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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 for a Science Education Administrator (Program Director) position for the EHR Core Research (ECR) program in the Division of Human Resources Development (HRD) within the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), Alexandria, VA.

For more information on EHR please click here.

For more information on HRD please click here.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/20/2020 to 04/30/2020
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
HRD-2020-0006
Control number
563421600

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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As the Program Officer for the EHR Core Research (ECR) program that focuses on the activity on broadening participation and institutional capacity building, the incumbent will be responsible for providing appropriate scientific and administrative judgment to ensure the integrity and consistency of the awards process and to effectively manage the timely merit review involved in decision making for the awards. In addition to the ECR program, the incumbent is expected to assist with other HRD programs as needed, by conducting review panels and developing recommendations for both proposal awards and declinations and managing a set of program portfolios.

The incumbent will manage the ECR program in collaboration with other program officers who may be assigned to this program. Activities will include but not limited to timely and effective review of applications, processing of recommendations for awards and declinations, managing project portfolio, and conducting program outreach and site visits. The incumbent is expected to participate in staff, panel, committee and other meetings, providing input relevant to the program area and/or division. As a Program Officer in HRD/EHR, the incumbent is expected to contribute to the directorate's mission and goals as well as to the NSF overall mission including serving on EHR and agency wide working groups and committees.

The incumbent will represent the program, division (HRD), directorate (EHR), and Foundation within the scientific community, with other NSF divisions, with other appropriate agencies and organizations, and with the public, accurately reflecting NSF policy and positions.

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 the ECR program resources to provide optimal appropriate scientific judgment to ensure integrity and consistency in the grant/declination process without conflicts-of-interest, 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 and advice for other programs in NSF, particularly pertaining to broadening participation and institutional capacity building at various types of institutions including minority-serving institutions. Scientific expertise and advise may be provided to other areas supported by NSF including international programs, other research programs, and cross-directorate programs.
  • Develop new knowledge, new tools, and new syntheses, which inform policies and practices for improving student learning and teaching, particularly at minority serving institutions (MSIs).
  • Advise and assist in the development of plans, establishing goals and objectives for the ECR program. 
  • Plan the budget for the ECR program.
  • Organize and prepare current data and other significant written material to be disseminated at meetings, conferences and symposia, which may be initiated by the incumbent. Plan, organize and implement outreach activities that will increase the participation of MSIs in the ECR program.

Representation, Communication and Leadership

  • Represent the ECR program within the scientific community, 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 meetings, providing input relevant to program area and/or division.
  • Pursue affirmative action and EEO goals.
  • Pursue and/or be responsible to assignment on special projects to solve problems, improve staff communication, and effect coordination for special programs.
  • Contribute ideas and effort to improving the quality of policies, NSF's performance of the overall mission, and GPRA. Provide information to the community, particularly those at MSIs on how NSF is pursuing its mission and gather data and impressions from the community on the effectiveness of NSF's performance of its mission.
  • Prepare and disseminate a variety of informational documents.
  • Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as determined by the needs of HRD and as appropriate to the position.

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 in STEM education and broadening participation. Pursue individual research as workload and travel demands permit.
  • Expand 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. in STEM or STEM education, plus after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.

Practicing research scientists and mathematicians should possess a strong working knowledge of issues in the study or learning and/or STEM education. Practicing education researchers must possess deep grounding in one or more STEM disciplines.

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. Knowledge of and experience in promoting diversity and broadening participation of underrepresented groups in STEM, particularly within minority-serving institutions.
  2. Demonstrated ability to design, plan, coordinate and manage a complex portfolio and program deliverables to achieve organizational objectives, taking into consideration the variety of MSIs that may be supported by this program
  3. Knowledge of federal broadening participation programs and the NSF broadening participation portfolio.
  4. Expertise in one of the STEM disciplines or in STEM Education or STEM Education research.
  5. Analytical, presentation, and technical writing skills that evidence the ability to communicate effectively with diverse STEM and STEM Education communities to develop and advocate programs, policies, and plans.
  6. Ability to interact, on a peer basis, with senior scientific and managerial personnel throughout NSF, other Federal agencies, academia, non-profits, and the private sector.




To preview questions please click here.

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