AGS 12-001
Dear Colleague Letter - The Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) - Employment Opportunities for Program Directors 
DATE: February 8, 2012
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) has recurring openings for Program Directors with expertise in the following areas: aeronomy, atmospheric chemistry, climate and large-scale dynamics, education, geospace facilities, lower atmosphere observational facilities, magnetospheric physics, physical and dynamic meteorology, paleoclimatology, solar physics, and other interdisciplinary topics in atmospheric research such as sustainability science and cyber-enabled discovery in the atmospheric and geospace sciences.
The mission of AGS is to extend intellectual frontiers in atmospheric and geospace sciences by making responsible investments in fundamental research, technology development, and education that enable discoveries, nurture a vibrant, diverse workforce, and help attain a prosperous and sustainable future.
AGS pursues its mission with the aid of Program Directors who exercise leadership across a broad range of scientific research grant-making programs that seek to provide the American people, and others, with innovative and potentially transformative insights related to solar, oceanic, terrestrial, and social influences on the dynamics, composition, evolution, and variability of the atmosphere and geospace.
This leadership extends across studies of the physics, chemistry, and dynamics of Earth's atmosphere and near space environment; research on climate processes and variations; and studies to understand the natural global cycles of gases and particles in earth's atmosphere.
Additional information about the division and its programs can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=AGS.
NSF Program Directors bear the primary responsibility for carrying out the agency's overall mission: to support innovative and merit-reviewed activities in basic research and education that contribute to the Nation's technical strength, security, and welfare. This requires not only knowledge in the appropriate scientific disciplines but also a commitment to high scientific standards, considerable breadth of scientific interest and receptivity to new ideas, strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity and ethics, decisiveness, and an ability to effectively lead teams across a variety of institutional cultures within Federal and state government agencies, legislative bodies, and private sector organizations.
Appointments will be made for one year and may be extended for additional one or two years by mutual agreement. Applicants should have a Ph.D. or equivalent experience in a relevant field, plus six or more years of successful research, research administration, leadership, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.
Program Director positions recruited under this announcement may be filled through one of the following appointment options:
Visiting Scientist, Engineer or Educator (VSEE) Appointment - A VSEE appointment 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 as Federal employees. 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 one year and may be extended for an additional year by mutual agreement.
Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Appointment - 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.
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 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 and life insurance) are applicable for appointments of more than one year. Temporary appointments may not exceed three years.
For additional information on NSF's rotational programs please visit: https://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/rotators/
Individuals interested in applying for a Program Director position should contact:
Dr. David J. Verardo
Head, Atmosphere Section
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 775
Arlington, VA 22230
Phone: 703-292-8527
Fax: 703-292-9022
E-mail: dverardo@nsf.gov
Dr. Richard A. Behnke
Head, Geospace Section
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 775
Arlington, VA 22230
Phone: 703-292-4694
Fax: 703-292-9022
E-mail: rbehnke@nsf.gov
