The National Science Foundation (NSF) is is an independent agency of the United States Government. Its vision is to enable the nation's future through its strategic goals of transforming the frontiers, innovating for society, and performing as a model organization. The Foundation seeks to realize these goals using five core values: vision, dedication to excellence, learning and growing, broad inclusiveness, and accountability to the research community and the taxpayer. NSF invests in supporting research that advances the frontiers of knowledge and establishes the nation as a leader in transformational science, in developing a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce and scientifically literate citizenry, in building the nation's research capacity with critical investments in advanced instruments, tools and facilities, and in cultivating a capable and responsive organization that promotes excellence in science and engineering research and education.

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) is one of eight NSF directorates. The focus of the SBE Directorate is to strengthen the capability of the social, behavioral, and economic sciences to strengthen the national capacity to perform and innovate. Increased innovation contributes to our national prosperity, security, and welfare. The Directorate's goals and strategies mirror those of the Foundation. The Directorate includes the Divisions of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) and Social and Economic Sciences (SES), the SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (SMA), and the National Center for Science and Statistics (NCSES). A staff of approximately 126 employees administers a budget of approximately $283 million annually.

The Assistant Director for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (AD/SBE) serves as a key member of NSF's senior management and policy team and provides leadership and direction to the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate programs and initiatives. The incumbent is responsible for planning and implementing programs, priorities, and policy within the framework of statutory and National Science Board authority. NSF seeks a candidate with outstanding leadership abilities; a deep sense of scholarship; a grasp of the issues facing the social, behavioral, and economic science communities in the areas of education and research; expertise with the production, analysis and dissemination of public data and statistics; and a commitment to the goals and strategies of the National Science Foundation.

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