Dear Colleague Letter: Division of Human Resource Development, Program Director Position

Division of Human Resource Development
Program Director Positions
Employment Opportunities—Dear Colleague Letter

May 29, 2009

Dear Colleague:

The Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) announces a nationwide search for a Program Director position at the National Science Foundation (NSF).  Appointments will usually be made for one year and may be extended for an additional year by mutual agreement.

HRD serves as a focal point for NSF’s agency-wide commitment to enhancing the quality and excellence of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research through broadening participation by underrepresented groups and institutions.  The Division’s programs aim to increase the participation by underrepresented minorities and minority-serving institutions, women and girls, and persons with disabilities at every level of the science and engineering enterprise.  In so doing, these programs contribute to attainment of an outcome goal of the NSF Strategic Plan FY 2006-2011: Cultivate a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce, and expand the scientific literacy of all citizens.  Programs within HRD have a strong focus on partnerships and collaborations in order to maximize the preparation of al well-trained scientific and instructional workforce for the new millennium.  Additional information about the division and its programs may be found at http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=HRD.

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.  Discharging 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. Experience as a reviewer and/or principal investigator is a real advantage.

Successful candidates will be expected to work with other staff in the division in managing the following program:

ADVANCE Program.  The ADVANCE program seeks to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers, thereby contributing to the development of a more diverse science and engineering workforce.  ADVANCE encourages institutions of higher education and the broader STEM community to address various aspects of STEM academic culture and institutional structure that may differentially affect women faculty and academic administrators.  As such, ADVANCE is an integral part of the NSF’s multifaceted strategy to broaden participation in the STEM workforce, and supports the critical role of the Foundation in advancing the status of women in academic science and engineering.  Additional information about the ADVANCE program is available at:
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5383.

It is anticipated that a Program Director will be needed for an appointment beginning in summer 2009.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline or a combination of relevant education and equivalent experience in one of the fields and a Ph.D. in a related STEM field.  Candidates must have six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.  Outstanding candidates will possess additional experience in gender and diversity studies.  Also desirable are knowledge of the general scientific community and strong skills in written and oral communication.  All appointees are expected to function effectively both within specific programs and as part of a team, contributing to and coordinating with offices throughout the Foundation and with other Federal and state government agencies and private sector organizations.

The Program Director position recruited under this announcement will be filled under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA).

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.  The individual remains an employee of the home institution, and NSF provides funding toward the assignee’s salary and benefits.

For additional information about NSF’s rotational programs, please see “ROTATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND EDUCATORS” on the NSF website at http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps.

Individuals interested in applying for a Program Director position should send a current resume or CV and statement of interest to:

Dr. James H. Wyche, Director
Division of Human Resource Development
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 815
Phone:     703-292-8640
Fax:         703-292-9018
E-mail: jwyche@nsf.gov 

NSF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO EMPLOYING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION.