NIST Strategic Plan 

Update

Program Coordination Office

June 8, 2021
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NIST Strategic Plan: Four Strategic Goals

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• Position NIST to Advance U.S. Science and Innovation –NIST 

will make sure that it has the workforce, organizational 

structures, and partnerships to support the development and 

adoption of emerging technologies critical to innovation and 

the economic competitiveness of the United States.

• Maximize NIST’s Stakeholder Impact through High-Value 

Service Delivery – NIST will optimize service delivery, 

streamline processes, and strengthen stakeholder engagement 

to transform technology transfer.

• Create the Infrastructure for a 21st Century Research 

Institution – NIST will make sure that it has both the physical 

and IT infrastructure to carry out its programs.

• Build a One NIST Culture – Ensure that our workforce of 

federal staff and NIST associates are united around NIST’s 

mission and are valued for the expertise they bring.
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Implementation Themes

Themes cover topics such as 

- Agility and performance 

excellence

- Branding

- Leadership competencies

- Tech transfer

- Diversity

- and more....
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Topics are Interlinked – Need a Coordinated 

Approach

Infrastructure

Agility

Leadership

Diversity

Collaboration

Tech Transfer

Branding
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Status Update: Workforce Actions

Improve collaboration and agility across NIST programs

Action 1: Restructure performance plans to provide flexibility for collaborative work.

Action 2: Establish a new ADLP funding mechanism to foster cross-OU collaboration.

Strengthen NIST’s ability to attract, retain, and retrain a 

diverse and inclusive talent base

Action 3: Appoint a NIST Diversity coordinator to lead efforts to improve the diversity 

of NIST's workforce.

Provide support for a strong and accountable leadership corp

Action 4: Strengthen NIST's leadership corps by developing and implementing a NIST 

leadership competencies model and increase support for development and growth of 

existing leaders at NIST.

Complete

Pilot Underway

Pilot Underway

Pilot Underway
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Status Update: Infrastructure Actions

Implement a multifaceted facility renovation and upgrade 

strategy

Action 5

Develop a prioritized implementation plan of the NIST Campus Master Plan.

Action 6

Optimize ongoing repair activities through the utilization of a predictive facilities maintenance tool to Mostly guide future SCMMR investments. Complete

Complete
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Make it easier to work with NIST

Action 7

Define and establish the technology liaison function to facilitate the transfer of NIST-developed 

technologies through enhanced customer [internal] and stakeholder [external] service and 

process improvements.

Strategically communicate NIST’s key messages

Action 8

Improve stakeholder awareness of NIST by clarifying and sharpening NIST's strategic 

communications and initiating an effort to rebrand NIST.

Status Update: Operations & Procedures 

Actions

Complete

Ongoing
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Welcome 

Dr. Sesha

Joi Moon!

Implementation Highlights: Director of DEI
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Implementation Highlights: Branding

It all comes to a head when we think about Congress

[and funding]. When they sit down and talk about

our budget... they only see NIST. They don’t see our

individual lab [and its unique] brand. We need to be

one brand. That’s where it’s super important to have

heft or weight.

— NIST employee

Credit: Crosby Marketing

A brand encompasses every 

aspect of an organization An organization’s brand

• Products and services

• Logo

• Communications

• Behavior

• Perceptions

• Communicates and 

reinforces its value

• Connects its employees to 

the overall agency mission
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Implementation Highlights: LCM

Goal: Build and support measurable characteristics that

an individual and an organization need to build a

culture that with successful teams and coalitions, drives

results, and serves customers.

Conversation

• Requirements of Position

• Individual Skills

Measurement

• Gap Analysis

Growth

• Building Skills

Pilot Program

Two labs will pilot the measurement tool:

• Engineering Laboratory 

o 2 Divisions

o 3rd and 4th quarters of FY21

• Material Measurement Laboratory

o 3 Divisions

o 3rd and 4th quarters of FY21

Follow-up

• Interview participants

• Tune measurement tool as necessary

• Continue building development tools

• Distribute to wider NIST community
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Implementation Highlights: CoIN

Special Programs Office (SPO) 

• 98 Proposals spanning many OUs

• Topics: COVID-19, racial equity, climate, economy, healthcare, technology 

• Final selection and announcement – June 8, 2021
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What’s Next?

Continue building on the 

progress, monitor, and track

Credit: Pixabay

Engagement with community

Discussions with senior leadership