February 19, 2019

Dear Colleagues:

The Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) announces a nationwide search to fill Program Director positions for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) Program. Formal consideration of interested applications will begin February 28, 2019 and will continue until a selection is made.

The National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program prepares scientists and engineers to extend their focus beyond the university laboratory. Through I-Corps, NSF-funded researchers learn to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research and gain practical skills in entrepreneurship. Ultimately, I-Corps accelerates the economic and societal benefits of NSF-funded, basic-research projects that are ready to move toward commercialization. NSF created I-Corps to train faculty, students and other researchers in innovation and entrepreneurship skills, to encourage collaboration between academia and industry, and to stimulate the translation of fundamental research to the marketplace. NSF seeks to strengthen a national innovation ecosystem that helps foster innovation among faculty and students, promotes regional coordination and linkages, and develops networks to address pressing societal challenges and economic opportunities for the nation.

At this time, NSF is seeking up to two Program Directors for the I-Corps™ Program. Program Directors at the NSF are in charge of specific research areas and program activities. They solicit, receive and review research 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 I-Corps™ Program Director team is expected to coordinate the development of a vision and plan for the I-Corps™ program and then lead the execution of that plan to build, utilize and sustain a National Innovation Network (NIN) and ecosystem that further enhances the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society. The interconnected Nodes and Sites of this NIN may be diverse in geographic locations, research areas, resources, tools, programs, and capabilities. It is expected that the network will have the flexibility to grow or reconfigure as needs arise.

The I-Corps™ Program Directors will ensure that the I-Corps™ program fosters an understanding of how to:

• Identify, develop and support promising ideas that can generate value,
• Create and implement tools and resources that enhance our nation's innovation capacity,
• Gather, analyze, evaluate and utilize the data and insight resulting from the experiences of the I-Corps™ Teams, and
• Share and leverage effective innovation practices on a national scale to improve the quality of life for the U.S. citizenry.

Persons wishing to apply for this position are referred to the IIP Divisional web page, https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=iip, for a description of the Division; and to the webpage https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/i-corps/index.jsp, for a description of the I-Corps program. Persons are also encouraged to contact the current I-Corps™ Program Directors, who are identified on the I-Corps™ 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 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.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in an appropriate field, plus after award of the degree, six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position; OR a Master's Degree in an appropriate field, plus after award of the degree, eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.

The position requires, effective oral and written communication. Experience in translating research from the academic lab to the market place and familiarity with the I-Corps™ Program are desirable. The incumbent is expected to function effectively both as individual within the specific NSF program and as a member of crosscutting and interactive teams. The incumbent 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 using one of the following appointment alternatives:

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.

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.

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.

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 Citizen 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.

To apply, email a single PDF document that includes 1) CV, 2) a cover letter explaining the reasons they are interested in the position, and 3) Citizen affidavit, as applicable. The cover letter should describe how their experiences fit with the position of I-Corps Program Officer (referencing the CV), why this position would be of mutual benefit to NSF and to their institutions, and how they foresee this assignment benefiting their careers. It is preferred that application materials and questions be sent to the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships via email to IIPjobs@nsf.gov with "I-Corps™ 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.