The National Science Foundation is seeking a qualified candidate for an Interdisciplinary (Program Director) position for the Antarctic Glaciology Program within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), Office of Polar Programs (OPP) in Alexandria, VA.
The National Science Foundation is seeking a qualified candidate for an Interdisciplinary (Program Director) position for the Antarctic Glaciology Program within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), Office of Polar Programs (OPP) in Alexandria, VA.
This position is open for a (Rotational IPA assignment/Rotational VSEE appointment/Temporary Federal Rotation). Please see the "Additional Information" section for further information.
Applications will be accepted from all US citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Please see the "Additional Information" section for further information.
The Antarctic Sciences Section (ANT) of the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) funds cutting-edge research that:
Improves understanding of interactions among the Antarctic region and global systems;
Expands fundamental knowledge of Antarctic systems, biota, and processes; and
Utilizes the unique characteristics of the Antarctic region as a science observing platform.
The ANT Antarctic Glaciology Program (AG) supports field, laboratory, remote sensing and modeling projects that aim to increase understanding of the history and dynamics of the Antarctic ice sheets, sea ice and ice shelves.
The U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) supports scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean with field support for researchers provided by OPP's Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section (AIL).
1. Principal Duties and Responsibilities
The AG Program Director is responsible for managing the Antarctic cryosphere proposal-driven research portfolio, communicating with the scientific community and funding partners, and interacting with process. In addition, the AG Program Director coordinates with Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics (AIL) for field-based projects, other programs in the Antarctic and Arctic sections of the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) and across NSF, and other funding agencies and international partners to achieve program goals.
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. They are also responsible for service to NSF-wide activities and initiatives that together accomplish NSF's strategic goals to: (1) Empower STEM talent to fully participate in science and engineering; (2) Create new knowledge about our universe, the world and ourselves; (3) Benefit society by translating knowledge into solutions; and (4) Excel at NSF operations and management.
Specific duties will include:
A. Management
Manage the merit review process for the AG Program in accordance with NSF policies and develops recommendations for awards based on reviewer advice, knowledge of the research proposed, and appropriate regard for program balance.
Provide leadership on the science priorities and specifications for the glaciology program.
Serve as a conduit between the science community and NSF.
Oversee NSF-funded Antarctic science projects and facilities within the AG portfolio.
Manage AG program resources. Convene external oversight and management reviews as necessary.
B. Planning
Lead and facilitate research community activities to develop long-range scientific plans for glaciology in the Antarctic with awareness for the total scope and nature of polar research activities, the resources available or required, and the national and international interests to be served. Be an agent for change when improvement, innovation, or redirection of activities is warranted.
Develop educational and other initiatives to promote diversity in the AG Program.
Work with other Section and Office managers to plan and implement Antarctic field projects and ensure efficient utilization of resources by projects deployed to Antarctica.
C. Coordination
Represent the AG Program on national and international scientific committees having a related scientific purview.
Serve as the focal point for the coordination of program plans related to AG with other NSF programs, other Federal agencies, and with other nations' Antarctic programs.
Serve on NSF committees and working groups, as required.
D. Deployment
Essential to duties of this position is deployment as NSF Science Representative to Antarctica for periods of several weeks each year. This requires that the program director be cleared medically for remote deployment.
As part of annual Antarctic deployment, review field programs and evaluate existing support modes and practices to streamline science support requirements and improve science support infrastructure for research across all research areas supported by the Antarctic Program.
This position is outside the competitive civil service.
You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Appointment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a physical examination according to U.S.
All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/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
The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.
Qualifications
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in an appropriate 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 Masters degree in an appropriate field plus after the award of the masters., eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position,
Appropriate fields include glaciology or a closely related discipline.
A commitment to high scientific standards, considerable breadth of scientific interest and receptivity to new ideas. Also necessary are a strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity and ethics, decisiveness, and an ability to effectively lead individuals and teams across a variety of institutional cultures within Federal and state government agencies, legislative bodies, and private sector organizations.
Applicants are not required to have had prior Antarctic or polar experience to be considered for this position. However, applicants must demonstrate a robust glaciological or closely related research program or demonstrate experience managing a similar portfolio for another federal agency.
Education
Please refer to the Qualifications section.
If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
Additional information
The position recruited under this announcement will be filled under the following appointment option:
Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Assignment: Individuals eligible for an IPA assignment with a Federal agency include employees of State and local government agencies or institutions of higher education, Indian tribal governments, and other eligible organizations in instances where such assignments would be of mutual benefit to the organizations involved. Initial assignments under IPA provisions may be made for a period up to two years, with a possible extension for up to an additional two-year period. The individual remains an employee of the home institution and NSF provides the negotiated funding toward the assignee's salary and benefits. Initial IPA assignments are made for a one-year period and may be extended by mutual agreement. Salary: The salary noted above is based on the rate of pay for Federal Program Directors. The IPA assignment salary is based on the current salary at the IPA's home institution.
Temporary Excepted Service Appointment: Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Candidates who do not have civil service status or reinstatement eligibility will not obtain civil service status if selected. Candidates currently in the competitive service will be required to waive competitive civil service rights if selected. Usual civil service benefits are applicable for appointments of more than one year. Temporary appointments may not exceed three years.
Visiting Scientist, Engineer, and Educator (VSEE) Program: Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Visiting Scientists are on non-paid leave status from their home institution and placed on the NSF payroll. NSF withholds Social Security taxes and pays the home institution's contributions to maintain retirement and fringe benefits (i.e., health benefits and life insurance), either directly to the home institution or to the carrier. Appointments are usually made for a one-year period and may be extended for an additional year by mutual agreement.
This is a rotator position.
As a rotator, you will be in a prime position to collaborate with others and increase your visibility as you survey the entire breadth of U.S. and international science, engineering, and education in real time. In addition, as a temporary detailee, you can retain your ties to your current institution and return to it with new insights and experience for your team. Learn more here.
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
Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens. Recent changes in Federal Appropriations Law require Non-Citizens to 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 eligible.
Only applications submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and theories relevant to cryospheric science as evidenced by publications, invited talks, and/or other professional experience.
Proven expertise in managing large research-related projects and/or programs, including strategic planning, development of budgets and schedules, resource management, identification and mitigation of risk, and program evaluation.
Professional bearing, strong interpersonal communication skills, and ability to present and convincingly defend program policies and plans to peers, the science community, representatives of other federal agencies, foreign national programs, managers of related organizations, and senior managers in NSF.
Demonstrated research, analytical and technical writing skills that evidence the ability to manage an externally-reviewed proposal-driven grants program and to perform extensive inquiry into a wide variety of significant issues and make recommendations and decisions based on findings.
Demonstrated ability to develop and manage cross-disciplinary research programs and education and training opportunities for a diverse community of undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
All applicants must submit a resume in any format and may also submit a cover letter.
In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria 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. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date.
You are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how your background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the Qualifications and Evaluation Requirements section of this announcement. Additionally, you are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in your CV or in a supplemental statement. This information will be used in the evaluation process.
Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
- Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
-If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
- As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields.
- If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
All applicants must submit a resume in any format and may also submit a cover letter.
In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria 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. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date.
You are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how your background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the Qualifications and Evaluation Requirements section of this announcement. Additionally, you are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in your CV or in a supplemental statement. This information will be used in the evaluation process.
Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
- Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
-If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
- As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields.
- If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
