Duties

The Staff Associate demonstrates experience in project management, strategic planning, policy development, and portfolio analysis related to grants management. This individual will strengthen the Foundation's administrative partnership with the research programs and the research community in fostering planning and implementation oversight and award management of mid-scale research infrastructure (Mid-Scale RI).

The Office of Budget, Finance and Award Management is responsible for formulating and executing NSF's annual budgets; developing financial policy and managing financial resources; soliciting, negotiating, awarding, and administering contracts and complex cooperative agreements for large facilities and major centers programs; supporting issuance of grants and other agreements; implementing post-award procedures and other monitoring practices; and overseeing management of construction and operation of NSF's large facility projects. Additionally, the BFA Director serves as the NSF Chief Financial Officer.

The Division of Grants and Agreements is one of six organizational units comprising BFA. DGA is a service and customer-oriented organization, providing direct support to NSF's programs and activities at all stages of the award lifecycle, from pre-award through closeout. DGA issues and manages most of the Foundation's grants and agreements by providing business, financial, and award administration assistance to both internal and external stakeholders in support of the NSF mission. By proactively identifying and resolving any potential award problems or concerns, DGA ensures program success and proper stewardship of federal funds.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Major duties for the Staff Associate include, but are not limited to the following:

• Aids NSF Mid-Scale RI programs in conducting effective NSF oversight, assess and minimize programmatic risks, and evaluate risk-adjusted proposal budgets appropriate to the technical scope by drawing on the individual's relevant experience.
• Provides assurance that NSF policies, procedures and practices as published in NSF's PAM, PAPPG, MFG, and other relevant documents are being followed.
• Assists Program Officers with the planning and execution of NSF external reviews.
• Reviews periodic reports and participates in site visits of NSF-funded Mid-scale RI projects and provide periodic assessments to the BFA on project management and performance baseline (cost, scope, and schedule) issues, including monitoring using Earned Value Management (EVM) and scaled-EVM.
• Participates in developing and revising NSF policies and procedures related to award management and project oversight.
• Compiles, collects, arranges, and organizes data and prepares effective presentations of Mid-Scale RI projects, award management, analysis and results.

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. 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. Foreign Talent Definitions

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 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 Pubic Policy, plus after award of the Ph.D., four or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position; OR a Master's degree in Public Policy plus after award of the degree, six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.

Applicants should have a broad knowledge of research infrastructure programs funded by NSF or other Federal agencies, and recent experience in a position with management responsibility for either design, construction, or operation of research infrastructure projects. Certifications in Project Management, Earned Value Management, and Risk Management are desirable. Excellent written and oral communication skills to interact and negotiate with stakeholders, and the ability to present highlights of cutting-edge grants research and analysis in a form that is understandable by the public, are required.

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 (All US Citizens OR 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.