Director, Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI)

About the role

As the Director of the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), the incumbent plans, directs, and coordinates the scientific activities of the Institute. This includes providing scientific advice and recommendations to advance multidisciplinary research supporting science and human exploration in areas such as lunar, planetary, and space science.

What you will do

• Provides strategic direction and guidance for the Institute, fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary scientific and organizational partners to advance lunar and planetary science and communicate results to scientists, educators, and the public.
• Provides guidance and oversight for competitively selected SSERVI teams that investigate basic and applied science questions aimed at advancing understanding of the formation, evolution, and current state of the Solar System, including research relevant to human exploration.
• Partners with stakeholders to develop periodic solicitations for SSERVI research teams and ensure mission directorates in the review and competitive selection of those teams.
• Enhances the effectiveness and impact of SSERVI by identifying a strategy for integrating international partners into the Institute's activities.
• Ensures that the Institute remains at the cutting edge of using technology to enable effective and efficient use of virtual communications tools to integrate the geographically dispersed SSERVI teams.
• Leads scientific and programmatic oversight of the Institute and its Agency-selected research teams ("nodes"), ensuring alignment with NASA's strategic objectives for lunar and planetary science and human exploration.
• Advises on Institute budget priorities and investment strategies and contributes to the development and administration of cooperative agreements.
• Collaborates with stakeholders to develop research solicitations, define scientific focus areas, and shape program priorities.
• Supports the peer review and evaluation of research proposals, provides recommendations regarding the selection of new research teams, and facilitates the implementation of cooperative agreements.
• Also prepares annual program reports, provides strategic and programmatic updates to Headquarters sponsors, and coordinates scientific meetings and activities that foster collaboration and advance Institute objectives.
• Serves as the Institute's principal liaison to internal stakeholders, international partners, the scientific community, and the public, advancing the Institute's mission through strategic engagement and collaboration.
• Advocates for the integration of scientific research into NASA's current and future human exploration initiatives and provides expert guidance on matters affecting the Institute's strategic direction.
• Convenes an annual science conference; cultivates partnerships across the science and exploration communities through domestic and international engagement, including travel to international meetings, conferences, and partner organizations; and promotes broad awareness of the Institute's research, accomplishments, and contributions to exploration objectives.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. To be eligible, you must clearly state in your resume the following: degree, major and/or minor, and college/university. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major study in engineering, physical science, mathematics, life sciences, computer science, or other field of science.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs.

These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, click here.

How you will be evaluated

All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. As part of the assessment, your resume will be assessed on SL Evaluation Criteria and used to place you into one of three quality groups.

These scores, along with your qualifications and supporting materials, will determine your referral status. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. These competencies will be assessed using technical assessments.

They may also be evaluated during a structured interview: Creativity and Innovation Developing Others Partnering Problem Solving Program/Project Management Research Technical Competence Technical Work and Team Management Under NASA's category rating process, applicants will be assessed on the position competencies and placed in one of three categories identified and defined below: Best Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a superior level of all evaluation criteria.

Highly Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria. Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities. The panel reviews the resumes against each SL criterion.

Names of all qualified applicants in the Best Qualified category will be referred (unless a sufficient number of qualified veterans are found - in which case only those names will be initially certified). Applicants within the Best Qualified category who are eligible for veterans' preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.

Candidates may receive an interview for further evaluation and/or be asked to provide a list of references. The panel will make a recommendation to the appropriate approving authority.

Documents you must provide

• You must provide a complete application package.
• If you do not provide all required information, you will not be considered for this position.
• Only provide the following.
• RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (recommend PDF file) showing all relevant experience (start/end dates stated in month/year, description of duties), applicable education at a minimum, and your contact information.
• Your 2-page resume should also address the SL Evaluation Criteria.
• For current or previous Federal employees, it should also include the Pay Plan, Series and Grade for each work experience entry.
• Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume.
• Note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, your application package may be disqualified: Classified or government sensitive information.
• Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents.
• If your resume contains any of the above information, you must redact that information prior to the submission of your application.
• VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USAJOBS when you apply to this vacancy.
• You may be asked to provide additional documentation to support your eligibility and the information provided in your application package.
• For example, we may request transcripts, SF-50s, etc. Therefore, we encourage you to have these documents prepared and ready when requested.
• If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact NASA Executive Staffing at ***.

Additional information

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; The needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

This position is concurrently advertised on USAJOBS and open to current federal civil servant career or career conditional employees via announcement ARC-26-SL-13057709, and only one selection will be made. Civil service career or career conditional employees should apply to vacancy announcement ARC-26-SL-13057709.