December 20, 2016

Dear Colleague:

The Directorate for Engineering, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) at the National Science Foundation (NSF), announces a nationwide search for a Program Director with core engineering expertise and interdisciplinary research interests across fields such as systems science and engineering; robotics, dynamics, control theory, and mechatronics; cognitive, behavioral and perceptual sciences; and applied computing. An expected role of this Program Director will be to define and create new interdisciplinary program opportunities encompassing these and related areas.

Formal consideration of applications will begin on January 30, 2017, and will continue until a selection is made, with an intended start date of Summer, 2017.

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 new Program Director will be responsible for fostering a research community at the nexus of human and machine intelligence, perception, locomotion, and manipulation. A distinguishing characteristic of this research area will be an integrated treatment of human intent, perception, and behavior, in interaction with embodied and intelligent engineered systems capable of moving within, and directly acting upon, their surroundings. The new Program Director will identify, encourage, and support projects resulting in the creation of new computable theories, and in the physical manifestation of these theories, towards creating a holistic engineering science of cognition and embodiment, as manifested in systems with inseparable human and machine elements. This work will encompass not only how mind interacts with motor function in order to manipulate machines, but also how, in turn, machine response and function may influence both mind and motor function. The new Program Director will encourage projects with impacts that span the full breadth of the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation. Methodological innovation is emphasized, as is a focus on engaging new and emerging thematic areas.

Qualifications Required:

Qualifications for the position include a PhD degree in an appropriate field, along with demonstrated success in appropriate areas of research, research administration, and/or management for a period of at least six years beyond the Ph.D. Familiarity with NSF in general, and with the Engineering and related directorates in particular, is highly desirable. Effective oral and written communication skills are essential. 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 Program Director will work both independently and cooperatively as a member of a team-based program structure.

The position may be filled with 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. 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. IPA appointments are not convertible to permanent federal employment. For additional information regarding IPA positions, please visit the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/ipa.jsp.

Visiting Scientist, Engineer or Educator (VSEE) Appointment: A VSEE appointment 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 as Federal employees. 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 one year 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 status 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/careers/ and https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/microsite/.

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. Permanent US residents applying for Temporary Excepted Service Appointments or Visiting Scientist, Engineer or Educator (VSEE) appointments are required to provide documentation at the time of application confirming they are actively seeking U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens who do not provide documentation will be considered only for the IPA program.

Applicants are asked to 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.

NSF is relocating to Alexandria, Virginia. In late summer of 2017, NSF will begin the transition from its current location in Arlington, Virginia, to 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314. The new location is adjacent to the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station on the Yellow Line.

Inquiries regarding this position should be directed to Dr. Jordan Berg (JBERG@nsf.gov) or Dr. David Mendonca (MENDONCA@nsf.gov).

Applicants should indicate in their cover letter that they are applying in response to CMMI 17-001 for the Program Director position. Please submit your application electronically to:

CMMI Program Director Search Committee
Dr. George A. Hazelrigg
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Engineering
Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation
4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22230
Email: ghazelri@nsf.gov

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