Summary
The National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for a Science Education Administrator (Staff Associate for STEM Education Policy and Strategy) within the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) in Alexandria, VA.
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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 "Other Information" section for further information.
Duties
This position is a Staff Associate within the Office of the Assistant Director (OAD) in the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). The Staff Associate reports to the Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) and oversees various managerial, programmatic, policy, and operational functions that require senior- level coordination across the Directorate and the Foundation, and with EDU stakeholders. The position is not supervisory.
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) promotes the vitality of the nation's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and education enterprises. As part of this mission, EDU provides the research foundation to develop a diverse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-literate public and workforce ready to advance the frontiers of science and engineering for society. EDU's programs are cross-foundational and cross-agency, requiring significant coordination and collaboration across organizations. The Staff Associate will serve as a member of the EDU leadership team, supporting the Assistant Director (AD) and Deputy Assistant Director (DAD); participating in meetings, conferences, activities, and professional societies; and keeping EDU leadership apprised of current issues, the needs of the communities NSF serve, and current management initiatives.
MAJOR DUTIES and RESPONSIBILIIILS
The Staff Associate in the Office of the Assistant Director for S IBM Education Directorate will demonstrate leadership in the following responsibilities and duties:
- Participating in meetings, conferences, activities, and professional societies; and keeping EDU leadership apprised of current issues, the needs of the communities NSF serve, and current management initiatives.
- Engaging in ongoing outreach, interagency coordination, and strategic planning on behalf of the AD/DAD and representing EDU in activities internal and external to EDU and NSF.
- Serving as an advisor to EDU AD, DAD, and division leadership, using their knowledge of current management and operational issues with potential impact on NSF practices, policies, and mission through participation in relevant internal and external activities.
- Representing EDU and NSF, as appropriate, on internal committees and interagency committees at meetings of other Federal agencies, professional organizations, and universities on behalf of the AD and DAD; will contribute to EDU support of the NSF Office of the Director and its work across organization boundaries and in partnerships that support the Foundation's statutory mission and new directions stemming from strategic planning undertaken by NSF senior management.
- Serves as the Executive Secretary for the EDU Advisory Committee.
- Serves as the EDU subject matter expert for proposal and award reconsideration process.
- Oversees and administers the EDU Distinguished Lecture Series in consultation with EDU's Deputy Assistant Director.
- Promotes equal employment opportunity through fairness in recommending personnel selections, proposal reviewer selection, encouragement, and recognition of employee achievements, fair treatment of women, minority groups and disabled individuals, and sensitivity to the career and professional development needs of all employee groups.
- Maintains currency with NSF, NSB, NSTC and Presidential Initiatives relevant to EDU and the EDU and NSF, as appropriate, on internal committees, interagency committees, at meetings of other Federal agencies, professional organizations, or universities on behalf of the AD and DAD; participating, providing advice, and drafting recommendations and reports representing outcomes of such meetings.
- Contributes to EDU support of the Office of the Director and its work across organizational boundaries and partnerships that support the Foundation's statutory mission and new directions stemming from strategic planning undertaken by NSF senior management.
- Works, with EDU leadership in developing innovative and effective strategies that support the organizational mission and accomplishment of goals identified in the NSF strategic plan.
- Works as a team member and communicates effectively in areas of EDU responsibility. They undertake other projects as assigned by the Assistant Director and Deputy Assistant Director for EDU. Special tasks might include preparing reports or responding to Congressional inquiries, Office of Inspector General inquiries, proposal reconsiderations, etc. Also, developing and delivering speeches, presentations, and white papers for NSF and government-wide efforts.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
- Knowledge of STEM education research and of current and emerging trends in STEM and STEM education.
- Knowledge of STEM education policy issues at the Federal, state, and local levels.
- Recognized professional standing in STEM, STEM education, and learning sciences communities, as evidenced by a sustained record of scholarship, professional, and leadership activities.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and manage policy-related tasks to achieve organizational objectives.
- Ability to effectively and convincingly present and advocate policies and plans to peer groups, high-level decision-making and policy groups, and Congressional staff, with major attention to STEM education research and policy.
- Experience with producing reports, briefs, and other informational materials that can be shared with potential partners in industry and across the federal government.
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.
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:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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.
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.
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.
Next steps
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.
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