Senior Program Specialist

Functional Responsibility: The Senior Program Support Specialist is a senior level position that provides leadership to the more junior Program Specialists in their daily logistical and programmatic support to the NSF to facilitate the peer review process. The contractor will work closely with assigned NSF Program Directors to identify technical and commercial experts to participate on scientific review panels and provide feedback on grant proposals. The Program Support Specialist will enter key data into NSF systems, create and manage all supporting documents for their assigned review panels, and assist the Program Director(s) by reviewing proposal budgets and drafting the review analyses required to support the eventual NSF award or decline decision for each proposal. In addition to facilitating the peer review process, the Program Support Specialist-II will provide other administrative and technical services to the client upon request, including maintaining tracking spreadsheets and calendars, conducting data analysis, preparing reports and presentations, planning and supporting small and medium sized meetings, and corresponding with grantees and reviewers via email and telephone regarding all aspects of the review process and grants management.   Must be a US Citizen Must be able to pass a Background Check Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering, Physical Sciences, Information Technology, Computer Science, or Education Minimum/General Experience: Three years professional and/or administrative experience in office environment  

Preferred:

Demonstrated knowledge, experience, and operational capability in the following areas:

A fundamental understanding of the CHIPS and Science Act, NSF's mission, and the role of the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) in accelerating use-inspired research, fostering public-private partnerships, and strengthening regional innovation ecosystems.

Demonstrated knowledge of NSF's merit review process, including:

• Coordinating panel and ad hoc review logistics (virtual and in-person), including scheduling, platform setup, and travel arrangements

• Managing proposal assignments, reviewer communications, and deadline tracking within NSF systems

• Preparing and distributing panel materials, agendas, and documentation templates

• Monitoring review progress to ensure adherence to timelines and procedural requirements

• Maintaining complete and accurate review records to support compliance and audit readiness

• The application of the Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts review criteria

• Conflict-of-interest identification and mitigation procedures

• Reviewer recruitment, documentation standards, and funding recommendation development

• Requirements for transparency, documentation integrity, and defensibility of award decisions