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Section Head, Research Capacity and Competitiveness

National Science Foundation
Office of Integrative Activities
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is for the Section Head, Research Capacity and Competitiveness, Office of Integrative Activities in the Office of the Director.

For more information about the Office of the Director_https://www.nsf.gov/od/

For more information about the Office of Integrative Activities_https://new.nsf.gov/od/oia

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/11/2024 to 04/01/2024
Salary
$193,819 to - $216,470 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Alexandria, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation expenses may be paid contingent upon availability of funds.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OIA-EXEC-2024-0001
Control number
781001900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All new SES members serve a one-year probationary period. 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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The Section Head for the Research Capacity and Competitiveness (RCC) Section serves as a member of the leadership team in the Office of Integrative Activities (OIA). OIA works across disciplinary boundaries to lead and coordinate strategic programs and opportunities that: advance research excellence and innovation; develop human and infrastructure capacity critical to the U.S. science and engineering enterprise; and promote global engagement of scientists and engineers at all career stages. The RCC Section supports two critical, cross-cutting programs and initiatives: The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research (HBCU-EiR) program.

The Section Head is responsible for directing all aspects of the EPSCoR and HBCU-EiR programs and for its day-to-day operations. This includes developing and implementing an organizational vision that integrates key national and Foundation goals; providing broad policy, management and scientific expertise in directing, coordinating and representing RCC's efforts to broaden participation in the Foundation's research and education programs; and serving as a senior spokesperson for the Foundations' geographical science and technology development initiatives and cross-cutting HBCU initiatives. The incumbent provides leadership in managing the development of budget requests and justifications for consideration in annual budget preparation and participates in policy development and strategic planning activities. The incumbent has managerial and oversight responsibilities for the effective use of staff and resources in meeting organizational goals and objectives; supervises and provides leadership and guidance to staff members in the EPSCoR and HBCU-EiR programs; fosters partnerships with other NSF organizations and Federal agencies with capacity-building programs. The Section Head participates with the Head of OIA and with other senior managers in the planning, implementation, and coordination of OIA programs and operations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

  1. One year probationary period required for all new Career SES appointments
  2. Requires an Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure OGE-278
  3. US Citizenship or appropriate affidavit, depending on position

Qualifications

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): 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 ECQs. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as "ineligible."

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 ECQ 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 ECQ 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 ECQ 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.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): All applicants must submit written statements (narrative format) of accomplishments that would satisfy the MTQs for this vacancy. You must address each MTQ qualification separately.

Essential
1. Broad understanding of grant and contract administration, fiscal management, and budget preparation with experience in scientific research support and infrastructure acquisition or development.

2. Demonstrated experience in building capacity in research and education, promoting global competitiveness, and/or expanding economic growth.

3. Broad understanding of the U.S. academic environment, including linkages to other public and private sector efforts related to capacity building, competitiveness, and economic development, including familiarity with federal science and engineering initiatives.

Desired
1. Education, strongly preferred at the Ph.D. level, or equivalent professional experience or a combination of education and experience in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields, STEM education, or STEM research and education administration.

When responding to the MTQ and ECQ 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 ECQs and MTQs.

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 ECQs and MTQs will be rated as ineligible.

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 Core Qualifications (ECQ); but a narrative statement for each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) 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

Education

Please refer to the Qualifications section.

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.

Relocation expenses may be paid contingent upon the availability of funds.

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. Non-Citizens are not eligible for positions requiring a 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

Only applications 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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