEM-capable workforce and public. The next Director of the Division of Undergraduate Education must bring a vision for the future of undergraduate STEM education, including how technological advances will influence and shape learning environments, how research in undergraduate learning and teaching will address both persistent challenges and the future of undergraduate STEM education, and how to build capacity for the research necessary to propel undergraduate STEM education into the future.

The incumbent has managerial and oversight responsibilities for the effective use of division staff expertise and resources, and for building teams and coalitions, in meeting organizational goals and objectives. This includes leading the activities of the Division of Undergraduate Education, assessing the needs and trends in undergraduate education, developing breakthrough opportunities, implementing overall strategic planning, and policy setting. He or she will provide leadership and guidance to senior executive-level staff, and DUE program officers, administrative and support personnel. The DUE Division Director is a key member of the senior leadership team of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources and is expected to work collaboratively with counterparts across NSF’s Directorates for the improvement of undergraduate STEM education. Additional responsibilities include overseeing the management of the DUE funding portfolio, preparing and justifying budget estimates according to plans and vision, maintaining and understanding of the DUE funding portfolio and its impacts on undergraduate STEM education, and overseeing the evaluation of proposals and recommendations for awards and declinations. Also, the DUE Division Director represents NSF nationally on issues regarding undergraduate STEM education and is key in fostering partnerships with other divisions, directorates, Federal agencies, scientific and educational organizations and the academic higher education community.

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).
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust Security Clearance.

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 equivalent professional experience, in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) and/or STEM education. Professional experience should include leading or managing programs or projects focused on undergraduate STEM education.

2. Recognized professional standing in the STEM and/or STEM education communities, as evidenced by a sustained record of research and professional leadership activities, some of which should focus on undergraduate STEM education.

3. Demonstrated knowledge of trends, issues, current research and evidence-based practices in undergraduate STEM education, including current efforts in a variety of STEM disciplines to strengthen and transform undergraduate education and to promote inclusion and diversity, and the impacts and outcomes of particular approaches.

 4. Skill in building on and growing the expertise and knowledge of researchers and educators in multiple disciplines to develop and implement approaches and programs that address important crosscutting challenges in undergraduate STEM education.

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 who do not provide narrative statements addressing both the E/M and P/T qualifications will only be considered for an IPA assignment, if applicable.

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/)


Security Clearance: Public Trust - Background Investigation

Additional information

The Senior Executive Service (SES) covers managerial positions above GS-15 in the Federal Service. Persons appointed to the SES are eligible for health benefits, life insurance, social security, Federal retirement and thrift savings plan coverage, and participate in the Federal leave system. Competitive status is not required, veteran's preference does not apply and there are no grade restrictions.  New appointees to the SES are required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Final selection of career appointees requires the approval of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). OPM approval will be based on the selectee's background in the following five executive core qualification areas: (1) Leading Change, (2) Leading People, (3) Results Driven Leadership, (4) Business Acumen, and (5) Building Coalitions.  These areas are incorporated in the five executive/managerial requirements for the position.  Information about the leadership requirements for SES-level positions is available on the OPM website.

The position may also be filled on a one-to-three year Senior Executive Service (SES) Limited Term Appointment or Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignment basis.  Under the provisions of the IPA, assignees remain on the payroll of his/her home institution and the institution continues to administer pay and benefits.  The National Science Foundation (NSF) will reimburse the home institution for NSF's negotiated share of the costs.

This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.

How you will be evaluated

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.


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