Job Title: Program Specialist GS-0301-9/11 DE

Agency: National Science Foundation

Sub Agency: National Science Foundation

Job Announcement Number: DRL-2011-0002

SALARY RANGE:	$51,630.00 - $81,204.00 /year
OPEN PERIOD:	Wednesday, December 22, 2010 to Wednesday, January 05, 2011
SERIES & GRADE:	GS-0301-09/11
POSITION INFORMATION:	Full-time Permanent
PROMOTION POTENTIAL:	11
DUTY LOCATIONS:	few vacancies - Arlington, VA
WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:	Any US citizen This opportunity is also open to status candidates only under announcement DRL-2011-0003.

JOB SUMMARY:

Competitive status may be obtained through current or former permanent Federal competitive service appointment OR individuals with eligibility for noncompetitive special appointing authority OR veterans eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act. Are you looking for a job where you can make a difference? Interested in working in a dynamic, small-agency environment? At NSF, every member of the team contributes to success! That's just one of the reasons why NSF, conveniently located in the heart of Ballston, is one of the best places to work in the federal government. Due to its relatively small number of employees, NSF has a unique feeling of collegiality. It is not uncommon to hear colleagues discuss a wide variety of subjects from our newest work- life initiatives to the latest scientific, engineering, and education developments. At NSF, you will use your administrative support expertise in an exciting, challenging, and team-oriented environment. You will have the opportunity to use your current skills to help make NSF's vision of the future become reality. NSF also offers a variety of formal and informal learning and development opportunities that you can use to build new skills and advance your career. If you're seeking variety and challenge in a collegial atmosphere, look no further than NSF! More about NSF. This position is located in the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings, Directorate for Education and Human Resources at the National Science Foundation.  The Division seeks to advance both early, promising innovations as well as larger-scale adoptions of proven educational innovations. In doing so, it challenges the field to create the ideas, resources, and human capacity to bring about the needed transformation of STEM education for the 21st century.

KEY REQUIREMENTS: US citizenship Background investigation Preview questions at bottom of Qualifications & Evaluations--see tab above

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Duties

Additional Duty Location Info:

few vacancies - Arlington, VA

The Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings is seeking a Program Specialist to provide administrative program support end-to-end merit review and award management and oversight of (MR AM&O) processes.   Specific duties include the following:

• Data Management and Analysis:  Identifies areas to conduct moderately complex to complex analyses concerning the efficiency, effectiveness, impacts and outcomes of the Division activities. Gathers, analyzes and presents data for further program analysis utilizing research trends and results tracking to inform policy related to scientific content. Determines which metrics, reports, etc. to run or create to approach a problem and find effective solutions.
  
• Program Analysis and Reports:  Conducts program analysis, including GPRA reporting and supports the Program Director/Division Director in preparation of reports and presentations (e.g., internal reports, Congressional inquiries).
  
• Proposal Review:  Assists in reviewing proposals to organize into panels, researching and identifying reviewer pools, and supporting technical Primary Investigator(PI)/Reviewer correspondence (e.g. moderately complex to complex inquiries related to scientific issues).
  
• Logistics:  Assists in all technical aspects of preparing for Committee of Visitors (e.g., data collection, analysis and presentation) and assists in planning and coordinating support for site visits, outreach activities, and workshops.
  
• Outreach and Site Visit Support:  Assists in developing outreach plans (e.g., identifies cross-section of outreach targets), assists with the preparation of materials, tutorials, workshops for outreach and site visit activities, assists in making oral presentations at workshops, seminars, conferences, assists in evaluating the effectiveness of outreach and site visit activities (e.g., audience composition and identifies outreach needs from research community).
  
• Continuous Improvement:  Identifies opportunities for continuous improvements to databases, data gathering and analytical approaches and PI/Reviewer interactions.

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Qualifications and Evaluations

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

To qualify at GS-9, you need to have one of the following:

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7
level in the Federal service.  Examples of specialized experience
include engaging in ongoing analysis of business processes to
continually identify and recommend solutions to problems, using
quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques, developing and
presenting factual evidence both in writing and before an audience
to support enhancements in the methods of performing work, reviewing
data for trends related to business processes, interpreting those
trends, and determining causes and possible courses of action.

OR

A master`s or equivalent graduate degree.

OR

2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education
leading to such a degree.

OR

A combination of post high school education and experience that
together meet the qualification requirements for this position.

To qualify at the GS-11 level, you must have 1 years of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in the federal service.  Examples of specialized experience include: analyzing the effectiveness and efficiency of business operations and programmatic processes using qualitative and quantitative techniques; choosing, interpreting, or adapting guidelines for application to specific issues or subjects studied; planning and carrying out projects to improve administrative support efficiency/productivity; gathering data and analyzing/evaluating/interpreting trends to enhance work performance; completing reports and making recommendations to managers related to internal administrative operations.
Education may be substituted for experience as described
in "Qualifications."
You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date.

You must answer all job-related questions in the NSF eRecruit questionnaire.

All online applicants must provide a valid email address.  If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Category rating procedures will be used to rank and select eligibles.  Based on your responses to the occupational questionnaire, you will be assigned a score.  Your score will determine in which of three categories you will be placed:  Excellent, Very Good, or Good.  Under this process, veterans will be assigned to the appropriate category (without additional preference points) and then placed at the top of their category.  

Veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more will be placed at the top of the highest quality category.

Review your resume and responses carefully.  Responses that are not fully supported by the information in your application package may result in adjustments to your score.  A Human Resources Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the selecting official.

Applicants eligible for selection preference under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) must meet the agency definition of "well qualified." In NSF categories, this means at least "Very Good."To preview questions please click here.

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Benefits and Other Info

BENEFITS:

A GREAT LOCATION!  The National Science Foundation is conveniently
located one block from the Ballston Metro Station, a few blocks from
Routes 66 and 50, and about three miles from downtown Washington.  
Employees may rent parking spaces in the building garage.  There are
many shops and restaurants within easy walking distance.  Employees
receive the Federal benefits package and NSF offers:

    Pre-tax parking
    Public transportation subsidy
    Child Development Center on site
    Child care subsidy
    Flexible working hours
    Telecommuting
    Physical Fitness Facility on site
    NSF Federal Credit Union on site
    Health Services Unit on site
    Employee Assistance Program

OTHER INFORMATION:

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

For additional information on the NSF eRecruit system, please visit
our NSF eRecruit Applicant Guide.

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How To Apply

HOW TO APPLY:

Your application should be submitted online and must be completed and all required documents successfully faxed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the closing date.  You must answer all of the job-related questions to ensure full consideration for this position.  For more detailed information, please review our
NSF eRecruit Applicant Guide.

If you do not have internet access or if you have questions, please contact the Human Resources Representative listed in the vacancy announcement.

WARNING!  Applications submitted online must have a valid email address.  If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

If you are eligible under a special appointing authority (e.g., veterans appointment
authorities or persons with mental retardation, severe physical disability or psychiatric disabilities), you will be required to submit supporting documentation.

At the time of application, you will be directed to a webpage which lists the available fax coversheets for any documents we require.  (Veterans note:  documents related to veteran's preference are requested only when you first register in NSF's eRecruit system.)  Please print out the appropriate fax coversheet(s) and follow the instructions carefully.  All faxing must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.  Please use extreme care in dialing the fax number to assure we receive your information.  You will receive an email confirmation of receipt of your faxed document(s).

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Karen Stemler Phone: 703 292-8401 Fax: 703 292-9347 TDD: 703-292-8044 Email: kstemler@nsf.gov

Agency Information: National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Blvd Room 315 Arlington, VA 22230 Fax: 703 292-9347

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website.<