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Why Work at NIST?

As of February 25, 2012, there were 2,734 NIST staffers working at our 234 hectare (578 acre) site in Gaithersburg, MD, and 368 working at our Boulder, CO, site. There are also 3,102 Associates (including 1,540 foreign and domestic Guest Researchers) working at NIST. Here's a brief glimpse of what we can offer you:

• In Gaithersburg, MD, our peaceful, wooded campus is beautifully landscaped with mature trees and ponds, white-tailed deer and Canada geese, walking paths, and picnic area. The campus provides easy and pleasant access for outdoor repasts, biking, walking, and jogging.

• In Boulder, CO, NIST's laboratories occupy a scenic, 84-hectare campus at the foot of the Colorado Front Range. The campus is shared with offices and laboratories for units of two other Commerce Department agencies (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration).

• A generous package of Federal benefits including:

  • dental and vision insurance
  • flexible spending accounts
  • health insurance
  • life insurance
  • long-term care insurance
  • retirement benefits
  • tax-deferred Thrift Savings Plan (401K)
  • annual leave
  • sick leave

  • ten paid holidays

• Flexible work schedules

• Telecommuting opportunities

• Transportation Services

• On-site services (childcare services, employee counseling/assistance, mentoring, free parking, cafeterias, credit unions, fitness centers/gyms, health units, and employee associations)

• Employee support groups including the following:
• • Association of NIST Asian-Pacific Americans
  • NIST Committee for Women
  • NIST Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Employees Organization

 

Telecommuting Opportunities

Approximately 15% of NIST employees telecommute, i.e., one or two days per week, they either work from home or at a satellite work location near their home, called telework centers or telecenters. The General Services Administration (GSA) Public Buildings Service owns and operates 16 telecenters in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Opportunities to telecommute differ from office to office depending on work assignments involved and several other factors. 

 

Transportation Services

Subsidies:  NIST employees who commute to work via vanpools or public transportation at least 3 days per week are eligible to receive a monthly subsidy. Click here for more information.

Gaithersburg Shuttle:  NIST employees in Gaithersburg can use a free shuttle service that runs between the Shady Grove Metro Station and NIST during normal work hours. For more information about transportation services, click here.

MARC Train Shuttle:  The Maryland Rail Commuter (MARC) Metropolitan Grove Station is the closest train station to NIST. There is a free NIST shuttle service in the morning and afternoon for NIST employees.