This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/793547600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Help
Summary
The Astrophysicist/External Relations (AERL) Lead will work with the Director, SAO Executive team and project PIs to manage relationships with related government agencies (NASA, NSF) as well as other relevant groups that align with the SAO strategic scientific goals.
Help
Overview
- Reviewing applications
-
Open & closing dates
05/30/2024 to 06/14/2024
-
Salary
$138,046 - $179,462 per year
-
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
-
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
-
Remote job
No
-
Telework eligible
Yes—This is a hybrid position. The selected candidate will be required to work on-site 3 days per week.
-
Travel Required
50% or less - Travel is required nationally and internationally to attend meetings, presentations, etc.
-
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
-
Appointment type
Permanent - Permanent - Federal
-
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
-
Service
Competitive
-
Promotion potential
14
-
Job family (Series)
-
Supervisory status
No
-
Security clearance
-
Drug test
No
-
Position sensitivity and risk
-
Trust determination process
-
Announcement number
24-48
-
Control number
793547600
Help
This job is open to
-
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
-
Federal employees - Competitive service
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
-
Veterans
-
Individuals with disabilities
-
Special authorities
Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.
Clarification from the agency
This position is open to all qualified U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals.
Help
Duties
- Oversees external partnerships, collaborative agreements, and/or foundational programs that align with the SAO strategic scientific goals, including communications, meeting preparation, and informing relevant stakeholders.
- Works closely with the Director to strengthen existing partnerships and establish new partnerships aligned with the goals of the SAO. Stands in for the Director in high level stakeholder and fund-agency meetings as needed. Assists the Director and the SAO Executive team in identifying, pursuing, and developing potential new partnerships. Works with SAO and SI administrative and legal departments as needed, and internal stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of new partnerships. Assists the SAO Executive team in identifying, pursuing, and developing potential new partnerships, collaborative agreements, contracts, and MOUs.
- Actively monitors communications, partnership performance, engagement and overall health, and measures success against established metrics based on research, data-driven analytical methods, well-established cost-benefit analysis techniques, and SAO priorities. Works with SAO and SI administrative and legal departments as needed, and internal stakeholders to ensure successful partnership management. Develops and presents regular authoritative technical and management briefings to SAO and SI leadership and external stakeholders to inform, support and/or critically review and assess existing and/or new strategic partnerships.
- Maintains a leadership role in astrophysical and/or astronomical research and prepares papers documenting research results for publication in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals. Presents results at scientific or technical meetings and conferences, and within the SAO.
- Proposes for extramural contract and grant support for research into specific areas of astronomy, astrophysics, or related fields.
NOTE: The incumbent of the position will be required to complete (Form-SI 1085)
Help
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Electronic funds transfer/direct deposit is required for salary payment
- National and international travel may be required
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
- Pre- and post-appointment background investigation
- May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/group-stds/gs-prof.asp
Qualifications
Minimum Education Requirements:
A) Degree in one or a combination of astronomy, physics, mathematics, space science or electronics, including course work in differential and integral calculus and 12 semester hours in astronomy or physics; OR
B) A combination of education and experience equivalent to A above including at least 30 semester hours of courses equivalent to a major in any combination of astronomy, space science, physics, mathematics, and electronics with required course work as shown in A above.
Specialized Experience: One year of directly related experience (Federal or other) equivalent to GS-13 in the federal service. Specialized experience would include activities such as formulating, conducting and the publication of independent and original programs of astrophysical research and experience in a leadership role in moderate sized collaborations at multiple stages of development, such as proposal, initiation, development, and implementation.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.
There is no education substitution for this position.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Important Note:
The review of your resume will determine your final rating and should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
Additional information
- The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity (www.si.edu/oeema).
-
Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.
Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.
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.
Your application will be evaluated first for the basic education and specialized requirements. Applicants that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:
-
Significant ability in strategic partnership management, as evidenced from strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills in developing and executing successful scientific and/or complex partnerships or other agreements.
Demonstrated ability in identifying, pursuing, and developing potential new partnerships, including matching internal goals with external partner capabilities.
Mastery in communicating complex technical and program planning information in an effective and efficient manner.
Demonstrated track record of excellence in observational astronomical and/or astrophysical research as evidenced from research quality, impact, recognition within the scientific community, and in disseminating results to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated ability to propose for and be awarded extramural contract and grant support for research into specific areas of astronomy, astrophysics or related fields.
Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:
Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.
Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.
Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.
This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.
Important Note:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
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.
Your application package must include the following documents:
- CV and Bibliography
- school transcripts
- proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
- statement of previous research (3 pages max)
- research vision, plan and objections (5 pages max)
- diversity statement (3 pages max)
- names/contact info for 4 references
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
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:
- You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
- You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process;
OR
You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine. Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package. - The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.
Agency contact information
Judy Gallagher
- Address
-
SMITHSONIAN
Human Resources
60 Garden Street
Mail Stop 17
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States
Next steps
You will receive an automated email acknowledgment that your application has been received. This may take several hours. We often receive a large number of applications for a job. We review each application carefully, and this process may take a few weeks. As we go through each round of review, we will send you an email to date you on your status.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Help
Required Documents
Your application package must include the following documents:
- CV and Bibliography
- school transcripts
- proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
- statement of previous research (3 pages max)
- research vision, plan and objections (5 pages max)
- diversity statement (3 pages max)
- names/contact info for 4 references
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.
Help
Learn more about this agency
How to Apply
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:
- You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
- You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process;
OR
You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine. Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package. - The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.
Agency contact information
Judy Gallagher
- Address
-
SMITHSONIAN
Human Resources
60 Garden Street
Mail Stop 17
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States
Next steps
You will receive an automated email acknowledgment that your application has been received. This may take several hours. We often receive a large number of applications for a job. We review each application carefully, and this process may take a few weeks. As we go through each round of review, we will send you an email to date you on your status.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Beginning of a dialog window for the agency announcing this job. It begins with a heading 2 called "Learn more about Field Operating Offices of the Office of the Secretary of the Army". Escape will cancel and close the window.
Learn more about
Smithsonian Institution
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) is a joint institution connecting the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and the Harvard College Observatory (HCO). It is lead by a single Director, Dr. Lisa Kewley, who was appointed to this role in July 2022. The SAO is a diverse astrophysical institution at which more than 600 scientists are engaged in a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, and earth and space sciences. The SAO is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. Its multiple programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch as well as for use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriation or in the form of contracts and grants from other agencies while Institution funds are made available to SAO in the form of grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities and non-Federal contracts and grants.
Agency contact information
Judy Gallagher
- Address
-
SMITHSONIAN
Human Resources
60 Garden Street
Mail Stop 17
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States