April 30, 2016

Dear Colleagues:

The Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS), within the Directorate for Engineering at the National Science Foundation, announces a nationwide search for senior-level engineering researcher to fill an open Program Director position in the Energy, Power, Control, and Networks (EPCN) program.

Formal consideration of interested applications will begin May 2, 2016 and will continue until a selection is made. The division is looking to fill this position during the summer timeframe.

Program Directors have an unparalleled opportunity and responsibility to ensure NSF-funded research is at the forefront of advancing fundamental knowledge. In support of that, Program Directors are responsible for extensive interaction with academic research communities and industry, as well as interaction with other Federal agencies that may lead to development of interagency collaborations. Within this context, Program Directors solicit, receive and review research and education proposals, make funding recommendations, administer awards, and undertake interaction with research communities in these fields. They are also responsible for service to Foundation-wide activities and initiatives that together accomplish NSF's strategic goals to: 1) Transform the Frontiers of Science and Engineering, 2) Stimulate Innovation and Address Societal Needs through Research and Education, and 3) Excel as a Federal Science Agency. The position requires 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 ECCS Division addresses fundamental research issues underlying component and device technologies, energy and power research, including smart grid, controls, computation, networks, communications and cyber technologies, and supports the integration and networking of complex intelligent systems principles at the nano, micro, and macro scales for a variety of application domains in healthcare, energy, communications, critical infrastructures, environment, homeland security, transportation, and manufacturing. The Division is organized around three broad programs: Electronic, Photonic and Magnetic Device Technologies (EPMD); Communications, Circuits, and Sensing Systems (CCSS); and Energy, Power, Control and Networks (EPCN). For further information, please visit the ECCS web site at https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?org=ECCS.

The successful candidate will possess broad and demonstrated experience to address emerging research in the areas of electrical power grid research and integration of renewable energy sources into the power grid. In addition the applicant will have significant background in Control Theory and Hybrid Dynamical Systems; Networked Multi-agent Systems; Cyber Physical Systems Modeling and Control; System Theory for Biology and Medicine; Modeling of the Brain; Control and Optimization in Buildings; Transportation, and Robotics; Adaptive and Intelligent Systems; Neural Networks; Energy Harvesting, Storage Devices and Systems; Solar and Wind Energy and Integration of Renewables with Grid; Monitoring, Protection and Cyber Security of Power Grid; Advanced Power Electronics and Electric Machines; Electric and Hybrid Vehicles; Integration with Grid; Policy, Economics, Consumer Behavior and the Power Grid.

Qualification requirements for the position are a Ph.D. or equivalent professional experience in the relevant discipline in engineering or science, plus six or more years of successful research, research administration and/or managerial experience in academe, industry, or government. The candidate must demonstrate vision and leadership to identify and support long-term research and education that contributes to the mission of the Division and NSF. NSF Program Directors have the primary responsibility for carrying out the Agency'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 requires expertise in appropriate disciplines to implement the proposal review and evaluation process for the program, as well as strong skills in written and oral communication, a commitment to high standards, considerable breadth of interest and receptivity to new ideas, strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity. The position provides a challenging experience and an excellent opportunity to encourage and support engineering research and education. The individual will work with other Program Directors in formulating research strategies, developing collaboration and cooperation across the Foundation and among government, academe and industry, fostering outreach to underrepresented groups, and providing leadership within NSF and the research community.

The Program Director position recruited under this announcement may be filled under the following rotational programs:

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 institution 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 institution or to the carrier. Appointments are usually made for a one-year period and may be extended for an additional year by mutual agreement. Please see the link https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/vsee.jsp.

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.

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. Please see the link https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/ipa.jsp.

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 as an 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.

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/careers/ and https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/microsite/.

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

Dominique Dagenais
Acting Deputy Division Director
Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS)
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 525
Arlington, Virginia 22230
Phone: (703) 292-8339
Fax: (703) 292-9147
E-mail: ddagenai@nsf.gov

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A HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION