Interdisciplinary (Science Assistant) Job in Alexandria, VA

Vacancy No. NSF-25-12596091 Department National Science Foundation
Salary $45,146.00 to $107,589.00 Grade 1 to 1
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/25/2024 Close Date 12/10/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Alexandria, VA


Summary

Science Assistants works with the senior management in a designated Office/Directorate within the National Science Foundation, providing services of value to the division/office and NSF and simultaneously developing an understanding of key aspects of the science and engineering enterprise that will be valuable to a future professional scientific career.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all US citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Please see the "Additional Information" section for further information.

Duties

In the role of a Science Assistant, you will:

  • Conduct analyses and provide reports and related presentations of information on the Division's (or Office's) scientific programs.
  • Provide scientific input to relevant aspects of the merit review process, including developing solicitations; reading proposals for responsiveness to the solicitation and preliminary grouping of proposals.
  • Attend panel meetings and provide feedback on completeness of panel summaries and/or minutes of the scientific discussion.
  • Provide assistance to program officers and division management in overseeing scientific progress on awards, including working with principal investigators and program officers to collect high quality, scientifically accurate highlights and results.
  • Develop data and report on scientific portfolios for Committees of Visitors and other results-oriented activities.
  • Provide assistance to Division (or Office) management in enhancing interactions with the scientific community, including interactions with Advisory Committees.
  • Participate in outreach meetings, including activities with schools and interacts with relevant elements of the National Academies.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

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.

The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by AFGE Local 3403.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited institution leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in one of the following:
  • For the 0101 series, a degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
  • For the 0401 series, a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
  • For the 0801 series, a degree in engineering to include those specialty engineering fields.
  • For the 1301 series, a degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics.
  • For the 1501 series, a degree in mathematics, statistics, or actuarial science.
Transcripts (official or unofficial) that include the degree date of conferral must be upload prior to the closing date of the vacancy in order to be considered for this position.

Education

Please refer to the Qualifications section.

If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you must also 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.

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 & including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment & referral to the Office of Inspector General. Foreign Talent Definitions

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.

Benefits

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.

Candidates will be evaluated based on the relevance of their academic degree(s) to the primary discipline of the position being filled. To preview questions please click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12596091. Ratings will be assigned based on your responses to the occupational questionnaire. In some cases, additional assessment processes may be used.

Required 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.

Transcripts (official or unofficial) that include the degree date of conferral must be upload prior to the closing date of the vacancy in order to be considered for this position.

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.

How to Apply

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.

Agency contact information

Staffing and Classification Branch
Address
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
2415 Eisenhower Ave
Alexandria, VA 22314
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You will receive updates throughout the process notifying you of your status.

You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website

Applicants should click 'Track this Application' in the Applicant Dashboard to receive application updates.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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