June 12,2018

Dear Colleagues:

The Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS), within the Directorate of Geosciences, at the National Science Foundation, announces a nationwide search to fill Program Director rotator positions within the Geospace Section. Rotator positions can be either Intergovernmental Personnel Assignment (IPA) or Visiting Scientist, Engineer, and Educator (VSEE) assignments. For more information regarding rotator assignments and eligibility, visit our website at https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/.

Formal consideration of interested applicants will begin August 1, 2018 and will continue until selection is made.

We seek a program director(s) with broad knowledge of geospace science, to enable contribution to multiple programs within the Geospace Section. In the longer term, this letter is intended to serve as an ongoing mechanism for recruiting program directors to fill positions vacated by rotators who have returned to their home institutions.

At the National Science Foundation (NSF), Program Directors help administer specific research areas as well as research infrastructure and education programs. NSF Program Directors help solicit, receive, and review proposals, make funding recommendations, administer awards, and manage the program portfolios. They are also responsible for interaction with other Federal Agencies, forming and guiding interagency collaborations, and for service to Foundation-wide activities.

NSF Program Directors bear the primary responsibility for carrying out the Foundation's overall mission to promote the progress of science and support innovative and merit-evaluated activities in fundamental research and education that contribute to the nation's technological strength, security and welfare. To fulfill these responsibilities in the Geospace Section requires a broad understanding of the science needs and opportunities in the Geospace Sciences; a commitment to high ethical standards; receptivity to a breadth of new ideas; and good judgment. In this process, you will have unique opportunities to influence, and help lead, the direction of research and infrastructure investments in Geospace sciences. In turn, the experiences this provides, and the knowledge gained in the process, will contribute to your professional development and to your understanding of best practices at the National Science Foundation and the community it serves.

Qualified candidates must possess a Ph.D. in a field of Physical Sciences pertaining to the broad area of geospace sciences plus, after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to these positions. Effective oral and written communication skills, and familiarity with NSF/AGS programs and activities is highly desirable. The incumbent is expected to function effectively, both as an individual within the Geospace section, and as a member of crosscutting and interdisciplinary teams in the AGS Division and more broadly with other parts of NSF. The incumbent must also demonstrate a capability to work across government agencies to promote NSF activities and to leverage program funds through interagency collaborations and partnerships.

As a Program Director you will likely:

• Assist in implementing the proposal review and evaluation process for the Division, including regular solicited proposals as well as special focused solicitations (e.g., cross-NSF, interagency, or with international cooperation).
• Conduct scientific/technical analyses of proposals received in the Geospace program.
• Select individuals to provide objective reviews of proposals either as ad hoc experts or as members of a panel.
• Conduct programmatic reviews, determine funds availability, and evaluate similar or related projects, including internal and external liaison.
• Negotiate technical and financial revisions of proposals as required.
• Conduct final review and evaluations of proposals and recommend awards or declinations based on sound judgment, resource availability, program goals, and peer reviewer comments.
• Evaluate projects, activities, and national multi-user facilities that are proposed or funded by conducting site visits and reviewing interim and final reports.
• Negotiate interagency agreements with other Federal agencies for transfer of funds to assist in the support of research, education, and research infrastructure.
• Assist within the Geospace programs, across the Division, with other agencies, international partners, and the science community, in the development of new research infrastructure initiatives and opportunities.
• Assist in the improvement and development of internal management systems for use in the Geospace Programs.

Rotator positions can be either Intergovernmental Personnel Assignment (IPA) or Visiting Scientist, Engineer, and Educator (VSEE) assignments. For more information regarding rotator assignments and eligibility, visit our website at https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/.

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 the negotiated 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.

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 institutions and placed on the NSF payroll. 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 institutions or to the carrier. Appointments are usually made for a one-year period and may be extended for an additional year by mutual agreement.

Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens. Recent changes in Federal Appropriations Law require Non-Citizens to meet certain eligibility criteria to be considered. Therefore, Non-Citizens must certify eligibility by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. This also applies to individuals considered for Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignments to NSF. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered eligible.

Individuals interested in applying for this position should send a current CV and letter of interest to:

Michael Wiltberger, Head Geospace Section
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, National Science Foundation
2415 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-292-8995
Fax: 703-292-9022
Email: mwiltber@nsf.gov

Questions about the positions can be directed to the above or any of the Geospace program directors:

Irfan Azeem Space Weather sazeem@nsf.gov.
Carrie Black, Acting Magnetospheric Physics cblack@nsf.gov
Ilia Roussev, Solar-Terrestrial Research iroussev@nsf.gov
Ruth Liberman, Aeronomy rliberman@nsf.gov
John Meriwether, Geospace Facilities jmeriwet@nsf.gov

NSF is an Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Employing a Highly Qualified Staff that Reflects the Diversity of Our Nation.