187
PROJECTED HIRES

National Science Foundation

Mission:

To promote the progress of science; advance the national health, prosperity and welfare; and secure the national defense.

Headquarters: Arlington, VA

Best Places Ranking

The National Science Foundation ranked 5th out of 32 agencies in the 2009 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings with an index score of 76.7.

Recruitment Program / Outreach Efforts

NSF has developed a strategic workforce plan and tools for prioritizing staffing needs and projecting turnover. The agency recognizes the importance of having an active outreach and marketing plan given the growing competition from the private sector for scientists, engineers and information technology specialists. NSF engages in targeted outreach to professionals in the field and students and continually evaluates the effectiveness of its advertising methods including online job announcements. An e-recruit system is utilized to improve the timeliness and ease of the recruitment process, and NSF promotes its record of having been included in the Partnership’s Top 5 “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government” every year since the inception of the rankings in 2003.

Recruitment Bonuses and Student Loan Repayment

During FY 2007 and 2008, the agency granted three recruitment bonuses totaling over $35,000.

Hiring Projections

The National Science Foundation (NSF) will continue to emphasize the hiring of scientists (physical, biological and social sciences), engineers and information technology specialists. Program directors, the primary occupational group in NSF, manage a portfolio of public investments in scientific research, engineering study and/or science education. In FY 2008, about one-half (52.6%) of program directors were “rotators” (i.e., temporary employees who come from the research communities and academia to work on rotational assignments at the Foundation for a period of one to three years).

no data No Data Available

PROFESSIONAL FIELD Key Occupational Area/Position	# of Employees as of 9/30/08	Total Hires FY 2007-08	Projected Hires FY 2010-12
Administration/Program Management
General Administration/Program Management	62	1	6
Program Assistant	87	40	20
Program Specialist	64	5	4
Science Assistant	38	33	25
Biological Sciences
Program Director	66	28	42
Education
Program Director	77	7	10
Engineering
Program Director	61	5	8
Information Technology
Program Director	46	3	5
Mathematics and Statistics
Program Director	25	5	8
Physical Sciences
Program Director	139	26	39
Social Sciences
Program Director	37	13	20
TOTAL	702	166	187

PROFESSIONAL FIELD Key Occupational Area/Position	Total Left FY 2007-08	Average Age	Retirement Eligibility 2009	Retirement Eligibility FY 2012
Administration/Program Management
General Administration/Program Management	5	48	12	17
Program Assistant	20	43	9	14
Program Specialist	6	46	10	14
Science Assistant	35	32	0	0
Biological Sciences
Program Director	22	55	4	6
Education
Program Director	7	57	24	29
Engineering
Program Director	10	58	13	19
Information Technology
Program Director	3	56	9	14
Mathematics and Statistics
Program Director	6	56	2	4
Physical Sciences
Program Director	25	56	29	42
Social Sciences
Program Director	11	53	5	6
TOTAL	150	51	117	165

Diversity Profile

Demographics source: FedScope, OPM

Location of National Science Foundation Positions by Region

Source: Fedscope 09/08

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