Date: February 15, 2008

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Dear Colleague:

The Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) announces a nationwide search to fill two Program Director positions.  National Science Foundation (NSF) Program Directors are in charge of specific research areas.  They solicit, receive and review research and education proposals, make funding recommendations and administer awards. They are also responsible for interaction with other Federal agencies, forming and guiding interagency collaborations, and for service to Foundation-wide activities.

Formal consideration of interested applications will begin April 1, 2008 and will continue until a selection is made.

The Program Director positions addressed by this letter are for the following programs in the CMMI Division:

            Operations Research
            Engineering Design

NSF Program Directors bear the primary responsibility for carrying out the Foundation’s overall mission to support innovative and merit-evaluated activities in fundamental research and education that contribute to the nation’s technological strength, security and welfare.  The positions require a commitment to high standards of intellectualism and ethical conduct, a considerable breadth of interest, receptivity to new ideas, a strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity.

Persons wishing to apply for these positions are referred to the Divisional web page, https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=CMMI, for a description of the program.  These persons are also encouraged to contact the current Program Director, who is identified on the program web page, for more information.

Qualifications of a successful candidate include a PhD degree in a relevant discipline, an established and recognized record of research and education in a field appropriate to the position, and managerial experience in academe, industry or government, plus six years of successful research and research administration. The position requires effective oral and written communication skills, and familiarity with NSF programs and activities is highly desirable.  The incumbent is expected to function effectively both as an individual within the specific NSF program and as a member of crosscutting and interactive teams.  The incumbent must also demonstrate a capability to work across government agencies to promote NSF activities and to leverage program funds through interagency collaborations.

These positions may be filled under the following appointment:

Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Appointment – Under an IPA appointment, a candidate’s home institution receives a grant to cover the appointee’s salary and benefits, and the candidate remains an employee of his/her home institution while performing duties at NSF.  Persons 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 years.

Applicants should indicate in their cover letter that they are applying to the Operations Research program or the Engineering Design program.  Please submit your application to:

CMMI Program Director Search Committee
Dr. George A. Hazelrigg, Room 545
Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation
Directorate for Engineering
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230

Applications also will be received electronically.  Please make electronic submissions to ghazelri@nsf.gov.