KEY REQUIREMENTS

The Division Director leads a team of program officers in managing a broad portfolio of investments in  physics research and education. The incumbent has managerial and oversight responsibilities for the effective use of Division staff and resources in meeting organizational goals and objectives. This includes directing the activities of the Division, assessing the needs and trends in research and education related to the Division's programs, implementing overall strategic planning, and policy setting. The Director supervises and provides leadership and guidance to senior level PHY staff (Deputy Division Director), PHY program officers, administrative and support personnel. The Director determines funding requirements, prepares and justifies budget estimates, balances program needs, allocates resources, oversees the evaluation of proposals and recommendations for awards and declinations, and represents NSF to relevant external groups. The Director fosters partnerships with other Divisions, Directorates, Federal agencies, scientific organizations, and the academic community.

The mission of the Division of Physics is to enable fundamental research and education across the intellectual frontiers of the field.  Programs in six subareas support research that covers a broad spectrum of energy, time, and distance scales.   Physics seeks a deep understanding of processes that describe the formation and current structure of the cosmos, the behavior of matter where quantum effects dominate, and the structure of atomic and molecular entities that shape and control the everyday world that we live in. Physics also supports the development of new tools and techniques needed to expand and refine our understanding within these many areas - from particle accelerators to probe physics at the energy frontier, to femtosecond lasers to probe and control atomic and molecular systems, to LIGO, a new window on the universe.  The knowledge gained through basic research will ultimately have broad impact on other fields of science and on the health, economic strength, and defense of society, while the research activity itself will contribute to the education of the Nation’s advanced high-tech workforce.

The successful candidate will possess an established record of significant achievement in research administration as well as leadership responsibility in academe, industry, or government. In addition to having a strong record of research and education accomplishments within his or her technical communities, the Division Director must be experienced and competent in technical, financial, and administrative management.  He/she must work well with people, be an effective communicator, and act as a mentor to continuously develop the diversity of talents and skills of his or her colleagues at all levels.

EXECUTIVE/MANAGERIAL

Essential

1. Leading Change.  Demonstrated ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals.  Includes the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

2. Leading People.  Demonstrated ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals.  Includes the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

3. Results-Driven Leadership.  Demonstrated ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations.  Includes the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

4. Business Acumen.  Demonstrated ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

5. Building Coalitions.  Demonstrated ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, non-profit or private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

Applicants currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by OPM are not required to address the Executive/Managerial Qualifications (ECQs/Ems); but a narrative statement for each of the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) is recommended.

For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's
Guide to Executive Qualifications.

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL

Essential

1. Ph.D. or equivalent professional experience, or a combination of education and equivalent experience, in physics or a closely related field.

2. Substantial research contributions and strong evidence of scholarship in areas related to physics as evidenced by publications, innovative leadership in research administration, and professional leadership and awards in these technical areas.

3. Skill in balancing complex and diverse program demands and available resources in response to major advances or changing needs of science and engineering research and technology.

4. Broad understanding of universities and other institutions where research and education in science and engineering is conducted including knowledge of grant administration and fiscal management with experience in physics research support.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Applicants will be screened for basic eligibility according to the qualification requirements.  Eligible applicants will be reviewed by an Evaluation Panel according to the criteria based on the qualification requirements.  The best qualified candidates will be referred to the appropriate official who will recommend selection.  All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, physical disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit reason.

There are no questions to preview in the link below.

A GREAT LOCATION!  The National Science Foundation is conveniently located one block from the Ballston Metro Station, a few blocks from Routes 66 and 50, and about three miles from downtown Washington.  Employees may rent parking spaces in the building garage.  There are many shops and restaurants within easy walking distance.  Employees receive the Federal benefits package and NSF offers:

    Pre-tax parking
    Public transportation subsidy
    Child Development Center on site
    Child care subsidy
    Flexible working hours
    Telecommuting
    Physical Fitness Facility on site
    NSF Federal Credit Union on site
    Health Services Unit on site
    Employee Assistance Program

OTHER INFORMATION:

You must submit your application so that it will be received by 11:59 PM Eastern time on the closing date of the announcement.

Ensure that your application includes the documents listed below and reflects your background in terms of the qualification requirements for the position.

1. Resume or other application format of your choice.  Your application should contain the following information: Announcement number and your country of citizenship (If you are not a U.S. citizen, please indicate whether or not you are a permanent U.S. resident, and whether or not you are actively seeking U.S. citizenship. Therefore, you are required to provide documentation that confirms you are actively seeking citizenship at the time you submit your application.  Non-citizens who do not provide documentation will not be considered); Information about your education, your major, and type and year of degree(s); and Information about all your work experience, including job titles, duties, and accomplishments, employer's name and phone number, number of hours worked per week, starting and ending dates (month and year), and salary.  If you have held various positions with the same employer, describe each separately.

2. Narrative statement addressing your background in terms of (a)the executive/managerial, and (b)the professional/technical requirements.

3. NSF Form 1232, Applicant Survey.  We also ask that you complete and submit the Applicant Survey Form.  This will help NSF to ensure that our recruiting efforts are attracting a diverse candidate pool; it will be used for statistical purposes only.


APPLICATION SUBMISSION:  Applications must be received by the closing date on this announcement.  Applications may be transmitted electronically to execsrch@nsf.gov or mailed or delivered to the following address:
 National Science Foundation.
Division of Human Resource Management.
Executive Personnel, Room 315.
ATTN:PHY-2012-0009

4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22230

Inquiries or questions should be directed to: Executive Personnel Staff at (703) 292-8267; hearing impaired individuals should call TDD (703) 292-5090 for assistance.

Additional information on the NSF mission, structure, programs, and operations may be accessed through our website.  The NSF provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis.  If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please review your applicaiton packet to ensure that you have submitted all documentation that you want considered.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

The Evaluation Panel will rate and rank each eligible applicant based on the qualification requirements and refer the top candidate to the selecting official.