The Office of Cyberinfrastructure (OCI) https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=OCI at the National Science Foundation (NSF) announces a nationwide search for three senior-level researchers to serve as Program Directors. Formal consideration of interested applications will begin in December and will continue until selections are made. While disciplinary expertise will be expected for the program director, the focus of the search is to assemble a scholarly, open-minded, diverse and intellectually integrated group to join the present team in sharing the Office of Cyberinfrastructure's responsibilities within NSF's overall mission: to promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare, to secure the national defense. The Office currently has three specific areas of need:

Program Director for the cybersecurity area

The Program Director in this position leads and manages the cybersecurity research and development portfolio in OCI in response to community needs and in coordination with the community. This program director has experience in cybersecurity research, testing and deployment and has duties including: leading OCI participation in NSF's joint directorate program on Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) and management of OCI's Transition to Practice efforts in SaTC; coordinating with other US agency activities (for example, DOE and DHS) and their research and development activities; coordinating cybersecurity activities among NSF facilities; managing the current cybersecurity investment portfolio in OCI; and assisting NSF in setting strategic directions and funding area priorities for cybersecurity investments in OCI.

Program Director for the data infrastructure and research area

The program director in this position leads and manages data-focused cyberinfrastructure research and development in OCI as a core element in the acquisition, development and provisioning of state-of-the-art cyberinfrastructure resources, tools and services essential to transforming the conduct of 21st century data-enabled science, engineering, research, and education. This program director contributes to setting OCI and NSF strategic direction, including funding priorities, for data-focused cyberinfrastructure developments intended to foster cross-community advances, address multi-disciplinary, science driven, shared challenges while remaining responsive to differing scientific disciplinary requirements and priorities. Among this program director's responsibilities is integration of cyberinfrastructure advances, research, and education, as resources for continuing innovations in scientific discovery. Candidates for this position are expected to have substantial prior experience in effective transition of research developments and associated understanding to of data-focused cyberinfrastructure appropriate to multiple scientific disciplines

Program Director for the software in science and engineering area

The program director in this position leads and manages software-focused cyberinfrastructure research and development in OCI as a core element in the acquisition, development and provisioning of state-of-the-art cyberinfrastructure resources, tools and services essential to transforming the conduct of 21st century data-enabled science, engineering, research, and education. This program director contributes to setting OCI and NSF strategic direction, including funding priorities, for software-focused cyberinfrastructure developments intended to foster cross-community advances, address multi-disciplinary, science driven, shared challenges while remaining responsive to differing scientific disciplinary requirements and priorities. mong this program director's responsibilities is integration of cyberinfrastructure advances, research, and education, as resources for continuing innovations in scientific discovery. The candidate will have a deep understanding of the role that software plays in science and engineering, and an understanding of universities processes for teaching and research. Candidates are expected to have experience with the processes by which software is developed and used, both in small and large projects. It is desirable that the candidate will have some specific ideas about how the state of software in science and engineering and how NSF's interaction with it should change

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.

Qualifications of a successful candidate include a Ph.D. or equivalent professional experience in the relevant discipline, plus six or more years of successful research in the area of this program, research administration and/or substantial managerial experience in academe, industry, or government.

Periodic appointments to leadership positions of interdivisional, inter-directorate and interagency programs may be made. NSF is an equal opportunity employer, and makes special effort to attract applicants who are women or people with disabilities or members of underrepresented minorities.

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

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.

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.

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 "Rotational Programs for Scientists, Engineers and Educators" on the NSF website at https://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/rotators/.

In addition to addressing current openings, our intention is to develop a candidate pool for future consideration as other openings at the Program Director level become available in OCI. These needs are detailed and updated regularly on the NSF website: https://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps. We ask your assistance in conveying this information to those of your colleagues who have a compelling interest in the opportunities facing engineering education and research, would make a strong contribution to the work of OCI, and could meet the stimulating challenges of an appointment with the Foundation.

Candidates will be ranked in accord with the following factors:

1. Knowledge of NSF's and OCI's mission and programmatic activities, especially in advanced cyberinfrastructure technologies (networking, HPC, data, software); research, development, testing, prototypes and early deployment.
2. Knowledge and experience in one or more of the disciplines in the three areas of need.
3. The ability to manage proposal-driven grants programs, allocating resources to meet a broad spectrum of program goals and the ability to manage risks.
4. Experience in the management of large projects and multi-institutional collaborations, cooperative agreements, multi-agency, policy development and project management in general.
5. The ability to cooperate and work with peers in other scientific disciplines and to advocate program plans and policies to individuals in the Foundation, other government agenda and academic institutions.

Applications will be accepted from US Citizens. Due to a recent change in Federal Appropriations Law, only Non-Citizens who are permanent US residents and actively seeking citizenship can be considered for Federal appointments (i.e., Visiting Scientists, Engineers and Educators (VSEE) program, Temporary Excepted Service). 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 be considered only for the IPA program.

Should you or your colleagues be interested in this position, or wish to nominate suitable candidates, please email a current CV accompanied by a cover letter that highlights the background that specifically relates to the program objectives to:

Dr. Mark A. Suskin
Deputy Office Head
Office of Cyberinfrastructure
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Stafford I, Suite 1145
Arlington, VA 22230
Phone: 703-292-8970
Fax: 703-292-9060
Email: msuskin@nsf.gov

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