Deputy Branch Chief - Earth Science

This position is for a Deputy Chief of the Earth Science Branch, in the Science Research and Projects Division (SRPD) of the Science and Technology Office (STO) at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama.  The formal announcement of the opportunity will be posted in the near future at USAJobs (www.usajobs.gov) and can be found by searching with keyword “NASA” and location of “Huntsville”.  The application process is only through the USAJobs portal.

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to work that matters while helping NASA create and sustain an environment that fosters connection, engagement, teamwork and innovation.  The Deputy Branch Chief will assist management in providing technical and administrative direction to subordinate employees performing advanced scientific research in atmospheric electricity, precipitation processes, and the Earth’s energy and water cycle using surface, airborne, and space-based remote sensing systems, directed at developing a better understanding of the interactive Earth-atmosphere system, refining practical applications to benefit society, and improved data analysis, management, and distribution.  The Deputy Branch Chief is expected to also conduct collaborative research and technology development projects obtained through peer-reviewed consistent with the mission of the Earth Science Branch.

Responsibilities:

Administrative responsibilities include assisting the Branch Chief in:

• defining, monitoring, and evaluate technical work requirements, milestones, and employee accomplishments through formal evaluation processes,
• recommending employees for promotion, recognition and awards, approval leave, implementing performance modifications and corrective employee actions as appropriate,
• coordinating, monitoring, and / or performing a variety of managerial and analysis functions related to facilities, travel, training, fiscal management, and other business areas, and
• preparing and / or updating manuals, instructions, and /or operating procedures.

Technical responsibilities include:

• providing assistance in determining the feasibility, timing, technical approach, and management of specific study proposals and projects in areas of interest to the Branch, Division, Center, and the Agency, and
• providing oversight, guidance, strategic direction, and technical management for suborbital and space-based instrument development activities in support of the Earth Science Branch research and technology objectives.

Scientific research and technology development:

Perform scientific and / or engineering research and development which is a systematic, critical, and intensive investigation directed toward discovering, disseminating, and applying new or expanded knowledge in Earth science:

• conceiving, planning, and conducting innovative studies of broad scope, difficulty, and complexity in unexplored areas of investigation and / or managing complex and extensive scientific programs of significant importance to the Agency,
• contributing to new designs or techniques that are regarded as major advances or have opened the way for further developments, or have solved problems of significant importance to the field, Agency or public,
• communicating scientific results through presentations and the scientific review and publication process to document and validate the quality of scientific research and to obtain recognition as a technical expert by the scientific community, and
• performing community service activities through participation in committees, review panels, and teams to support Branch activities both internal and external to the organization.