Summary The National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for a Data and Analytics Officer within the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) in Alexandria, VA. For more information on BIO please click here.
This job is open to - The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency Applications will be accepted from all US citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Please see the Other Information section for further information.
Duties This position is in the Office of the Assistant Director (OAD), Directorate of Biological Sciences (BIO). The Directorate is responsible for managing proposal competitions and a portfolio of awards across all areas of the biological sciences. BIO supports investigator-initiated research and education to build and strengthen national capacity for innovation that lead over time to the creation of new shared wealth and a better quality of life. BIO is comprised of the Divisions of Molecular and Cellular Bioscience (MCB), Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS), Environmental Biology (DEB), and Biological Infrastructure (DBI), as well as the virtual division managed in BIO/OAD, Emerging Frontiers (EF). These organizations provide the basic structure for BIO support of research and education, in the form of both disciplinary and interdisciplinary activities, partnering effectively with each other, as well as other parts of NSF. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The BIO Data & Analytics Officer (DAO) would be responsible for establishing and managing the office-wide data vision, data governance, quality, architecture, and analytics. The DAO's duties would ensure that BIO maximizes the value of its data assets to fulfill the directorate's mission. Works closely with the BIO Senior Management team to address and provide advice on the ever-growing data resources and needs. The DAO would enable BIO to utilize information to improve operational efficiency and support data-driven decision-making and strategy setting. The DAO's duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Utilize knowledge of NSF's mission and grant management, proposal and award data and system structure processes, and a strong technical experience in data science to advise BIO executive leadership on the directorate's data and analytic initiatives.
- Develop a BIO data and analytics vision and strategic plan.
- Lead directorate-wide data analytics working group and develop partnerships across divisions to execute the data and analytics strategic plan.
- Foster a culture of data-driven decision-making and data sharing within the BIO directorate. Promote the use of NSF data services within the directorate.
- Serve as BIO advisor and liaison to relevant Foundation-wide working groups, such as the Evidence Act and Data Governance Steering Committee and the Enterprise Data Governance and Education Working Group. Represent the office and Foundation within the financial and performance management community with other NSF directorates, other agencies and organizations, and the public, accurately reflecting NSF policy and positions.
- Foster and maintain partnerships with other NSF directorates that further develop NSF data products and services.
- Assist in the development of short-and long-range strategic plans and the establishment of objectives for data analytics and leadership decision-making.
Develop and implement an effective data governance structure in BIO with a focus on strategic data asset development, including:
- Develop and guide data management policies and practices to ensure that data is available, reliable, consistent, accessible, secure, and timely across the directorate to support the programs and activities of BIO.
- Oversee the BIO data governing body and data analytics activities to accomplish the following:
- Track data collection, data purchases, databases, data models, and linkages between data sets.
- Align and standardize data models.
- Standardize data reporting, interpretation, and practices.
- Improve data quality and develop data quality measures and practices.
- Oversee the execution of the data management policies and procedures.
- Establish a communications and interaction model to maintain regular engagement with BIO leadership and its divisions.
Design robust data architectures and leverage sound infrastructure - enabling BIO to maximize opportunities for data analytics innovations while meeting NSF data compliance mandates in privacy and security, including:
- Design data architectures to standardize how data is sourced, integrated, aggregated, and consumed across the directorate.
- Improve links between siloed databases and data stores to optimize the quality of data repositories.
- Leverage NSF infrastructure and technologies in data management, data collection, data storage, etc., to implement the data architecture blueprints.
- Utilize strong experience with NSF enterprise systems and great familiarity with NSF proposal and award data structures to identify technologies and best practices to help reduce workload and increase operational effectiveness within BIO.
Requirements Conditions of Employment This position is outside the competitive civil service. You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position. This position is in the bargaining unit represented by AFGE Local 3403. The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.
Qualifications Ph.D. in an appropriate field plus six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position after the award of the degree, 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 the award of the degree. Appropriate fields include mathematics, statistics, computer science, or data science.
Education Please refer to the Qualifications section. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
Additional information Relocation expenses MAY be paid contingent upon the availability of funds. It is NSF policy that NSF personnel employed at or IPAs detailed to NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign government talent recruitment programs. Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to & including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment & referral to the Office of Inspector General. Foreign Talent Definitions This announcement is open to All US Citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Federal Appropriations Law requires that Non-Citizens meet certain eligibility criteria to be considered. Therefore, Non-Citizens must certify eligibility by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the National Science Foundation. NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for telework. Work suitable for telework depends on job duties; therefore, employees must receive approval from their supervisor for telework and have a telework agreement in place. Entering into a telework agreement is voluntary.
- Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, expertise, education, and research activities relevant to the duties of the position. In some cases, additional assessment processes may also be used. We strongly encourage you to specifically address the Quality Ranking Factors below. This will ensure that you receive full consideration in the evaluation process. Quality Ranking Factors
Experience managing data analytics, data reporting, data discovery, and data governance processes for an organization or unit. Ability to formulate and apply analytic strategies to advance established goals using data-driven decision making. Technical experience in varied data and computational tools, application and/or dashboard development, storage systems, and user-friendly data visualization, including knowledge of industry standards and ethics related to managing and using data. Demonstrable skills in communicating and coordinating with diverse professionals to foster a culture of data driven decision-making and sharing. Knowledge of NSF and BIO's mission and vision to ensure alignment with organizational goals. - Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
- Required Documents As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies. All applicants must submit a resume in any format and may also submit a cover letter. In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date. You are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how your background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the Qualifications and Evaluation Requirements section of this announcement. Additionally, you are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in your CV or in a supplemental statement. This information will be used in the evaluation process. Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency. All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
- How to Apply Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement. - Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application. -If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS. - As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under Required Documents and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields. - If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement. IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS. 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. Agency contact information Staffing and Classification Branch Email ...@nsf.gov Address NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, DIRECTORATE FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2415 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314 US Next steps You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website Applicants should click 'Track this Application' in the Applicant Dashboard to receive application updates.
- Fair and Transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Criminal history inquiries
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Financial suitability
- New employee probationary period
- Privacy Act
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Selective Service
- Signature and false statements
- Social security number request
Required Documents All applicants must submit a resume in any format and may also submit a cover letter. In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date. You are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how your background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the Qualifications and Evaluation Requirements section of this announcement. Additionally, you are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in your CV or in a supplemental statement. This information will be used in the evaluation process. Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency. All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement. - Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application. -If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS. - As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under Required Documents and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields. - If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement. IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS. 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.
Agency contact information Staffing and Classification Branch Email ...@nsf.gov Address NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, DIRECTORATE FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2415 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314 US
Next steps You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website Applicants should click 'Track this Application' in the Applicant Dashboard to receive application updates.
Fair & Transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Criminal history inquiries
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Financial suitability
- New employee probationary period
- Privacy Act
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Selective Service
- Signature and false statements
- Social security number request