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NASA leads the nation on a great journey of discovery, seeking new knowledge and understanding of our planet Earth, our Sun and solar system, and the universe out to its farthest reaches and back to its earliest moments of existence. NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and the nation's science community use space observatories to explore the secrets of the universe, search for life elsewhere, and to protect and improve life on Earth.
Learn more about this agency08/27/2018 to 09/21/2018
$126,148 - $179,900 per year
ES 00
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Travel may be required for training or other work-related duties
Yes—Relocation expenses may be paid consistent with NASA's policy.
Permanent
Full-Time
Senior Executive
00
Yes
No
HQ18S0020
509092900
The public. U.S. citizens, nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S..
The Director of the Planetary Science Division (PSD) reports directly to the SMD Associate Administrator (AA) and provides support in determining and presenting the PSD program to NASA senior management, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other Executive Office stakeholders, and Congress. In partnership with the other SMD Directors, the incumbent will support the AA in providing the overall guidance, strategy, focus advocacy, and budget for NASA's Science Program. The Planetary Science Division has an annual budget of around $2 billion dollars.
The incumbent will be an active member of the SMD leadership team and be involved in the coordination and alignment of key functions and activities across the entire mission directorate. This includes, but is not limited to the development of cross-disciplinary research and analysis programs, developing and implementing policies that create higher quality and effectively managed programs across all of SMD, and efforts to continually improve the effective management of the SMD mission portfolio. The incumbent will also be called upon to provide feedback throughout all of SMD?s efforts to develop the highest quality and most innovative science program.
Specific Responsibilities Include:
Leading a division of approximately 24 people, including scientists, engineers, and administrative professionals responsible for managing the Planetary Science Program, comprised of the Discovery Program, New Frontiers Program, Mars Exploration Program, Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds Program, the Research and Analysis Program, the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, technology development, as well as ongoing mission operations and data analysis.
Developing budgets, policies and priorities for the programs under his/her cognizance, including providing scientific and technical leadership required to guide implementation of relevant programs at the NASA Field Centers, other Government research laboratories, academia, and private industry.
Ensuring an effective and innovative program of research and analysis of Planetary science data and dissemination of results of the studies to the scientific community and general public through scientific publications, symposia, colloquia, press releases, press conferences, and other means of communication such as social media, etc.
Serving as a liaison with the scientific community through advisory committees and other entities such as the National Academy of Sciences; coordinating the requirements of Planetary Science studies with the international community and other Federal Agencies.
Formulating future programs, developing a strategy for the implementation of these programs, which is consistent with available resources, and establishing the feasibility of the flight mission components of the program, all in conjunction with a robust research and analysis program.
The incumbent will also be responsible for all aspects of organizational management, including selection of employees, assignment of duties, evaluation of employee performance, planning of employee training, and recommendation of awards, promotions, discipline and adverse actions. The incumbent will promote equal opportunity and diversity in the workforce through employment, development, advancement, and treatment of employees directly and indirectly supervised. The incumbent will also promote diversity and inclusiveness within the workplace, within NASA appointed teams and committees, and within the science community. Managerial responsibility extends to improvement in efficiency, cost efficiency, and timeliness of performance. The incumbent is responsible for compliance with occupational safety, health, environmental, and energy standards, orders, rules, and regulations applicable to the area of responsibility, and for creating an atmosphere of safety consciousness within the workplace and ensuring safe work practices in a safe work environment.
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS
1. Demonstrated ability in leading, formulating, and acting strategically in complex research program environments, and in developing programs within the framework of financial, schedule, and policy constraints.
2. Demonstrated experience in successfully performing and actively managing research activities, and disseminating research results to the general public and the scientific community.
3. Demonstrated ability to serve as a liaison to the domestic and international scientific community to identify science priorities, mission concepts, and potential partnerships.
You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Candidates must possess the following basic requirements:
1.Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics;
or
2. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Any applicant tentatively selected for this position may be required to undergo a pre-employment background investigation. This announcement is for a career appointment to a position in the NASA Senior Executive Service (SES). Persons entering the SES for the first time are subject to a one-year probationary period. A financial disclosure statement is required upon appointment into the SES. This statement will be used to avoid conflicting situations in employment through advice and counseling. Your USAJOBS account asks you to assign a name to each of your resumes. When you apply to a NASA position, we will show you the text of the resume you have submitted, but we do not maintain the name you have assigned to that resume. If you wish to keep track of that information, we recommend you make note of it at the time you apply.
Fair Employment Opportunities for Applicants
NASA Credit for National Service
Relocation expenses may be paid consistent with NASA's policy.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants will be evaluated by an Executive Resources Panel based on the managerial and technical qualification requirements stated in this announcement. Eligible candidates will be placed in qualified and highly-qualified categories. Interviews, and qualification and suitability inquiries may be requested. The highly-qualified will be referred to the appropriate official who will recommend selection.
NASA's application process has been specifically developed to ensure that we only ask you for the information we absolutely need to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility. In order to apply for this position, you need to submit your resume and answer the screening questions and supplemental information. You must also respond to both the Executive Core Qualifications (Managerial Qualifications) and the Technical Qualifications. No additional documentation is accepted at the time of application. In this way we allow you to focus on preparing a resume that best describes your background and abilities. For assistance in preparing your resume, consult the Applicant Guide. Nothing further is required unless we make you an employment offer. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume. For example, we may ask you to provide academic transcripts or proof of Federal employment status. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may use that as a basis for withdrawing our employment offer.
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.
In order to be considered, you must submit a resume completed on the USAJOBS site. When completing your USAJOBS resume, please remember that NASA limits resumes to the equivalent of approximately 32,000 characters (including spaces). You will not be allowed to complete the application process if your resume is too long.
If you are a current career member of the SES, or have reinstatement eligibility based on prior service under a career SES appointment, you do not need to address the Executive Core Qualifications. We also recommend that you take some time to carefully prepare these documents, especially your Executive Core Qualifications. Helpful information can be found here.
Once you submit your resume to NASA, you will be asked to provide additional information, including narrative statements about your managerial and technical qualifications. Responses to the Executive Core Qualifications questions may not exceed 32,200 characters. Responses to technical qualifications are also limited to 32,200 characters. Because your answers will not be saved until you complete the entire application, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN A SEPARATE TEXT DOCUMENT AND INSERT THEM INTO THE ON-LINE FORM. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT SAVED. Do NOT include your answers in the body of your USAJOBS resume, since they will be asked separately.
If you are unable to apply electronically, how to send hard copy resumes and additional requirements are provided at: Hard Copy Resume Requirements.
If you are a first time applicant, we recommend you review NASA's Applicant Guide to ensure you are providing a complete resume. Failure to submit the supplemental data and a resume that contains all of the required information may result in loss of consideration for positions in which you are interested. All applications must be received no later than midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.
Although you may or may not be contacted during the selection process, we will always advise you about the outcome of the announcement. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the individual identified in the Contact section.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/509092900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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