Summary
Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. This is a Category-3 position. The minimum pay for this position is $191,900. Pay is set based on consideration of the selectee's current salary and other factors.
Routine and situational telework may be approved at the discretion of the supervisor.
Veterans preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Duties
As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, each applicant must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of executive-level management capabilities that are directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications listed below. The ideal candidate will have experience managing employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and evaluating employees. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or equivalent in the private sector or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet these basic qualification requirements in addition to all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically disqualify an applicant.
The Associate Director for Core Science Systems leads the Core Science Systems Mission Area at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the Department of the Interior. The position reports to the USGS Director. The office is responsible for providing executive leadership to the Nation's topographic and geologic maps, real-time collection and distribution of world-wide satellite imaging, access to defense and intelligence remote sensing for Federal civilian use, and national assessments and monitoring of land cover, and land protection and conservation status.
Specific Duties
The incumbent carries out the following specific responsibilities:
- Oversees the broad program of natural science investigations and research to provide scientific information, maps, data and tools as part of the Nation's Spatial Data Infrastructure for emergency responders, resource managers, policy makers, and the public, in promoting conservation, recreation and the safety, security and economic well-being of the Nation.
- Provides executive direction and oversight to establish priorities and ensure effective and efficient program planning, management, and execution of the National Geospatial, Science Synthesis Analysis and Research, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping, National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation, and National Land Imaging programs as well as the Executive Secretariat for the interagency Federal Geographic Data Committee.
- Directs the planning and development of long-term national and international programs to accomplish the Bureau's mission providing for the capture, maintenance and delivery of world-wide satellite data, and the characterization of the Earth's surface and subsurface through topographic and geologic mapping.
- Strategizes the development and advancement of long-term national and international programs for the Core Science Systems Mission Area that are executed by approximately 1,500 personnel, 10 regionally managed science centers, and dozens of external partners, including state geological surveys, private industry geospatial firms, international partners, universities, and other Federal agencies.
- Serves as member of the Executive Leadership Team and shares in the planning, direction, and management of the integrated science programs of the USGS including oversight and evaluation of broad natural science programs to ensure the human and fiscal resources, interdisciplinary direction, and bureau-wide coordination.
- Provides executive-level representation for the USGS with Federal, State, and local governments, the scientific community in the private sector and academic institutions, and to customers and constituent groups.
Applicants who meet the mandatory executive and technical qualifications will be evaluated by a panel of SES members to determine the degree to which they possess each of the listed qualifications. This evaluation will determine which applicants are best qualified. Each candidate's background including experience, education, awards, self-development, and training will be reviewed. This information will be obtained from the application package, including the required narrative statements for the technical and Executive Core Qualifications described in this vacancy.
Additionally, your resume should 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; and
- Supervising the work of employees; and exercising important policy-making, policy determining, or other executive functions.
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship
- You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
- Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1-year probationary period
- Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required)
- This position requires pre and post-employment drug screening.
Additional Information:
- A background investigation is required for this position. It is not a prerequisite to apply, however, the selectee must possess the ability to obtain and maintain a background investigation with a Top Secret clearance as a condition of placement in this position.
- Subject to approval by the Department of the Interior's Executive Resources Board.
- Initial appointments to the career Senior Executive Service must have ECQs certified by an OPM's Qualifications Review Board prior to appointment and you will be required to serve a one year probationary period.
- Employees of the USGS are subject to the provisions of the Title 43, U.S. Code, Section 31(a) and may not according to this legislation and related regulations: (a) have any personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in lands, or mineral wealth of such lands, whose title is in the United States; (b) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations; or (c) have any substantial personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business in the United States, except where specifically authorized by the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.
- Within 30 days after selection, incumbent of this position will be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report (SF-278) and supplemental form, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interest (DI-278).
- OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.
Qualifications
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ's)- *Required Documentation*
The Office of Personnel Management has identified five executive core qualifications (ECQs). The ECQs define the competencies needed to build a federal corporate culture that drives for results, serves customers, and builds successful teams and coalitions within and outside the organization. The ECQs are required for entry to the Senior Executive Service and are used by many departments and agencies in selection, performance management, and leadership development for management and executive positions. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential-not technical expertise.
ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: You must have demonstrated an ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, 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.
- Leadership Competencies: Creativity & Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: You must demonstrate 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.
- Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building
ECQ 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.
- Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This ECQ involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
- Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This ECQ 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.
- Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating
FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning, Public Service Motivation
Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs)- *Required Documentation*
MTQs are designed to assess an applicants experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Each MTQ narrative response must 1.) not exceed two pages per narrative statement; 2.) include specific examples of your experience, education, and/or accomplishments; and 3.) address specific challenges, contexts, actions, and results.
- The ability to apply a broad knowledge of the physical and natural sciences in the development and execution of national, multi-disciplinary science programs, including the strategic planning, coordination, and direction of programs involving multimillion-dollar expenditures annually, the development of budget documents supporting the federal appropriations process, the development and tracking of performance measures and metrics, and the oversight, implementation, and monitoring of program performance, carried out in cooperation with international organizations, State and local organizations, other Federal agencies, DOI and its bureaus, and academia, especially related to geodesy, geology, geography, remote sensing, data and scientific collections, and advanced research computing.
- The ability and professional stature to effectively represent the interests and capabilities of USGS science programs, especially geologic, geospatial, and biological informatics programs, at the technical and policy level in activities related to program, budget, and collaborative efforts and initiatives; to cultivate and coordinate strategic partnerships with local, State, Tribal, and Federal government agencies, industry, and academia; and to lead high-level technical groups to develop policy, strategy and mutual goals.
- Ability to effectively lead and implement long-term projects and initiatives to characterize and map the Earth's surface, subsurface, and biota, including remote and in-situ sensing, public delivery of information, and scientific collections management; and direct the planning and development of long-term strategies, standards, and the implementation of information technology systems that support data management and delivery and advanced research computing.
Challenge-Context-Action-Result(s) (CCAR) Model.
CCAR Model is outline below. When addressing the ECQs and MTQs, you are strongly recommended to utilize the CCAR Model. Each ECQ or MTQ statement should include more than one example of relevant experience.
- Challenge: Describe a specific problem or goal.
- Context: Talk about the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to tackle 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 the results of your actions. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.
Your responses to the ECQs and MTQs will be evaluated based on how clearly and concisely you emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of actions taken.
You are required to submit separate narrative statements for each ECQ and MTQ to receive consideration for this position. Please see the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section for complete details regarding the page limitation and formatting requirement.
Education
You must meet the basic education requirements for at least one of occupation series (0401, 0801, or 1301) identified below. You are required to submit PROOF as noted in the "Required Documents" section for education.
To qualify under the Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401, you must possess:
Basic Requirements
A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
To qualify under the General Engineer Series 0801, you must possess:
Basic Requirements
A. Degree: engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience in college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.
To qualify under the Physical Science Series 1301, you must possess:
Basic Requirements
A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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.
Review our 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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will conduct an initial qualifications evaluation of all the applicants who have provided the required documentation. Minimally qualified applicants will be rated and ranked by a SES Rating Panel to determined the Best Qualified applicants. The best qualified applicants will be referred to the Selecting Official for further consideration and possible panel interview. You will be notified of the outcome after completion of the selection process. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position and failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume will result in a "not qualified" determination.
Upon receipt of your completed application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the qualification requirements. Our determination will be based on your separate narrative statement responses to the Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications using the required CCAR Model in addition to the information stated in your resume. If you are among the best qualified applicants, then your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. Interviews are exclusively at the discretion of the Selecting Official.
FINAL CERTIFICATION: If you are selected, then you must be certified by the Office of Personnel Management's Qualifications Review Board before you are appointed to the position. You are exempted from this requirement if you are a:
- current career SES member;
- former career SES member with reinstatement eligibility; or
- SES Candidate Development graduate and have already been certified by OPM.
1. REQUIRED Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement. Insufficient information will result in a not qualified rating. It is recommended that you include the following information:
- Full name, mailing address, and day and evening telephone numbers
- Educational information, including the name, city and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degrees received
- Information about your paid and nonpaid work experience related to this position including:
- Job title (include series and grade if Federal job)
- Duties and accomplishments
- Employer's name and address
- Supervisor's name and phone number
- Starting and ending dates of employment (month and year)
- Salary
- Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor
- Information about honors, awards, and special accomplishments
2. REQUIRED A separate narrative statement addressing each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ's) - experience (paid and unpaid), education, training, awards, and/or self-development activities as related to each. Each ECQ and each technical qualification must be addressed separately. The narrative addressing ECQ's must follow the format provided at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf (Adobe Acrobat required).
The submission of your entire ECQ package (i.e., all five ECQ's narrative statements) must not exceed 10 pages. If you exceed the page limit as prescribed or failed to provide the narrative statements, then you will be ineligible.
3. REQUIRED A narrative statement addressing each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ's) - experience (paid and unpaid), education, training, awards, and/or self-development activities as related to each qualification requirement. You must title each MTQ separately to ensure each MTQ is appropriately addressed. Failure to title and address each MTQ separately will result in your disqualification.
Narrative statements must not exceed 2 pages for each individual technical qualification(s). If you exceed the page limit as prescribed or failed to provide the narrative statements, then you will be ineligible.
4. REQUIRED If you are a current Federal employee, then you must provide a copy of a recent SF-50 that indicates Federal status, grade, tenure, and type of service. Please remove your social security number and date of birth.
4 (a). REQUIRED FOR NON-COMPETITIVE CONSIDERATION : The following categories of applicants are not required to submit ECQs, but MUST address the Mandatory Technical Qualification. These Categories include:
- Applicants who are currently serving under a SES career appointment must provide a copy of SF-50 that documents career appointment to the SES, or
- Applicants who are eligible for reinstatement to the SES must provide a copy of SF-50 that documents career appointment to the SES, or
- Applicants who are graduates of OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Programs must provide proof of OPM Qualifications Review Board certification.
If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility: Must include full position title, appointment type, occupational series, pay plan, grade, and step, tenure code, service computation date.
5. REQUIRED A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (i.e., within the last 12 months form the closing date of this vacancy announcement, from either the Federal or private sector). Please remove your social security number and date of birth from any documentation you provide. If you are unable to provide your most recent annual performance appraisal, please provide a written justification explaining why you could provide the request documentation. Failure to provide the most recent annual performance appraisal or written justification explaining why you did not provide the requested documentation you will be disqualified for further consideration because your application will be incomplete.
6. REQUIRED Unofficial transcripts of your degree as outlined in the basic education requirement section.
All of the documentation listed above is required to be attached to your application. Failure to attach any of the documentation listed above will result in disqualification for this position.
To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom (or right) of this screen and follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions, and submit all required documents. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "My Applications". Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must submit all the required information, as stated above:
1. Your Resume must include the required information listed below:
a. Vacancy Announcement Number and Position Title.
b. Your full name, day and evening phone numbers, e-mail and mailing address. If applicable, reinstatement eligibility to the Senior Executive Service and dates held during the SES career appointment.
c. Job titles (include series and grade if Federal job), salaries, employers' names and addresses, supervisors' names and phone numbers (indicate if we may contact your current and former supervisors), duties, starting and ending dates and hours per week of paid or non-paid work experience that relates to this vacancy.
d. Job-related training courses, special skills, certificates and licenses, honors, awards, publications and special accomplishments.
e. Educational information, including the name, city and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degree received. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, you may refer to the following U.S. Department of Education website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
f. Your resume must include evidence of how you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). In addition, your resume should clearly demonstrate the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ's) required by this vacancy announcement.
Your application package to include your Resume, SF-50 (including appointment information such as a transfer, initial appointment, or reinstatement) if you are a federal employee, most recent performance appraisal (i.e., must be within the last 12 months of your submission to this application) and or a justification of why this information cannot be provided. Mandatory Technical Qualification's (MTQ's), and Executive Core Qualification's (ECQ's) for this announcement must be received online via the USAJOBS/Application Manager application system by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on closing date of the announcement. ECQ's and MTQ's must be submitted in the prescribed format outlined within this vacancy announcement failure submit the ECQ's or MTQ's in the outlined format will result in your application not receiving full consideration for this position. Email submissions of applicants will not be accepted. Failure to submit a complete application will eliminate an applicant from further consideration. Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist point of contact before the closing date if assistance is needed when submitting an application.
The Department of the Interior provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis. Please use the agency contact listed below if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
It is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and sent is received and is accurate.
To preview the announcement questionnaire, please click on:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12331711
Next steps
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgment from USAJobs that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line assessment questionnaire, resume and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.
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