NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 4201 WILSON BOULEVARD ARLINGTON, VA 22230 Title: Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education (ESIE) Program Director Employment Opportunities--Dear Colleague Letter Date: August 29, 2005 Dear Colleague: The Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education (ESIE) announces a nationwide search for a number of Program Director positions at the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF Program Directors bear the primary responsibility for carrying out the Agency's overall mission: to support innovative and merit-reviewed activities in basic research and education that contribute to the nation’s technical strength, security, and welfare. To discharge this responsibility requires not only knowledge in the appropriate disciplines, but also a commitment to high standards, a considerable breadth of interest and receptivity to new ideas, a strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent experience in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) discipline, STEM education, or informal science education, plus six or more years of successful research, administration or managerial experience pertinent to the position within academe, the non-profit sector, industry, or government. Formal (K-12) education positions require an understanding of related research and/or extensive knowledge and experience of teacher education or instructional materials development. Informal science education positions require extensive knowledge and experience with education applied to public audiences in interactive educational exhibit development/management, large film/radio/TV production, web-based/virtual environments, or community/youth/family programming. We are particularly interested in attracting women and underrepresented minority candidates to these positions. Program Director positions recruited under this announcement may be filled under one of the following appointment options: · Visiting Scientist Appointment. Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Visiting Scientists are on non-paid leave status from their home institution and appointed to NSF’s payroll as Federal employees. NSF withholds Social Security taxes and pays the home institution’s contributions to maintain retirement and fringe benefits (i.e., health benefits and life insurance), either directly to the home institution or to the carrier. Appointments are usually made for up to one year and may be extended for an additional year by mutual agreement. · Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Assignment. Individuals eligible for an IPA assignment with a Federal agency include employees of State and local government agencies or institutions of higher education, Indian tribal governments, and other eligible organizations in instances where such assignments would be of mutual benefit to the organizations involved. Initial assignments under IPA provisions may be made for a period up to two years, with a possible extension for up to an additional two-year period. The individual remains an employee of the home institution and NSF provides funding toward the assignee’s salary and benefits. Initial IPA assignments are made for a one-year period and may be extended by mutual agreement. · Temporary Excepted Service Appointment. Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Candidates who do not have civil service status or reinstatement eligibility will not obtain civil service status if selected. Candidates currently in the competitive service will be required to waive competitive civil service rights if selected. Usual civil service benefits (retirement, health benefits, life insurance) are applicable for appointments of more than one year. Temporary appointments may not exceed three years. In addition to addressing current openings, our intention is to develop a candidate pool for consideration as other Program Director positions become available in ESIE. We are looking for individuals who have a compelling interest in the challenges and opportunities facing the education community and are interested in the stimulating challenges of an appointment with the Foundation. For additional information on NSF’s rotational programs, please see “Programs for Scientists, Engineers and Educators” on the NSF website at http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps. For additional information about the ESIE, please see the Division’s website at http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=ESIE. Individuals interested in applying for a Program Director position should send a current CV and statement of interest to: Dr. David Campbell Program Director Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 885 Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703) 292-5093 (telephone) (703) 292-9044 (Fax) dcampbel@nsf.gov (e-mail) NSF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO EMPLOYING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION.