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Interdisciplinary (Program Director)

National Science Foundation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

NSF is one of the best places to work! In 2021, NSF was ranked No. 2 among mid-sized agencies in the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® Rankings. Come join our talented and diverse workforce and help us keep NSF at the frontier of discovery!

NSF is seeking qualified candidate for an Interdisciplinary (Program Director) position within the Division of Innovation and Technology Ecosystems (ITE) in Alexandria, VA. Click here for more information.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/03/2023 to 03/20/2023
Salary
$160,889 to - $206,279 per year
Pay scale & grade
AD 04
Location
Alexandria
FEW vacancies
Remote job
No
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
Temporary - This vacancy will be filled as a Fed Temp.
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
ITE-2023-0006
Control number
710587100

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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NSF Program Directors bear the primary responsibility for carrying out the agency's overall mission to support innovative and merit-reviewed activities in basic research and education that contribute to the nation's technical strength, security, and welfare. To fulfill this responsibility requires not only knowledge in the appropriate disciplines, but also a commitment to high standards, a considerable breadth of interest and receptivity to new ideas, a strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity.

This position is in the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) in the Division of Innovation and Technology Ecosystems (ITE) under the Innovation Programs Section . This program catalyzes and fosters innovation ecosystems across the U.S. to advance critical technologies, address national and societal challenges, stimulate economic growth and job creation, spur regional innovation and talent development, and foster partnerships across industry, academia, government, nonprofits, civil society, and communities of practice. This is a fast-paced work environment, with the ITE Programs and TIP teams functioning as a startup within government.

This announcement seeks to recruit program officers in TIP/ITE division who have a deep technical understanding of the research and development ecosystem in one or more of the following technology focus areas:

Technology Focus Areas

(1) Artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, and related advances.

(2) High performance computing, semiconductors, and advanced computer hardware and software.

(3) Quantum information science and technology.

(4) Robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing.

(5) Natural and anthropogenic disaster prevention or mitigation.

(6) Advanced communications technology and immersive technology.

(7) Biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, and synthetic biology.

(8) Data storage, data management, distributed ledger technologies, and cybersecurity, including biometrics.

(9) Advanced energy and industrial efficiency technologies, such as batteries and advanced nuclear technologies, including but not limited to for the purposes of electric generation (consistent with section 15 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1874)).

(10) Advanced materials science, including composites 2D materials, other next-generation materials, and related manufacturing technologies.

The program officer is expected to perform the following TIP-relevant duties:

  • Work with external stakeholders to develop strategic investment roadmaps that anticipate growth vectors for their technology area(s) and support rapid translation of lab outcomes in those areas,
  • Initiate and lead partnership development for research and translation programs funded with NSF and partner investments in their technology focus area(s),
  • Seek the creation of a broad portfolio of programs and projects that responds to a diverse set of national challenges to seed, accelerate, and sustain the growth of robust, equitable, and inclusive innovation ecosystems across the country.
  • Represent the TIP Directorate on NSF-wide working groups on their technology area(s), and represent NSF in external meetings, working groups and standards bodies involving other Federal agencies and organizations.

The program officer is also expected to help direct and position NSF investments in their technology focus area(s) to address the societal, national, and geostrategic challenges of:

 (1) United States national security,

 (2) United States manufacturing and industrial productivity,

 (3) United States workforce development and skills gaps,

 (4) Climate change and environmental sustainability, and

 (5) Inequitable access to education and opportunity.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Background investigation may be required.
  • 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 (Foreign Talent Definitions). 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.

Applicant may be required to complete a background security investigation before being 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 represented by AFGE Local 3403.

Please preview "Evaluations" section and "Qualifications" for additional requirements and Quality Ranking Factors.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a STEM 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 a STEM field, plus after award of the degree, eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position. You must identify the date that your degree was obtained.

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 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. Demonstrates technical proficiency in one or more of the listed focus areas.
  2. Communicates effectively (oral and written formats) and is committed to high standards of ethical conduct. The position requires a considerable breadth of interest, receptivity to new ideas, a strong sense of fairness, attention to detail, good judgement, and a high degree of personal integrity.
  3. Functions effectively both as an individual within a specific NSF program and as a member of crosscutting and interactive teams.
  4. Works well within NSF and across government agencies to promote NSF activities and to leverage program funds through inter-agency collaborations.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

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