Principal Researcher for AI Risk Management

NIST is seeking an AI risk management expert to drive national leadership in trustworthy AI technology. You will maintain NIST's AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF), develop related ITL guidelines such as the AI RMF Playbook, and foster community engagement to promote widespread AI RMF adoption and help others manage AI risk across sectors.

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

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. As an AI risk management expert, you will shape national and international practices for trustworthy AI technology via the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) and associated resources. Depending on the grade level, your major duties will include:

ZP-IV Duties:

• Promote AI RMF adoption to support trustworthy AI innovation and national technology leadership.
• Develop guidelines, including the AI RMF Playbook, Quick Start Guide, context-specific profiles, and crosswalks.
• Engage target communities to expand framework utilization and address evolving user needs.

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 artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools.
• Experience drafting technical papers, guidelines, or standards intended to guide a broad community of AI/ML practitioners regarding best practices for applying AI/ML and managing AI/ML risk, either from a computational or behavioral and social sciences perspective.
• Experience serving as a technical representative or coordinator in multi-stakeholder or interagency technology-related fora, such as working groups or standards committees.

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 conducting technical research or development work to study or implement artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools.
• Experience formulating, leading, or managing complex computer science projects or technology policy initiatives of considerable scope and impact related to AI/ML.
• Experience developing and authoring technical papers, guidelines, or standards intended to guide a broad community of AI/ML practitioners regarding best practices for applying AI/ML and managing AI/ML risk, leveraging either computational or behavioral and social sciences perspectives.
• Experience leading collaborative work in multi-stakeholder or interagency technology-related fora, such as working groups or standards committees, to influence technology programs or technical consensus.

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 artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools.
• Experience drafting technical papers, guidelines, or standards intended to guide a broad community of AI/ML practitioners regarding best practices for applying AI/ML and managing AI/ML risk, either from a computational or behavioral and social sciences perspective.
• Experience serving as a technical representative or coordinator in multi-stakeholder or interagency technology-related fora, such as working groups or standards committees.

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 conducting technical research or development work to study or implement artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools.
• Experience formulating, leading, or managing complex computer science projects or technology policy initiatives of considerable scope and impact related to AI/ML.
• Experience developing and authoring technical papers, guidelines, or standards intended to guide a broad community of AI/ML practitioners regarding best practices for applying AI/ML and managing AI/ML risk, leveraging either computational or behavioral and social sciences perspectives.
• Experience leading collaborative work in multi-stakeholder or interagency technology-related fora, such as working groups or standards committees, to influence technology programs or technical consensus.

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