February 5, 2018

Dear Colleagues:

The Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS) within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) announces a nationwide search to fill a Program Director position for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) program. The NSF IUCRC program enables industrially-relevant, pre-competitive research via structured, sustained public/private partnerships among industry, academe, and government. NSF supports the development and evolution of IUCRCs, providing a financial and procedural framework for membership and operations, in addition to best practices learned through decades of program experience. The opportunity for companies and other potential technology stakeholders to maintain close connections to a problem-focused research program provides significant value to industry, to university faculty and students, and to the nation.

IUCRCs offer a platform for significant leveraging of financial investment by members to accelerate the knowledge base in emerging technological and manufacturing sectors and develop an industrially savvy workforce to benefit US economy.

Formal consideration of applications will begin February 5, 2018, and will continue until a selection is made.

IUCRCs are composed of one or more University Sites and a number of Members. Sites bring together faculty and students to perform pre-competitive research around a particular focus area. Members, who provide funding and guidance, may be companies, state/federal/local governments, and non-profits. Additional information about the IUCRC program, including lists of current Centers, may be found at http://www.iucrc.org.

At this time, CISE/CNS seeks a Program Director to join the IUCRC staff. Program Directors at NSF are in charge of specific programs. They solicit, receive, and process research, infrastructure, and education proposals, make funding recommendations, administer awards, conduct site visits, and execute program activities. They are also responsible for interaction with other Federal agencies, forming and guiding interagency collaborations, and service to Foundation-wide activities.

The IUCRC Program Director team in CISE/CNS contributes to the development of a vision and plan for the IUCRC program with colleagues across the Foundation, and co-leads the execution of that plan for the existing IUCRC program. The IUCRC Program Directors ensure that the IUCRC program fosters an understanding of how to identify, develop, and support research areas that could benefit from transition of research from academia to industry. IUCRC Program Directors work closely with existing IUCRC Centers, participating periodically in Center meetings, in addition to reviewing proposals for new and renewing Centers.

Persons wishing to apply for this position are referred to the CNS divisional web page, https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=CNS, for a description of the division; and to the most recent IUCRC solicitation (https:/www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5501, for a description of the IUCRC program. Persons are also encouraged to contact the current IUCRC Program Directors identified on the IUCRC web pages for more information.

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 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.

Qualifications of a successful candidate include a PhD degree in an appropriate field, plus six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position after award of the PhD; or a Master's degree in an appropriate field plus eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position after award of the degree. In addition, the position requires effective oral and written communication skills. Experience in identifying research areas and fostering collaboration with industry, and familiarity with the IUCRC Program are highly desirable. The incumbent is expected to function effectively both as individual within the NSF IUCRC program and as a member of that and other crosscutting teams. The applicant must also demonstrate a capability to work within NSF and across government agencies to promote NSF activities and to leverage program funds through interagency collaborations.

The position may be filled under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Program:

Under an IPA appointment, a candidate's home institution receives a grant to cover the appointee's salary and benefits, and the candidate remains an employee of his/her home institution while performing duties at NSF. Persons 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 years.

For additional information on NSF's rotational programs, please visit: https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/.

Applications will be accepted from U.S. 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. This also applies to individuals considered for Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignments to NSF. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered eligible.

Applicants should send a copy of their CV and a cover letter explaining the reasons they are interested in the position. This letter should describe how an applicant's experiences fit with the position of IUCRC Program Director (referencing the CV), why this position would be of mutual benefit to NSF and to the applicant's institution, and how the applicant foresees this assignment benefiting his or her career. It is preferred that application materials and questions be sent to CISE/CNS via email to jepstein@nsf.gov with "IUCRC Program Director" in the subject line.

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