Duties

NCSES has as its prime objective the development of factual and analytical information on the science and engineering enterprise and is the principal source within the Federal Government for statistics related to these resources. The Program Director is responsible for directing all activities of the section and requires not only knowledge in the appropriate disciplines, but also a commitment to exacting standards, a breadth of interest and receptivity to innovative ideas, good judgment, a high degree of personal integrity, and excellent teamwork and communications skills. The primary objective of the work is to provide policy makers with high quality data to fulfill the mission of NCSES.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

The Program Director plans, administers, and evaluates the overall work of the Data Access, Confidentiality, and Quality Assessment Section. This section oversees NCSES's efforts associated with standardizing and streamlining data access opportunities, conducting research related to data usage, fitness for use assessment, data linkage, and data protection, and incorporating evaluation perspectives into NCSES activities.

This work is accomplished through staff assignments and contractual arrangements with the primary objective of providing policy makers with high quality, timely, accurate, and relevant data to fulfill the mission of NCSES. Specifically, the Program Director is responsible for ensuring the quality of all aspects of the section including products or surveys designed and conducted; analytical projects developed and written; database systems and tools developed and maintained; or reports, presentations, consultations, and materials developed and disseminated by the staff.

PROGRAM PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

• The Program Director plans, administers, and evaluates the overall section through staff assignments and contractual arrangements with the primary objective of providing secure access to high quality, timely, accurate, and relevant data to fulfill the mission of NCSES related to the S&E enterprise.
• Oversees the development and maintenance of secure portals for accessing NCSES restricted-use data that broaden access opportunity while adhering to the NCSES confidentiality and privacy protections.
• Oversees NCSES research activities related to investigating privacy protection techniques, exploring data linkage methods, broadening data access opportunities, exploring data infrastructure enhancements, and conducting innovative analysis to inform research and policy questions.
• Participates in NCSES data governance efforts and activities to leverage the full use of NCSES and other federal data sources to meet the NCSES and NSF missions.
• Develops and maintains the NCSES evidence-building plan (learning agenda), evaluation plan, performance metrics, and processes to integrate evaluation efforts into agency functions.
• Advises and assists in the development of short-and-long range plans, establishing goals and objectives in support of products and services that ensure NCSES investments are targeted to innovative challenges and opportunities.
• Maintains a healthy balance of support for all the needs of the research enterprise through section, directorate, NSF, or interagency activities.
• Plans budgets for the section considering past, present, and future fiscal years; allocate resources within the budget by distributing resources among competitive programs or priorities.
• Prepares and disseminates relevant information to internal and external stakeholders and customers, develops and implements communications strategies while overseeing the preparation of a wide range of information communications products, and builds and expands strategic partnerships.

REPRESENTATION, COMMUNICATION, AND LEADERSHIP

• Represents NCSES at meetings and conferences, and frequently represents NSF in both inside and outside contacts. Interactions with high-level staff or representatives from within NSF, industrial and academic officials, the media, Federal agency officials, Congressional staff, and the public, often are for providing information that accurately reflect NCSES data access practices, policies, and positions.
• Creates and maintains partnerships other NSF units and other Federal agencies in pursuit of the overall NCSES and NSF missions.
• Participates in staff, panel, committee, and other meetings, providing input relevant to the section, NCSES, and/or NSF.
• Prepares and disseminates a variety of informational documents that may include data on progress being made toward NCSES strategy, goals, trends and opportunities, and budget plans.
• Pursues and/or responds to assignments on special projects or working groups across NSF, the Federal Statistical System, or the Federal Government to solve problems, improve staff communication, and ensure coordination for special programs.
• Establishes contacts and maintain active involvement in section and related areas through participation in professional activities.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Background investigation.
• Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.

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 ( Foreign Talent Definitions ). 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.

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement Safer Federal Workforce Task Force 2 pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed into this position.

All online applicants must provide 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.

This position is excluded from the bargaining unit.

Please preview "Evaluations" section and "Qualifications" for additional requirements and Quality Ranking Factors.

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; OR a Master's degree in a STEM field, plus after award of the degree, eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.

This position is outside the competitive civil service.

You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Additional information

Relocation expenses MAY be paid contingent upon the availability of funds

This announcement is open to US Citizens and current NSF employees who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements.

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.

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