Senior Program Officer - Physical Sciences, Systems, and Infrastructure

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine seek a Senior Program Officer (SPO) to develop and manage highly complex projects in the mathematical sciences. This position is in the National Academies’ Center for Advancing Science and Technology (CAST) which fuels innovation across physical sciences, engineering, education, and policy to advance the nation’s future prosperity and resilience. Our work prepares and supports the U.S. workforce to strengthen American competitiveness and security.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine seek a Senior Program Officer (SPO) to develop and manage highly complex projects in the mathematical sciences. This position is in the National Academies’ Center for Advancing Science and Technology (CAST) which fuels innovation across physical sciences, engineering, education, and policy to advance the nation’s future prosperity and resilience. Our work prepares and supports the U.S. workforce to strengthen American competitiveness and security.

The Senior Program Officer will work in the Physical Sciences, Systems, and Infrastructure (PSSI) program area, which sets research priorities, highlights critical future directions, and develops policy innovations to advance mathematical and physical sciences, energy systems, engineering and manufacturing, infrastructure and facilities, and defense and intelligence.

The SPO will manage a variety of mathematical programs and project, including developing strategies and budgets, establishing staffing requirements, managing a small staff team, and meeting defined objectives. The SPO will also serve as liaison between committee members, the National Academies, project/program funders, and other stakeholders.

The SPO requires advanced knowledge in the mathematical sciences and will often require innovative solutions to complex problems that could impact a program's or project's success. Strong verbal and written communication skills are critical as the SPO will be engaging with technical and general audiences in a variety of capacities. The SPO will report to the PSSI Senior Program Director.

• Independently designs and manages multiple and/or highly complex programs or projects. Develops program or project strategy and budget, staffing requirements and ensures stated objectives are met. Conducts program or project evaluations. Activities may include leading studies, research programs, grant programs, fellowship programs, etc.
• Where applicable, assembles committees and guides those committees in the consensus building process. Leads convening activities such as forums or workshops. Communicates and coordinates with the chair and other members of the group. Identifies and gathers research materials. Solicits and contacts potential panel members. Facilitates the flow of information among panel members, consultants, staff, and other applicable parties.
• Conducts workshops and/or meetings. Develops agendas, invites presenters and participants, oversees meeting logistics and multimedia presentations, and prepares written summaries.
• Prepares background papers and technical summaries. Develops written products (e.g., reports, proceedings, white papers). Drafts and edits materials for publication. For studies and other applicable programs, synthesizes and edits research findings and technical data and determines the relevance of data for purposes of study.
• Supports committee members, forum members, workshop participants, etc. in all aspects of work. For studies, assistance is provided in preparing draft report, including writing sections of report based on committee input and review and editing the report for…