Summary

NIST is looking for an expert to lead strategic engagement with domestic and international standards organizations on AI and machine learning (AI/ML) standardization projects. You will coordinate technical contributions, build partnerships, and serve as an authoritative voice to help steer consensus on rigorous sociotechnical standards for AI concepts, methods, measurement, and risk management.

Duties

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As an AI Standards Coordinator at the ZP-IV level, you will execute and coordinate NIST's active participation in artificial intelligence and machine learning standardization efforts.

• Strategic Engagement: Lead and participate in NIST's AI work in domestic and international standards developing organizations (SDOs).
• Project Identification: Identify existing and potential new AI standards projects where NIST expertise can be impactful.
• Technical Contributions: Craft expert contributions on AI concepts, methods, measurement, and risk management from a sociotechnical perspective.
• Internal Coordination: Oversee processes to recruit, coordinate, and refine SDO contributions on AI from across NIST.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strategic relationships with individuals and organizations in the AI standards community.
• Authoritative Representation: Serve as NIST's authoritative technical voice to defend agency perspectives in standardization meetings.

As an AI Standards Coordinator at the ZP-V level, you will define the overarching strategy and direct NIST's global footprint in the standardization of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

• Strategic Direction: Define and direct NIST's AI-related strategic engagement with domestic and international standards developing organizations (SDOs).
• Opportunity Creation: Seek and create new opportunities for impactful engagement in high-visibility AI standardization groups.
• Prioritization Strategy: Define NIST's strategy for prioritizing AI standards projects and conceive new NIST or SDO projects to fill critical gaps.
• Sociotechnical Vision: Envision and oversee the creation of expert contributions to AI standards that examine algorithmic practices within larger societal systems.
• Program Oversight: Oversee agency-wide processes for recruiting and refining NIST contributions to SDOs.
• Authoritative Voice: Serve as NIST's authoritative technical voice on AI standardization and how it can shape the behaviors of global AI developers, deployers, and users.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. citizenship
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment
• Bargaining Unit Position: No

Qualifications

For the Computer Scientist ZP-1550

Basic Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

For the ZP-1550-IV: In addition to the above basic requirements, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-12 level (ZP-III at NIST). The specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience conducting technical research or development work to study or implement AI/ML tools.
• Experience contributing to technical publications or guidelines about good practices for artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other computer science or information technology fields, whether from a computational or behavioral and social sciences perspective.
• Experience with or openness to participating in consensus-based standards development processes, scientific committees seeking consensus, or multistakeholder technical fora.

For the ZP-1550-V: In addition to the above basic requirements, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-14 level (ZP-IV at NIST). The specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience leading technical research or development work to study or implement AI/ML tools.
• Experience serving as a primary technical leader on technical publications or guidelines about good practices for artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other computer science or information technology fields, whether from a computational or behavioral and social sciences perspective.
• Experience representing an organization, defending technical contributions, or leading groups within consensus-based standards development processes, scientific committees seeking consensus, or multistakeholder technical fora.

For the Social Scientist ZP-0101

Basic Requirements:

Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

A combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

For the ZP-0101-IV: In addition to the above basic requirements, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-12 level (ZP-III at NIST). The specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience conducting technical research or development work to study or implement AI/ML tools.
• Experience contributing to technical publications or guidelines about good practices for artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other computer science or information technology fields, whether from a computational or behavioral and social sciences perspective.
• Experience with or openness to participating in consensus-based standards development processes, scientific committees seeking consensus, or multistakeholder technical fora.

For the ZP-0101-V: In addition to the above basic requirements, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-14 level (ZP-IV at NIST). The specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience leading technical research or development work to study or implement AI/ML tools.
• Experience serving as a primary technical leader on technical publications or guidelines about good practices for artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other computer science or information technology fields, whether from a computational or behavioral and social sciences perspective.
• Experience representing an organization, defending technical contributions, or leading groups within consensus-based standards development processes, scientific committees seeking consensus, or multistakeholder technical fora.

Experience includes paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work 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.

If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration

Education

Social Scientist, ZP-0101: This position allows applicants to qualify with education. Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. However, an official copy will be required before a final offer of employment.

Computer Scientist, ZP-1550: This position has an education requirement. Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. However, an official copy will be required before a final offer of employment.

Use of foreign education for qualifications. An accredited organization must evaluate education completed outside of the U.S. to ensure that it is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S. Click here to view a listing of accredited organizations from the Department of Education's website. A copy of the foreign education evaluation (containing the results with a course-by-course listing) is required with your application.

Additional information

This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

This position is covered under NIST's Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS), a pay-for-performance system with excellent HR flexibilities to help NIST recruit and retain top talent. Learn more about the APMS here!

• We may share your application package with other selecting officials. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy.
• Click all links in this vacancy announcement to view additional information or instructions.
• You MUST select at least ONE ELIGIBILITY to be considered for this position.
• All documents submitted for this announcement must be legible to make qualification or eligibility determinations.

• A probationary period may be required.

NIST strives to build a flexible and encouraging work environment to bring out the best in our employees. To help our employees balance responsibilities at home and at work, NIST offers a variety of work-life flexibilities. For more information, please visit our Careers website.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.