National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22230 Date: February 7, 2007 Title: Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnership (IIP), Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Employment Opportunity: Industry University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) Program Director Formal consideration of interested applicants will begin February 28, 2007 and will continue until a selection is made. This document replaces iip0701a. Dear Colleague: The Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnership (IIP) announce a nationwide search for a qualified candidate to fill a Program Director position for the Industry University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) Program at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Please review the attached Program Director IPA Position Description for the Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers program. This position will be filled on a one or two year Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignment. The total IPA assignment period may not exceed four years. Program Director positions at the NSF provide a challenging experience and an excellent opportunity to encourage and support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and education and for working with academe and industry to develop strategic plans to advance technology and produce graduates who are more effective in industrial practice. The successful candidate will work with other Program Directors in formulating and implementing improvements in the Program, developing cooperation among government, academia, and industry, fostering outreach to underrepresented groups, and providing leadership within NSF and the research community. Should you or your colleagues be interested in this position, please contact the IIP Search Committee Coordinator, Glenn H. Larsen (contact information below) and forward a Letter of Interest and your vita via either e-mail (preferred method) or mail by February 28, 2007. Applications will be reviewed immediately after this date. Glenn H. Larsen, IIP/IUCRC Search Committee Coordinator Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 505N Arlington, VA 22230 Phone: (703) 292-4607 Fax: 703/292-9052 Email: glarsen@nsf.gov SBIR/STTR I/UCRC GOALI PFI Program Director IPA Position Description for© Industry/University Cooperative Research Program (I/UCRC) February 7, 2007 Table of Contents 1 Overview 2 Purpose 3 Responsibilities 4 Organization 5 Relationships 6 Skills 7 Qualifications 8 Traits 9 Work Environment 10 Salary 11 Special Conditions Overview The Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRCs) program develops long-term partnerships among industry, academe, and government. The centers are catalyzed by a small investment from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and are primarily supported by center members, with NSF taking a supporting role in their development and evolution. Members of a center form an Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to help establish the research agenda of a given center. I/UCRCs stimulate highly leveraged industry/university cooperation by focusing on fundamental research recommended by Industrial Advisory Boards. More information about the I/UCRC program is available at http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/iucrc/about.jsp . Enabling I/UCRC partnerships require careful management and proactive communications to integrate member research needs, multiple university assets, and center interactions into a single cohesive center. There are approximately 40 centers, each of which holds two day, semi-annual meetings. Because this integration is so critical to the continued successful evolution of the I/UCRC program, an IPA program director is needed to help manage and coordinate the program and center activities. The assignee is expected to assist in I/UCRC program coordination, planning, and administration of the I/UCRC program within the framework of agency policies, strategic plans, missions, objectives, and resources under the guidance of the I/UCRC Program Team Leader. The key objectives for the IPA Program Director's role are: Specific oversight and review of the I/UCRCs; Analysis of center research programs, industrial collaboration and center management; Provide management guidance to IUCRC directors and the Industrial Advisory Boards (IAB) for each center; Development of strategies to promote synergy among research centers and sites; Planning, implementing, controlling, and general management of I/UCRC proposal review panels for I/UCRC grants and supplements; and Assist other programs of the division as assigned. I/UCRCs require frequent communications with members and center staff to coordinate and integrate NSF I/UCRC methodologies and processes. It cannot be overstated that the success of communications is critical to the success of a center's operations and research. The IPA Program Director will require strong leadership and people management skills. Purpose The purpose of this role is to help provide consistency in the management and operations across approximately 40 I/UCRCs within the guidelines of NSF, the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships, and the Industry/University Cooperative Research Program while enabling centers to grow and expand their research base through industry participation. Responsibilities In addition to the objectives in Section 1, the IPA Program Director shares in the responsibility for the overall success of the I/UCRC program that include planned centers, centers in operation, and centers that have graduated from NSF funding to self-sufficiency. The shared responsibilities to manage centers may include the following: Center Initiation (Letter of Intent) Recruit suitability skilled and qualified center directors and co-directors. Review proposal feasibility studies to ensure that proposed new centers are achievable and sustainable. Provide management and operational guidance to prospective center directors. Determine effects on funding with total operational budget. Contact reviewers and hold a panel to evaluate proposed centers. Provide management guidance to prospective center directors on the creation of marketing, financial, staffing, and research plans. Center Planning (Planning Grant and Full Proposals) Work with center directors to schedule the phases, activities, and tasks required to undertake the center. Review and provide guidance to proposed center standards and procedures for quality assurance and quality control Establish with center directors to schedule the required resources (meeting deliverables for planning grants). Communicate member concerns with center management to achieve overall member satisfaction with research projects and their deliverables. Help centers to establish a clear Communications Plan. Project Execution (Ongoing) Generate and promote interest in growth centers that incorporate multiple institutions. Control and monitor the program budget to ensure that the program remains within budget Coordinate with other NSF and federal organizations to arranging government leveraging of resources. Ensure that defined quality targets are achieved, by undertaking quality assurance and quality control Monitor, control, and manage the implementation of center change requests Identify and resolve all issues currently affecting the program. Evaluate and promote program and center activities Keep program stakeholders regularly and suitably informed of program progress Review and act on annual reports submitted by center directors. Ensure that center directors provide annual statistical and other information required by the program. Project Closure Undertake all actions necessary to formally graduate a center. Organization An organization chart showing the I/UCRC program is depicted below. [Organization Chart] Dr. Edward Clancy's IPA appointment ends on August 31, 2007. Relationships The IPA Program Director receives instructions and assignments directly from the Senior Program Director for the I/UCRC program and operates autonomously within the parameters established by the program and assignments. The Program Director will also have a direct relationship with the people in the following roles: Program Manager. The Program Director will work with the Program Manager to ensure that he is provided with the support and guidance needed. The Program Director will keep the Program Manager properly informed of the status of all high-level risks, issues and changes throughout the Center Lifecycle. Industry Advisory Board (IAB). Each center has an industry advisory board. The Program Manager must ensure that the needs of the IAB are considered and acted upon by center management. The IAB requires research project status information to information to enable the board to make informed strategic decisions for research project that assure continued member involvement. Center and Site Directors. The Program Director support center directors by providing the advice, guidance and mentoring necessary to help them to achieve their center success. Other IIP and I/UCRC Program Directors. The Program Director will lead, motivate, and inspire fellow team members to achieve their objectives by ensuring that each team member works for the success of the overall division. NSF and Center Management. The Program Director will keep NSF management informed of the progress of the program, as appropriate. The Program Director must use discretion, by handling all confidential information with the greatest of care. NSF and Center Staff. This program will likely impact on the roles and responsibilities of many staff member within NSF and its centers. The Program Director must therefore keep all affected staff regularly informed of important development, new opportunities, the status of the program, any changes that affect their roles. Skills The Program Director must have the following key skills and competencies: Leadership Ability to define clear program objectives and motivate and inspire teams to performance Strong people management skills with experience managing teams under difficult circumstances Skill resolving conflict in high stress environments Exceptional negotiation and problem solving skills Strong communication and presentation skills Industry and University Research Management A detailed understanding of the research and development lifecycle The ability to implement a structured center methodology Team Management Understanding of the required motivators to maximize team performance Ability to clearly and concisely define objectives for I/UCRCs and their teams Skill in building, guiding, and supporting teams Financial Management Ability to construct a detailed project budget and control expenditure against this budget Skill in producing accurate program forecasts throughout the center lifecycle Communications and Marketing Management Excellent skills in client relations with ability to present difficult propositions in a clear and positive way Ability to take on IAB and center problems and issues to create a workable solution wherever possible Ability to help promote the I/UCRC program to potential members and have them participate in the center program. Qualifications Required Qualifications: Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent experience in engineering, science and technology or related discipline plus six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position. The ideal candidate will also have the following experience: Research administration, contract, and managerial experience demonstrating disciplinary and interdisciplinary expertise University center experience in highly desirable Experience managing difficult and complex projects Demonstrable presentation skills are especially important. Traits 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. Work Environment The following statements describe the general working conditions applying to this role: The Program Directors can expect a wide variety of stakeholders to attempt to influence the way in which the centers are operated and managed This an extremely challenging position due to the extent of center diversity and composition. Salary For an IPA assignment, the individual remains on the payroll of his/her home institution and the institution continues to administer pay and benefits. NSF will reimburse the institution for NSF's negotiated share of the costs. Individuals eligible for an IPA assignment include employees of State and local government agencies, institutions of higher education, Indian tribal governments, federally funded research and development centers, and qualified non-profit organizations. For more information regarding a IPA assignments, visit our website at http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps . Special Conditions The following special conditions also apply to this role, requiring: Long working hours outside the regular workweek for some activities Frequent travel.