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April 30, 2015

Dear Colleague:

The Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) announces a nationwide search to fill the Program Director position for the Materials Engineering and Processing (MEP) Program. The National Science Foundation (NSF) Program Directors are in charge of specific research areas. They solicit, receive and review research and education proposals, make funding recommendations and administer awards. They are also responsible for interaction with other Federal agencies, forming and guiding interagency collaborations, and for service to Foundation-wide activities.

Formal consideration of interested applications will begin May 15, 2015 and will continue until a selection is made.

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. The positions require a commitment to high standards of intellectualism and ethical conduct, a considerable breadth of interest, receptivity to new ideas, a strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity.

The Materials Engineering and Processing (MEP) program supports fundamental research addressing the processing and mechanical performance of engineering materials by investigating the interrelationship of materials processing, structure, properties and/or life-cycle performance for targeted applications. The program supports fundamental research on bulk materials intended for use in structural and functional applications, as well as research on material surfaces and interfaces. The successful candidate must demonstrate in-depth expertise in materials engineering, especially with respect surface and interface engineering, tribology, processing of thin films (e.g. deposition, coating, printing), and/or small-scale configurations where interfacial effects are dominant. The MEP program is team-managed, highly interdisciplinary and participates in several cross-cutting initiatives within the National Science Foundation. Thus, the MEP Program Director will be expected to work both independently and cooperatively as a member of a team-based program structure. Experience working in interdisciplinary teams is highly desired.

Persons wishing to apply for this position are referred to the Divisional web page, hhttps://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504950&org=CMMI, for a description of the program. These persons are also encouraged to contact the current Program Directors, who are identified on the program web page, for more information.

Requirements of the position include a PhD. degree in an appropriate field plus, after award of the PhD, six years or more of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position. The position requires effective oral and written communication skills, and familiarity with NSF programs and activities is highly desirable. The incumbent is expected to function effectively both as an individual contributor  and as a member of crosscutting and interactive teams. The incumbent must also demonstrate a capability to work across government agencies to promote NSF activities and to leverage program funds through interagency collaborations.

The Program Director position recruited under this announcement may be filled under one of the following appointment options:

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. The individual remains an employee of the home institution and NSF provides the negotiated funding toward the assignee’s salary and benefits. 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. For additional information regarding IPA positions, please visit the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/rotators/ipa.jsp.

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.

Temporary Excepted Service Appointment: Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Candidates who do not have civil service or reinstatement eligibility will not obtain civil service status if selected. Candidates currently in the competitive service will be required to waive competitive civil service rights if selected. Usual civil service benefits (retirement, health benefits, and life insurance) are applicable for appointments of more than one year. Temporary appointments may not exceed three years.

For additional information on NSF's rotational programs, please see "Programs for Scientists, Engineers, and Educators" on the NSF website at https://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/rotators/.

Applications will be accepted from 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.  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.

Applicants should indicate in their cover letter that they are applying to the MEP program. Please submit your application to:

CMMI Program Director Search Committee

Dr. George A. Hazelrigg
Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation
Directorate for Engineering
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230
Email: ghazelri@nsf.gov

Applications may also be submitted electronically to ghazelri@nsf.gov.

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