The National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for multiple Interdisciplinary (Program Director) positions for the Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program within the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), Division Innovation and Technology Ecosystems (ITE) in Alexandria, VA. For more information on TIP please click here.

Duties

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 fulfill 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. This position is in the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) in the Division of Innovation and Technology Ecosystems (ITE), under the Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program. This program catalyzes and fosters innovation ecosystems across the U.S. to advance critical technologies, address national and societal challenges, stimulate economic growth and job creation, spur regional innovation and talent development, and foster partnerships across industry, academia, government, nonprofits, civil society, and communities of practice. The responsibilities of this NSF Program Director include, enabling the growth of regional innovation ecosystems; oversight of current and future awards; project and program evaluation over the short- and long-term horizons; long-range planning and budget development; administration of the merit review process and proposal recommendations; development of programs including writing solicitations and management plans; development of workforce training for awardees, development of cross-sector partnership and engagement strategies, preparation of press releases, feature articles and material describing advances in the portfolio of supported awards and emerging technology innovations, and coordination and liaison with other programs in NSF, other Federal agencies and organizations. Additional duties and responsibilities include: PROGRAM PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT Ensures that the NSF Engines program promotes use-inspired research and translation to technology innovations across a diverse set of national challenges to seed, accelerate and sustain the growth of robust, equitable and inclusive innovation ecosystems in all regions of the country. Ensures that the NSF Engines program supports workforce development strategies for future practitioners and entrepreneurs, in addition to students and researchers. Assures consideration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within all aspects of the program. Ensures that the NSF Engines program leverages public and private partnerships serving to foster co-design/co-creation, co-investment, piloting, prototyping and "market pull" of research results and experiential learning methodologies, giving rise to critical technologies, solutions, and new startups that address societal challenges. Maintains a healthy balance of support for all the needs of the research, innovation, education, workforce development, and economic development enterprise through program, division, directorate, Foundation, or interagency activities. Manages program resources to provide optimal appropriate technical judgment to ensure integrity and consistency in the grant/declination process without conflict of interests, and with balance among appropriate sectors, and participation of all qualified researchers and stakeholder representatives. Incorporates cross-directorate responsibilities into program administration. Manages an effective, timely merit review process, with attention to increasing the size and quality of the reviewer pools and insuring participation by women, minorities, and disabled scientists. Provides technical expertise, evaluation, and advice for other programs in NSF, including international programs, and other research programs, and cross-directorate programs. Advises and assists in the development of short-and-long range plans, establishing goals and objectives for support of use-inspired research and innovation programs. Plans the budget for the program/programs considering past, present and future fiscal years, allocates resources within the budget by distributing scarce resources among major competitive programs, and manages post-award evaluation. Monitors award portfolio for waste, fraud and abuse. REPRESENTATION, COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP Represents the Program, Division and Foundation within the academic, industry, philanthropic, and investment communities, with other NSF Divisions, with other appropriate federal, state and local governments, and with the public, accurately reflecting TIP and NSF policy and positions. - Creates and maintains linkages to other NSF units and other Federal agencies in pursuit of the overall NSF mission. Participates in staff, panel, committee and other meetings, providing input relevant to program area and/or Division. Pursues affirmative action and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) goals.

Requirements

Qualifications

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in an appropriate field plus after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position; OR a Master's degree in an appropriate field plus after award of the degree, eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position. Appropriate fields of study must fall under the OPM series of Social Sciences 0101, Biological Sciences 0401, Engineering 0801, Physical Sciences 1301, or Mathematical Sciences 1501. Successful candidate's experience will include support of investment in and/or innovation and entrepreneurship, including the translation of research results to market and society, as well as building cross-sector partnerships spanning some combination of academia, industry, government, state, local, and tribal governments, civil society, and communities of practice, or developing innovation ecosystems. Tech transfer, policy, investment, and economic development experience is highly desired.

Education

Please refer to the Qualifications section.

If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.

Contacts

• Address NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, DIVISION OF INNOVATIVE AND TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEMS 2415 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314 US
• Name: Staffing and Classification Branch
• Email: [email protected]