NASA SMD Seeks Experienced Public Policy Expert

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is looking for a public policy expert who would join the Directorate via an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) agreement.  Applicants must be from an IPA-eligible organization, which includes other government agencies (federal, state, local, Indian tribal), academia, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) and others.  Applications are due by April 22, 2016.

More information is in the emailed announcement, which is reproduced below. 

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT SPACEPOLICYONLINE.COM!  We don’t know any more about the position than what is shown below.  The contact person is T. Jens Feely at NASA/SMD as stated in the announcement.

 

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Seeks Public Policy Expert

 SMD’s Strategic Integration and
Management Division (SIMD) is looking for a Public Policy Expert to join
our staff under an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) appointment. 

Under authority granted to NASA in the
NASA Flexibility Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-201, 118 Stat. 461 (5 U.S.C.
9801 et seq.)), the initial IPA appointment will be for up to 2 years,
with the possibility of reappointment up to
a total of 6 years.  The Intergovernmental Personnel Act provides for
the temporary assignment of personnel between the Federal Government and
state and local governments, colleges and universities, Indian tribal
governments, federally funded research and
development centers, and other eligible organizations; all applicants
must be from an IPA-eligible organization.

Ideal candidates would have an advanced
degree in Public Policy or a related field, and have multiple years of
experience working in public policy implementation.  All candidates must
possess excellent policy analysis, writing
and editing skills.  Prior experience working on space policy is
desirable, but not required. SMD’s preferred start date is between August 1, 2016 and September 1, 2016. 

The individual selected would join a 6-person team focused on providing
policy support to SMD’s over 100 missions that span Astrophysics, Earth
Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and various reimbursable
projects for other agencies. In support of SMD’s
policy functions, the policy team manages SMD’s relations with external
groups, including Congress, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),
the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), educational
entities, and external advisory committees and boards.  In
partnership with other SMD Divisions, the policy branch also supports
the SMD Associate Administrator by providing integrated guidance,
strategy, and focused advocacy for NASA’s science program.

The specific responsibilities of the policy branch include the following: 

•          Develop
and coordinate testimony, Congressional correspondence, white papers,
Congressional reports, staff briefings, and responses to Congressional
and Executive Branch actions.

•          Monitor,
support development of, and track inter-agency agreements, coordinate
interagency meetings, and manage SMD’s coordination with
OSTP and OMB. 

•          Coordinate
SMD international activities and relationships, including Agency and
SMD international policy, agreements status tracking, export
control, and international meetings.

•          Manage
the NAC Science Committee and support the SMD Divisions in the
management of the respective Science Subcommittee advisory groups; 

•          Oversee
and coordinate Directorate audit and review activities with the NASA
Inspector General, the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
and other auditors or reviewers.

•          Coordinate
and support the development of SMD elements of the NASA strategic plan
and Directorate science plan, and provide support to the
Resource Management Division ‘s (RMD) activities in response to the
Government Performance and Results (GPRA) Modernization Act of 2010. 

Applicants should forward their resume or Curriculum Vita to Dr. T. Jens Feeley at jens.feeley@nasa.gov, preferably on or before April 22, 2016; if you have any questions, you can reach Dr. Feeley at 202.358.1714.