Research Security Program Manager

About the role

NIST is seeking a Research Security Program Manager to serve as the primary strategic partner to the Director, executing senior-level leadership to co-develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive, agency-wide research security program. This position is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent for occupations where NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the operational implementation of the NIST IR 8484-based research program, titled Safeguarding International Science: Research Security Framework, translating framework guidelines into enforceable institutional controls.
• Design and execute targeted risk-mitigation strategies to defend NIST's sensitive research, proprietary technologies, and intellectual property (IP) from unauthorized exfiltration, compromise, or exploitation.
• Manage the organization's response to high-priority federal data calls, audits, and congressional inquiries regarding research security activities and institutional compliance.
• Build strategic relationships within NIST, across the U.S. Government (USG), and with academia and industry partners to promote a culture of safeguarding science.

Requirements

Basic Requirements

• Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
• Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Specialized Experience

In addition to the basic requirements, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 (ZP-IV at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Mitigating foreign influence risks across research funding mechanisms or international collaborations.
• Enforcing organization-wide compliance with national research integrity frameworks.

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.

The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.