The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking qualified candidates for Associate Program Director positions. These positions may be established within any Directorate/Office at NSF.
Please visit www.nsf.gov for more information about the Foundation.
Summary
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking qualified candidates for Associate Program Director positions. These positions may be established within any Directorate/Office at NSF.
Please visit www.nsf.gov for more information about the Foundation.
The Associate Program Director serves in an intermediate program management role within the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), supporting the administration, evaluation, and oversight of scientific and STEM-related programs. The incumbent contributes to merit review activities, proposal evaluation, portfolio management, and funding recommendation development while working collaboratively with Program Directors, external stakeholders, and organizational leadership.
Major Duties:
Evaluate proposals and synthesize merit review outcomes to make and support programmatic recommendations.
Participate in and support merit review panels, including reviewer engagement and analysis of panel feedback.
Contribute to the development of funding recommendations and programmatic justifications.
Co-manage proposal and award portfolios within assigned program areas.
Monitor award activities and support stewardship of federal investments.
Engage with members of the research and scientific community regarding program priorities and processes.
Support program planning, reporting, data analysis, and cross-cutting initiatives.
Provide guidance and support to junior staff involved in merit review operations.
Contribute to the development of program priorities, strategic initiatives, and long-range planning efforts.
Monitor emerging scientific trends and policies and recommend programmatic adjustments or innovations.
Contribute to cross-functional and cross-directorate collaborations to advance NSF strategic goals.
Provide mentorship to STEM Assistants, STEM Analysts, and support staff.
Engages, where appropriate, with external stakeholders such as government entities, industry, and non-profit organizations to support partnership development and relationship management.
Selectee will be required to have a background investigation prior to onboarding.
Selectee may be required to serve a 2-year trial period.
This position is outside the competitive civil service.
You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
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.
It is NSF policy that personnel employed at, or Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) individuals detailed to, NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign 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.
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.
Qualifications
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks candidates within the following scientific, engineering, educational, and analytical disciplines supported by the agency. In addition, successful candidates will have knowledge of NSF merit review processes, federal assistance principles, portfolio management, and STEM program administration, as well as the ability to analyze scientific and technical information and communicate recommendations effectively.
Individuals appointed at this level must have a:
1. Bachelor's degree in an appropriate STEM field or a related professional discipline plus six or more years of scientific research, research administration, merit review, and/or managerial experience that is pertinent to the position being filled and was gained after completion of the pertinent degree; OR
2. Master's degree in an appropriate STEM field or a related professional discipline plus three or more years of scientific research, research administration, merit review, and/or managerial experience that is pertinent to the position being filled and was gained after the completion of the pertinent degree; OR
3. Doctorate degree (PhD) in an appropriate STEM field or a related professional discipline plus one or more years of scientific research, research administration, merit review, and/or managerial experience that is pertinent to the position being filled and was gained after the completion of the pertinent degree.
Degrees in the following fields are particularly desirable:
Social and Behavioral Sciences (0101 Series): Behavioral or social sciences and related disciplines, including economics, sociology, psychology, geography, archaeology, neuroscience, cognitive science, and other closely related fields.
Biological Sciences (0401 Series): Biological sciences and related disciplines, including microbiology, immunology, neurobiology, cell biology, bioengineering, molecular biophysics, genomics, computational biology, evolutionary biology, ecology, physiology, genetics, forestry, soil science, fish and wildlife sciences, plant and animal sciences, environmental science, and related fields.
Engineering (0801 Series): Engineering disciplines such as civil, environmental, mechanical, electrical, computer, chemical, agricultural, industrial, biomedical, biochemical, aerospace, robotics, nuclear, petroleum, mining, geological, materials, safety, and other engineering specialties.
Physical Sciences and Mathematics (1301 Series): Physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, and related fields, including physics, chemistry, geology, hydrology, geophysics, oceanography, atmospheric science, earth science, astronomy, biotechnology, materials science, environmental science, and other interdisciplinary scientific disciplines.
Mathematics and Data Sciences (1501 Series): Mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, operations research, computer science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, data science, analytics, and related quantitative disciplines.
Education and Learning Sciences (1701 Series): Education and subject-matter disciplines relevant to STEM education, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education; curriculum and instruction; instructional systems; educational technology; learning sciences; educational leadership; training and development; and education research.
NSF also encourages applications from individuals with strong interdisciplinary backgrounds and those interested in advancing programs that span multiple science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Education
Please refer to the Qualifications section.
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.
Additional information
Relocation expenses MAY be paid contingent upon the availability of funds.
This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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 (QRFs) below. This will ensure that you receive full consideration in the evaluation process.
Quality Ranking Factors
Experience evaluating scientific, technical, STEM, or research-related proposals, projects, or programs.
Experience contributing to funding recommendations, programmatic analyses, or strategic planning activities.
Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex technical or reviewer information into clear recommendations or actionable guidance.
Experience managing or supporting portfolios, grants, cooperative agreements, or federally funded programs.
Demonstrated ability to engage and communicate effectively with members of the scientific, academic, or research communities.
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 are required to submit a legible resume that is no longer than two pages.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Only the two-page resume will be reviewed to determine if your technical qualifications for this position meet the requirements listed in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement. Additional information beyond your two-page resume (e.g., cover letters, links to additional information, a Curriculum Vitae) will not be reviewed to determine if the basic qualification requirements are met. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience.
In addition to the two-page resume, a Curriculum Vitae (CV) may be submitted as a Supplemental Application document for consideration during the evaluation process.
Applicants may also submit an optional cover letter.
In addition, applicants may choose to submit responses addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) with their application. While not required, submission of these responses is strongly encouraged, as they may be used to further assess candidates during the evaluation process, post referral.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how their background relates to the QRFs listed in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section of this announcement. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in their 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 resume. 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 Time (ET) 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, visit the USAJOBS Help Center. 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.
WARNING! Applications submitted online must have 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.
All applicants are required to submit a legible resume that is no longer than two pages.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Only the two-page resume will be reviewed to determine if your technical qualifications for this position meet the requirements listed in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement. Additional information beyond your two-page resume (e.g., cover letters, links to additional information, a Curriculum Vitae) will not be reviewed to determine if the basic qualification requirements are met. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience.
In addition to the two-page resume, a Curriculum Vitae (CV) may be submitted as a Supplemental Application document for consideration during the evaluation process.
Applicants may also submit an optional cover letter.
In addition, applicants may choose to submit responses addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) with their application. While not required, submission of these responses is strongly encouraged, as they may be used to further assess candidates during the evaluation process, post referral.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how their background relates to the QRFs listed in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section of this announcement. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in their 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 resume. 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 Time (ET) 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, visit the USAJOBS Help Center. 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.
WARNING! Applications submitted online must have 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.
