September 26, 2014

Dear Colleague:

The Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC), in the Directorate for Engineering, is seeking a Program Director in the area of Engineering Education through a temporary ("rotator") appointment. The appointment will be made for one year, and it may be extended for additional years by mutual agreement. Formal consideration of interested applicants will begin January 15, 2015 and will continue until a selection is made. The selected applicant is expected to start in May 2015.

Through its funding portfolio the Engineering Education Program focuses on informing the creation of a more agile engineering education ecosystem that offers diverse pathways to engineering careers to all members of society and that dynamically and rapidly adapts to meet the changing needs of society and the nation's economy. The objective of the program is to improve the quality and the impact of engineering education at all levels, through investments that inform the Nation's understanding of the complex, distributed engineering education system.

EEC supports research in engineering education by awarding grants through four major funding programs:

• Research in Engineering Education - focuses on achieving systemic improvements by exploring: how to broaden pathways into and through engineering; how engineering learning is credentialed; understanding how to scale engineering education innovations; how learning in educational ecosystems is advanced; and how engineering-specific learning theories are developed.
• Revolutionizing Engineering Departments - convenes teams comprising a department head or chair, an engineering education researcher, and a social scientist with expertise in department cultures to drive long-term systemic change at the department level; as part of both the agency-wide IUSE initiative (Improving Undergraduate STEM Education) and the new PFE initiative in engineering (Professional Formation of Engineers).
• Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) - recognizes exceptional junior faculty in the area of engineering education research and practice.
• Research Initiation Grants in Engineering Education - seeks to enable engineering faculty who are renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on their campus to initiate collaborations with colleagues in the learning and cognitive sciences to address difficult, boundary-spanning problems in how we educate engineers.

Additionally the EEC Engineering Education Program Director is active in cross-agency programs such as IUSE (Improving Undergraduate STEM Education) and CCE-STEM (Cultivating Cultures of Ethical STEM).

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. This responsibility requires knowledge in the appropriate disciplines along with: 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.

Persons wishing to apply for this position are referred to the EEC Divisional web page, https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=eec, for a description of the Division.

Qualifications of a successful candidate include a Ph.D. or equivalent professional experience in an engineering discipline, plus after the award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration and/or managerial experience in academe, industry, or government. The appointee is expected to have knowledge of research in an engineering and/or engineering education discipline. Leadership experience in engineering education (departmental, college, university, societies, journals, etc.) is required. Demonstrated achievements in classroom teaching and student advising are important attributes for the successful applicant. Knowledge of the general scientific and engineering community and strong skills in written and oral communication are also desirable. The appointee is expected to function effectively as part of a team, contributing to and coordinating with offices throughout NSF and with other Federal and state government agencies and private sector organizations.

The position recruited under this announcement will be filled under the following appointment option:

Intergovernmental Personnel Assignment (IPA) Act: 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.

For additional information on Intergovernmental Personnel Act assignments at NSF, please visit http://nsf.gov/about/career_opps/rotators/ipa.jsp.

Applications will be accepted from US Citizens and Non US 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. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will be considered for IPA only.

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

Division of Engineering Education and Centers,
Suite 585 National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230
Phone: 703-292-8380
Fax: 703-292-9051/2
Attn: Dr. Don Lewis Millard, Acting Deputy Division Director
Email: dmillard@nsf.gov

Although paper applications will be accepted at the above address, it is preferred that they be received electronically. Please send electronic submissions to dmillard@nsf.gov.

NSF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO EMPLOYING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION