National Science Foundation Excepted Position Vacancy ANNOUNCEMENT NO: E20050001 OPEN: 10/04/04 CLOSE: 10/25/04 THIS IS A PERMANENT POSITION POSITION: Science Assistant (Chemist), AD-1320-1. Salary ranges from $27,597 to $65,769 per annum. LOCATION: Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Division of Chemistry, (CHE), National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA. BARGAINING UNIT STATUS: This position is included in the bargaining unit and will be filled in accordance with the merit staffing provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Article VIII. RELOCATION; Expenses will not be paid. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: All Sources THIS POSITION IS OUTSIDE THE COMPETITIVE CIVIL SERVICE 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, life insurance) are applicable for appointments of more than one year. Disabled veterans with 30% service-connected disabilities as well as other applicants with severe disabilities will be considered without regard to the closing date if applications are received prior to final selection. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: - Provides scientific assistance on the Division’s programs, prepares materials on proposals, and conducts preliminary review of grant applications. - Aids in administering the merit review process by assisting in the review of pending proposals, including selection of reviewers and organization of review panels, and in coordinating proposal review across other divisions, directorates, and agencies. - Develops relevant scientific and/or administrative data used in preparing analytical and interpretative reports and guides. - Helps maintain the Division’s web pages, coordinates with the NSF Office of Legislative and Public Affairs to publicize scientific advances, and assists with annual reports. - Develops, analyzes, and summarizes statistical tabulations and budget tracking documents for internal use. - Responds to written and oral requests regarding program operations as well as technical questions. - Provides technical guidance to staff regarding automated data systems. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: Applicants must have a Baccalaureate degree in chemistry or related science. Some administrative, managerial or professional experience related to the position is desirable. QUALITY RANKING FACTORS: Final ranking is based upon knowledge of principles, theories and methods of chemistry; job-related experience; training; education; awards; performance appraisals or letters of recommendation, and the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: - Knowledge of customary fact-finding approaches, documentation procedures, and analytical and evaluative techniques, including the ability to represent results from statistical data collection and analysis in a variety of formats to effectively communicate information to technical and non-technical audiences. - Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical management and staff, and with the scientific community and public, both orally and in writing, on matters of a programmatic, technical, and administrative nature, including ability to instruct and work effectively with individuals who have a variety of backgrounds and training. - Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, Office 2000 products sufficient to develop PowerPoint presentations and to create documents and spreadsheets. - Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, other computer software, database systems, and web-based systems. - Ability to assist in the organization of workshops, panels, and other divisional activities. BASIS FOR RATING: Final ranking is based on an evaluation of experience, education and training as they relate to the knowledge, skills, and abilities specified in the Quality Ranking Factors. Current performance appraisal, letter(s) of recommendation, and awards may also be used in the evaluation process. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Appointment to the position is contingent upon successful completion of the appropriate background investigation. Satisfactory completion of a one-year trial period may also be required. HOW TO APPLY: You may apply for this position with the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612), the older Application for Federal Employment (SF-171), a resume, or other application format of your choice - so long as it contains the necessary information (summarized below). You must also submit a current Performance Appraisal or letter(s) of recommendation from professionals who can comment on your capabilities. In order to ensure full consideration, it is recommended that you submit a supplemental statement, which specifically addresses how your background and experience relate to each Selective and Quality Ranking Factor listed on this announcement. You must specify the job announcement number, and title and grade(s) of the job for which you are applying. You should also provide the following information: s Your country of citizenship. s Your social security number. s Information about your education, including (1) high school graduation date and (2) college/university information - your major, and type and year of degree(s). If no degree, show total credits earned and indicate whether they are semester or quarter hours. s Information about all your work experience related to this job, including job titles, duties and accomplishments, employer's name and phone number, number of hours worked per week, starting and ending dates (month and year), and annual salary. If you held various positions with the same employer, describe each separately. s If you have Federal civilian experience, indicate the highest grade held, the job series, and dates held. s The brochure Applying for a Federal Job provides information on the Federal job application process; it is available by calling the number listed below. If your application does not provide all the information requested in the vacancy announcement, you may lose consideration for this job. The National Science Foundation provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact listed on this vacancy announcement. Submit all application material to National Science Foundation, Division of Human Resource Management, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 315, Arlington, VA 22230. Attn: Announcement Number E20050001. In addition to the required application materials, you are asked to complete and submit the attached Applicant Survey form. Submission of this form is voluntary and will not affect your application for employment. The information is used for statistical purposes only. ALL FORMS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. For additional information call Myra Loyd, on (703) 292-4363. Hearing impaired individuals may call TDD (703) 292-8044. NSF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO EMPLOYING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION APPLICANT SURVEY OMB No. 3145- 0096 Expiration: 7/31/2005 Vacancy Ann. #: __________ Position Status (temporary/permanent): _______________ Position Title/Series/Grade: ____________________________________________ INSTRUCTIONS Your completion of this form will be appreciated. Submission of this Information is voluntary and it will have no effect on the processing of your application. The data collected will be used only for statistical purposes to ensure that agency personnel practices meet the requirements of Federal law. Pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(b), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to an information collection unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0096. NSF estimates that each respondent should take about 3 minutes to complete this survey, including time to read the instructions. You may have comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this survey, including suggestions for reducing this burden. If so, please send them to NSF Reports Clearance Officer, Division of Administrative Services, NSF, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA. 22230. 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A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. E. White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. 6. Sex (Circle the appropriate letter.) F - Female M - Male 7. Please provide Information on your disability status by circling the appropriate category below: 1. I do not have a disability; 2. Hearing impairment; 3. Vision impairment; 4. Missing extremities; 5. Partial paralysis; 6. Complete paralysis; 7. Convulsive disorder; 8. Mental retardation; 9. Mental or emotional illness; 10. Severe distortion of limbs and/or spine; 11. I have a disability but it is not listed. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… FOR AGENCY USE Agency Code: ________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER NSF Form 1232