The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the United States Government. Its vision is to enable the nation's future through its strategic goals of transforming the frontiers, innovating for society, and performing as a model organization. The Foundation seeks to realize these goals using five core values: vision, dedication to excellence, learning and growing, broad inclusiveness, and accountability to the research community and the taxpayer. NSF invests in supporting research that advances the frontiers of knowledge and establishes the nation as a leader in transformational science, in developing a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce and scientifically literate citizenry, in building the nation's research capacity with critical investments in advanced instruments, tools and facilities, and in cultivating a capable and responsive organization that promotes excellence in science and geosciences research and education.

The Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) is one of eight NSF directorates. GEO aims to help the U.S. harness the collective efforts of the geosciences communities to address the most compelling scientific questions, educate the future advanced high-tech workforce, and promote discoveries to meet the needs of the Nation. Research in GEO-supported disciplines has led to advances in a host of world-wide applications, such as improved freshwater management, developing novel observing infrastructure, understanding the impact of global change, and earlier prediction of natural hazards. Together, these achievements strengthen our national capacity to perform and innovate, which, in turn, contributes to national prosperity, security, and welfare. The Directorate's goals and strategies for all scales of research mirror those of the Foundation. The Directorate contains the Divisions of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS); Earth Sciences (EAR); Ocean Sciences (OCE); Research, Innovation, Synergies, and Education (RISE); and the Office of Polar Programs (OPP). A staff of more than 200 administers a budget of about $1.5 billion annually. GEO supports several major research facilities such as the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the US Academic Research Fleet, and research stations in both the Arctic and Antarctic.

The Assistant Director for Geosciences (AD/GEO) serves as a key member of NSF's senior management and policy team and provides leadership and direction to the Directorate's programs and initiatives. The incumbent is responsible for planning and implementing programs, priorities, and policy within the framework of statutory and National Science Board authority. NSF seeks a candidate with outstanding leadership abilities, a deep sense of scholarship, a grasp of the issues facing the geosciences in the areas of education and research, and a commitment to the goals and strategies of the National Science Foundation.

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