Duties

Summary

The National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for a Science Analyst position in the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) within the Office of the Director (OD) in Alexandria, VA.

OISE will host a webinar to share information about this vacancy. The webinar will be on September 22, 2021 at 10 AM ET. If you are interested in participating, please register at the following link.

https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_XfqTKNU_RMCNjtwCc_pUTQ

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) is the National Science Foundation's (NSF) focal point for the international science and engineering activities. OISE promotes an integrated, NSF wide international engagement strategy and manages internationally focused programs that are innovative and catalytic. OISE engages in international activities to identify opportunities for U.S. researchers to access international knowledge, infrastructure, and capabilities. OISE's portfolio focuses on three activities: (1) promoting the development of a globally engaged U.S. workforce, (2) facilitating and supporting international partnerships, and (3) providing opportunities for U.S. leadership to shape the global science and engineering agenda.

Working with internal and external (for example but not limited to U.S. agencies, embassies, foreign counterparts, and private sector entities) stakeholders, the OISE Countries and Regions Cluster develops and maintains international collaborations consistent with NSF priorities. The Cluster combines its knowledge of the global research landscape with scientific, cultural, and political insights to shape NSF's international engagements and ensures alignment with U.S. foreign policy. The Cluster ensures those engagements result in opportunity for the U.S. research community while generating mutual benefit to all parties involved.

The OISE Science Analyst is a member of the Countries and Regions Cluster and supports the work of the Cluster members, including the Cluster Lead. The Science Analyst will use sound judgement to support efforts in science diplomacy efforts ranging from intra-Office to international. Portfolio responsibilities include developing and maintaining positive relationships within OISE and NSF. On occasion, the Science Analyst may interact with representatives from other U.S. Federal Departments and Agencies, in addition to foreign counterpart agencies. In these instances, the Science Analyst is expected to demonstrate appropriate diplomatic tact under the guidance or supervision of more senior Cluster members.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

The Science Analyst position encompass a wide spectrum of duties in support of OISE's mission, including, but not limited to, technical analysis, policy review, and diplomatic engagements. The Science Analyst supports (or leads as appropriate to this grade) multiple activities under three broad categories: science diplomacy, external liaison and communication, and professional development.

Science Diplomacy

Work with Program Directors and other senior staff to support opportunities for new or expanded international collaboration opportunities, including developing and negotiating agreements.

Support MULTIPLIER (MULTIPlying Impact Leveraging International Expertise in Research) Missions, including contributing to planning, coordinating, and organizing components of Missions. Working with the lead OISE Program Director for each Mission, support timely development of MULTIPLIER reports.

Working across OISE and NSF as appropriate, conduct moderately complex to complex special studies or analyses of topics and activities relevant to OISE. Make recommendations regarding new and/or existing efforts.

Working across OISE and NSF as appropriate, collect pertinent data and narrative information from a variety of sources within and outside NSF. Apply various analytical techniques to identify patterns and trends in NSF funded areas domestically and globally. Make recommendations on topics and geographic regions with potential for scientific collaboration.

Support the lead Program Director in preparing for international delegations to NSF and briefing OISE and NSF leadership on a range of topics and activities.

Maintain stewardship of OISE Memorandums of Understanding by ensuring that they are up-to-date, accessible to OISE and NSF staff, and properly archived.

External Liaison and Communications

Attend meetings. When authorized in advance of the meeting to represent NSF, accurately reflect NSF policy and positions.

Support, or lead when assigned and as appropriate, OISE engagement with OLPA and other NSF units to identify potential outreach opportunities, prepare and disseminate informational documents, and organize outreach events and activities to raise awareness of OISE.

Support special projects and temporary functional teams across OISE to solve problems, improve staff communication, and effect coordination.

Assist the OISE management team and staff in identifying and drafting highlights, reports, and presentations.

Professional Development

Establish contacts and pursue active growth in OISE-related areas through participation in professional development activities. Maintain familiarity with salient current science diplomacy developments.

Pursue individual research and development opportunities as workload and travel funds permit.

For more information on OD click here and on OISE click here .

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
02

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.

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 in 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 Social, Biological or Physical Science, Engineering or Mathematics; OR a Master's degree in a Social, Biological or Physical Science, Engineering or Mathematics plus after award of the degree, two 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.

Education

Additional information

Relocation MAY be paid contingent upon the availability of funds.

This announcement is open to All US Citizens 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.

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

Familiarity with U.S. and foreign scientific, technological, innovation, and/or STEM higher education trends and policies.

Experience researching, analyzing, or supporting international scientific, technological, innovation, and/or STEM higher education initiatives.

Experience working with multiple sectors, including government, academia, and private sector (industry or non-profit), particularly in an international context, or experience supporting diplomatic positions on behalf of the U.S. government.

Ability to organize across, prioritize, and coordinate multiple, simultaneous activities, maintain records, and track details.

Ability to cooperate with and work across multiple scientific disciplines.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

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. This also applies to individuals considered for Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignments to NSF. 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 submit 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. This information will be used in the evaluation process.

You should upload your letter of recommendation(s) or the individual(s) can email the letter of recommendation(s) to adsearch@nsf.gov and rotator@nsf.gov ; please ask him/her to put your name and the job announcement number in the subject line.

Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials.

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.