Associate Director Policy Division Job

Vacancy No. 24-FINCEN-SES-02 Department Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Salary $147,649.00 to $221,900.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/24/2024 Close Date 5/24/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DCVienna, VA


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is the primary Federal regulator for the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and is responsible for the regulations and implementation of the non-public database of ownership and/or effective control of firms (i.e. beneficial ownership) pursuant to the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). FinCEN safeguards the financial system from illicit use, combats money laundering, and promotes national security through the strategic use of financial authorities.


Duties

The duty location will be in Washington DC or Vienna, VA.

The Associate Director (AD), Policy Division (PD) oversees the development and administration of programs to implement regulatory and strategic policy with the assistance of a Deputy Associate Director and other staff through subordinate supervisors. The program activities of PD are developed to assist in the protection of the U.S. financial system from abuse by criminals and terrorists through administration of the regulatory regime of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).

The AD serves as a key advisor to the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to assure that regulatory programs are developed, interpreted, and implemented in a manner consistent with pertinent legislation, regulations, national strategies, and FinCEN strategic objectives. Additionally, the AD serves as a key interlocutor between FinCEN and other Treasury Department components and offices, as well as with FinCEN's fellow regulatory agencies and other interagency partners. The AD also plays a leading role in FinCEN's public outreach efforts.

The AD provides leadership to the division in the undertaking of regulatory policy core functions that consist of:

  • Researching and drafting rulemakings, including development of impact analyses
  • Briefing on existing rules and/or rulemakings
  • Developing and issuing interpretive guidance
  • Responding to requests for administrative rulings
  • Maintaining the effectiveness of FinCEN regulations consistent with OMB requirements
The AD provides leadership to the division in the undertaking of strategic policy core functions, consisting of:
  • Participating in the development of examination procedures, manuals, and training
  • Promoting effective application of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) framework
  • Reviewing trends to identify ways to improve compliance
  • Coordinating with domestic and foreign regulatory partners on compliance policy matters
  • Understanding the financial ecosystem and addressing vulnerabilities
  • Conducting assessment of regulations
  • Supporting development of strong international regulatory standards

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Security Clearance: This position has been designated National Security Level IV, Special Sensitive and requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain eligibility for a Top Secret (TS) clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. Applicant must meet and continue to adhere to the requirements of a Tier 5 level background investigation. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Continued employment with FinCEN is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the Tier 5 level background investigation, the results of which fully meet the FinCEN's special employment criteria. All employees are subject to satisfactory completion of periodic reinvestigation and a continuing lifestyle in conformity with applicable national and FinCEN directives. Any unfavorable information developed during an investigation or other official inquiry may result in termination of employment in accordance with established security policies and procedures.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement, applicants must possess the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Competencies listed below. Typically, qualified applicants will have gained experience of this nature at or above the GS-15 grade level or its equivalent in the public or private sector.

To be qualified for this position, your resume must reflect experience in a managerial capacity. Typically, experience of this nature is gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the Federal Service, or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or nongovernmental organizations. As such, your resume must demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in most SES positions such as:
  • Directing the work of an organizational unit
  • Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects
  • Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance and taking action to improve performance
  • Supervising the work of other managers and exercising important policy-making, or other executive functions
Failure to meet the basic qualification requirement and address all Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications will result in your application being disqualified.


EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential, not technical expertise. They measure whether an individual has the broad executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions.

Applicants must submit a written narrative that addresses each of the five (5) ECQs individually and should contain at least two (2) examples per ECQ describing your experiences and accomplishments/results. The narrative must not exceed 10 pages total. The narrative should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, and scope. It should highlight the complexity of programs managed, programs accomplished, and policy initiatives undertaken, as well as the results of your actions. Applicants should not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer.

NOTE: Current career SES members, former career SES members with reinstatement eligibility, and SES Candidate Development Program graduates who have been certified by OPM do NOT need to address the ECQs.
  1. Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, as well as the ability to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Competencies: creativity and innovation, external awareness, flexibility, resilience, strategic thinking, vision.
  2. Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Competencies: conflict management, leveraging diversity, developing others, team building.
  3. Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Competencies: accountability, customer service, decisiveness, entrepreneurship, problem solving, technical credibility.
  4. Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources. Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management.
  5. Building Coalitions: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Competencies: partnering, political savvy, influencing/negotiating.
Fundamental Competencies: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: interpersonal skills, oral communication, continual learning, written communication, integrity/honesty, public service motivation. The Fundamental Competencies are crosscutting and should be addressed over the course of each ECQ narrative.

Applicants should follow the Challenge, Context, Action, and Result (CCAR) model outlined in the guide.
  • Challenge - Describe a specific problem or goal.
  • Context - Describe the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to address a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale).
  • Action - Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge.
  • Result - Give specific examples of measures/outcomes that had some impact on the organization. These accomplishments should demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.
Additional information about the SES and Executive Core Qualifications can be found on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) SES website. You are strongly encouraged to review OPM's Guide to the SES Qualifications for specific examples and guidance on writing effective ECQ narrative statements.


MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): All applicants must fully address each of the following MTQs individually in a narrative format, not to exceed one (1) page per MTQ (verbiage and/or pages in excess of the maximum will be removed). In addition to the qualifying experience, applicants must possess the mandatory technical qualifications that represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
  1. MTQ1 - Experience concerning the interpretation, implementation, and the administration of the Bank Secrecy Act and amendments to it or related regulations and legislation, the legislative process resulting in such regulations, the requirements imposed by such regulations, and related compliance activities. (Applicants must describe the experience that provided expertise in these areas.)
  2. MTQ2 - Skill in preparing and overseeing the development of formal written documents related to the strategic and regulatory programs applicable to FinCEN, including legislative analyses and proposals, program policies and guidance materials, resource and technology planning documents, advisories and speeches for internal and external audiences at executive levels. (Applicants must describe their experience in preparing and overseeing such documents.)

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

1. Applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements will be eligible for consideration in this process. Applicants will be rated based on the quality and extent of their leadership skills, technical experience, and accomplishments as described in their Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) narrative, Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) narrative, and as shown in their resume (defined above).

2. Applicants are required to submit separate narrative statements specifically addressing--per the instructions above--the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). These narratives are mandatory for consideration in the process. The ECQs describe the leadership skills needed to succeed in the Senior Executive Service and are in addition to the specific technical competencies. To assess the executive potential of each candidate, applicants must demonstrate, with specific examples, how their experience is relevant to exercising leadership in each ECQ. A concise executive summary must show where and when the qualifications were obtained, the organizational setting in which the experience was acquired (e.g.; organizational size, level, and assigned fiscal resources), and a narrative discussion of the qualifications.

3. For Noncompetitive Consideration:

  • Current or former Senior Executive applicants are not required to address the ECQs but it is mandatory to address the MTQs for this position and submit an SF-50 that documents your career appointment status in the SES.
  • SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) applicants who have not been placed on a career Senior Executive appointment are not required to address the ECQs, but it is mandatory to address the MTQs for this position in your resume, as well as submit a copy of your OPM-QRB certification.
4. Applicants will be evaluated by a Senior Executive Panel and those determined best qualified may be referred to participate in a selection interview. If selected, you must be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB), unless you are a current or former OPM certified SES executive. You must receive certification before you can be appointed to the position.

Additional information about the SES and Executive Core Qualifications is available at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/#url=Overview

Required Documents

Applicants must submit:

  1. A resume.
  2. Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) Narrative, addressing each of the five (5) ECQs individually and should contain at least two (2) examples per ECQ describing your experiences and accomplishments/results. ECQs are limited to a total of ten (10) pages. Pages beyond the first ten (10) will not be considered in the process. Current or former Senior Executives and SES Candidate Development Program applicants with OPM-QRB certification are not required to address the ECQs.
  3. Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) Narrative, addressing each of the MTQs individually in a narrative format, not to exceed one (1) page per MTQ (verbiage and/or pages in excess of the maximum will be removed).
  4. SF-50 / SES Certification / SESCDP
    • Current federal employees or SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) applicants must submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your current tenure, position title, series, and grade level.
    • Current or former Senior Executive employees must submit an SF-50 that documents career appointment status in the SES.
    • SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) must submit a copy of your SESCDP OPM-QRB certification.

Applicants who fail to submit ALL required documents WILL NOT receive consideration for this position. Application will result in an "Incomplete" rating.

NOTE: APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT ALL DOCUMENTATION BY 11:59 P.M. ET ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

How to Apply

The following instructions outline our application process: You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday).

If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date. To begin, either click the "Create a New Account" button and follow the prompts to register or if you previously registered, click the "Apply Online" button and follow the prompts. You will be re-directed to the USAJOBS system to complete your application process; answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. (To submit supporting documents, click one of the available options; Upload; Fax; or Reuse existing documents. To protect your privacy, we suggest you first remove your SSN). Also, go to "My Account" to view and update your information, as necessary. To complete, you must click the "Finish" button located at the bottom of the "Application Review" page. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application and the documentation received. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement.

You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. If you are experiencing system issues with your application, please contact the USAJOBS help desk.

Agency contact information

Sue Rhodes

Address

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Administrative and Resources Center
Parkersburg, WV 26101
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Applicants may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status". For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on "more information." Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position. The Federal hiring process is setup to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.