Program Specialist (level I)

Program Specialist (Level I)

27-May-2026 to Until Filled (PST)

401 Dulany St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA

Full Time

Functional Responsibility: The Program Support Specialist-I will provide daily logistical and administrative support as a contractor to the NSF to facilitate the peer and grant review process. The contractor will work closely with teammates and the NSF Program Directors to input critical data into NSF systems and databases, to assign proposals to ad hoc reviewers and panels, to disseminate passwords, access instructions and travel orders to confirmed panelists, as well as process proposals electronically in support of the overall NSF peer review process. In addition, the Program Support Specialist will provide other administrative services upon request, including supporting small and medium-sized meetings, tracking tasks and deliverables in SharePoint, and communicating with external stakeholders via telephone and email.

Must be a US Citizen Must be able to pass a Background Check Minimum Education: High school diploma or GED required. Some advanced education or bachelor's degree highly preferred Minimum/General Experience: 1 year or more of data entry experience in an 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