Job Description Summary:

NSF - National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is hiring three Program Directors within its Research Applications Laboratory (RAL) to lead innovative, applied research with real-world impact. Each Program Director will provide strategic leadership and direct oversight of scientific and technical activities within one of the following areas:

-Water Cycle Applications Program (WCAP)
-Environmental Resilience Applications Program (ERAP)
-Transportation Meteorology Applications Program (TMAP)

These roles manage cross-disciplinary teams, foster collaboration, and drive proposal development and external engagement. As part of RAL leadership, a Program Director contributes to lab-wide strategy and helps advance NCAR’s mission as a world-class research center, leading, promoting, and facilitating innovation in the atmospheric and related Earth and Sun systems sciences.

The Program Director is supported by at MOST 50% indirect funds to cover Lab management duties, and this funding varies from year to year. The remaining percentage must be funded through the incumbent’s own externally supported scientific projects or other projects that provide support.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

Yes

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Term - 6 months or more (Fixed Term)

Compensation Range:

Salary Range $155,522 - $194,400

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role.*

Application Notes

NOTES

• This is a hybrid role, with at least three in-office days per week in Boulder, CO.

• This is a full-time, seven-year term position, with the possibility of a up to 3-year extension.

• This job posting will close at 12 am MDT on August 16, 2025.

Required Application Materials:

Resume 

Questionnaire - Within the job application, you will be prompted to answer the following questions:

• Please confirm the specific program or programs you are interested in applying for (WCAP, ERAP, TMAP).
• Please identify the most crucial skills you think are needed for a RAL program director role and explain why.
• (TMAP PROGRAM ONLY)Please explain why you are interested in the TMAP program director position (Enter N/A if not applying for this position). 
• (TMAP PROGRAM ONLY) Based on the TMAP program director’s requirements, describe how you meet the criteria and make you a suitable candidate (Enter N/A if not applying for this position).
• (WCAP PROGRAM ONLY) Please explain why you are interested in the WCAP program director position (Enter N/A if not applying for this position). 
• (WCAP PROGRAM ONLY) Based on the WCAP program director’s requirements, demonstrate how you meet the criteria and make you a suitable candidate (Enter N/A if not applying for this position).
• (ERAP PROGRAM ONLY) Please explain why you are interested in the ERAP program director position (Enter N/A if not applying for this position). 
• (ERAP PROGRAM ONLY) Based on the ERAP program director’s requirements, demonstrate how you meet the criteria and make you a suitable candidate (Enter N/A if not applying for this position). 

VISA: This role is visa-supported.

Background Checks: Conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT AT UCAR

Below, you will find a general overview of responsibilities within each of the programs in which a Program Director will be hired

Water Cycle Applications Program (WCAP) Program Director

• Provides leadership, guidance, and oversight to the scientific and technical activities conducted within the WCAP. 

• The WCAP Director coordinates and leverages those activities across the laboratory to develop longer-term program st