Assistant Administrator for Financial Systems Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. FEMA-24-CB-AAFS-SES Department Federal Emergency Management Agency
Salary $147,649.00 to $221,900.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/30/2024 Close Date 5/29/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

This Senior Executive Service position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), Washington, DC.

The incumbent will serve as the OCFO's lead innovator responsible for modernizing it's financial systems and using process automation and Artificial Intelligence to maximize FEMA's financial systems capabilities.

Duties

The incumbent serves as the Agency's Senior Program Executive and, under authority delegated by the Chief Financial Officer, exercises leadership over FEMA's financial systems responsibilities, serving as the technical advisor for FEMA's financial system modernization and sustainment effort.

The incumbent will also serve as the principal advisor to the CFO regarding the consolidation and integration of integrated mission-essential enterprise financial, acquisition and asset management systems. The financial systems modernization initiative is a key strategy to achieve compliant financial management (FM) services and optimize FM operations across the diverse DHS systems. The OCFO ensures the funds necessary to carry out the Department's mission are obtained, allocated, and spent in support of the Department's priorities and in accordance with law and policies.

Responsibilities includes serving as the expert advisor to the CFO on all matters related to financial systems modernization and financial systems sustainment, including enabling OMB regulatory compliance, improve system security, correct current program-specific audit issues, enhance internal controls, improve integration with feeders systems, standardize processes and data, and enhance management oversight.

In addition, responsible for the program management, organizational change, coordination, communication, policy and oversight. Interfaces across the FEMA program offices and other DHS components and ensures compliance with congressional and other externally generated requirements and promotes the exchange of information.

Specific responsibilities include:

  • Supervision of a team in the areas of office administration to include communication, policy and process, administration, and organizational change.
  • Reviews OCFO-wide studies for formulation of policies which relate to the delivery of acquisition services and makes relevant recommendations to the CFO, Head of Contracting Activity (HCA), and Component Acquisition Executive (CAE).
  • Represents the Assistant Administrator for Financial Management at meetings and at negotiations with key officials within and outside FEMA, exercising authority to represent the Agency and the views of the Administrator.
  • Assures adequate internal controls are in place, and effectively employed to prevent fraud, waste, mismanagement and abuse. Carries out Equal Employment Opportunity policies.
  • Communicates support of these policies and programs, and accountability for implementation, to subordinate senior managers throughout the Agency.
  • Serves as Accountable Executive for FEMA's Financial Systems Modernization efforts. In this capacity, ensures all financial systems are in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, rules and policies.
  • Acts as a customer service advocate to ensure effective relations with internal and external customers.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • You may be required to undergo periodic drug testing.
  • You must be able to obtain/maintain a TS/w SCI security clearance.
  • Selectee will be required to complete form OGE-278, Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Form.
  • You will serve a one-year probationary period unless you previously completed the probationary period in the SES.
  • You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. As such, 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;
  • Supervising the work of employees; and
  • Exercising important policymaking, policy determining, or other executive functions.

The application process used to recruit for this position is the RESUME-BASED Method.

The applicant must address the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) within their resume.
Resumes must not exceed five (5) pages.

We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required of the position and on the extent your application demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the position. Please be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess.


EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs):

YOUR RESUME MUST CLEARLY DOCUMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs) EVIDENCE WITHIN YOUR RESUME NOT TO EXCEED FIVE PAGES:

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE. This core qualification involves the 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. 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. 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 core qualification 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 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. Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating.

Detailed information on each ECQ, the underlying and fundamental competencies, sample narratives and a tips sheet for writing effective ECQs are available in the "Guide To Senior Executive Service Qualifications" Senior Executive Service Executive Core Qualifications and Senior Executive Service Qualifications & Fundamental-Competencies.

The following categories of applicants may omit the mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), but the Technical Qualifications must be addressed within your Resume:

  • Applicants who are currently serving under a SES career appointment (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50--Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES).
  • Applicants who are eligible for reinstatement to the SES (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50--Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES).
  • Applicants who are graduates of OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Programs (must provide proof of OPM Qualifications Review Board certification).
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (TQ)s:

IN ADDITON, YOU WILL BE EVALUATED ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your responses to the TQs should be embedded/addressed within your resume not to exceed five pages.

TQ 1. Mastery of delivering new information systems and the sustainment of existing systems; extensive project management experience and expert
knowledge in financial systems management as well as in the development and management of an enterprise financial management system.

TQ 2. Expert knowledge of financial system acquisition and sustainment as well as experience with consolidation and integration of integrated mission-essential enterprise financial, acquisition and asset management systems.

TQ 3. Comprehensive and detailed experience ensuring financial systems are in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, rule, and policies; and their application to major programs for improving the management of operations to address Agency-wide situations and needs.

NOTE: Your demonstrated leadership ability and the evidence of the ECQs and TQs must be clearly shown in your resume.
A separate narrative statement will not be accepted.

A sample 5-page resume that incorporates ECQs and TQs can be viewed on this link (indexed at page 29 - 37) http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf.

YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION IF YOU FAIL TO MEET OR FULLY ADDRESS EACH MANDATORY EXECUTIVE CORE AND TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS AND IF YOUR RESUME EXCEEDS FIVE (5) PAGES.

Veteran's Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer 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 Noncareer SES employee, please indicate this in your resume. Serving in a Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES appointment WILL NOT eliminate you from consideration.

Education

There is no recognized education to qualifying for this position; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation will be acceptable.

Additional information

Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses may be authorized at Management's discretion.

Recruitment/Relocation/Retention Incentive may be authorized at Management's discretion.

This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.

Veteran's Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service.

All candidates must be able to deploy with little or no advance notice to anywhere in the United States and its territories for an extended period of time. If selected, you will be subject to 24-hour on-call in the event of an emergency. In this event, this service may include duties other than those specified in the official position description. Selectee must be able to relocate to emergency sites with little advance notice and function under intense physical and mental stress.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for Top Secret/ Sensitive Compartment Information clearance as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U. S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

A multi-step process is used to evaluate and refer applicants:

1. Minimum requirements: Your application must show that you meet all requirements including the education and/or experience required for this position. You may be rated "not qualified" if you do not possess the qualification requirements for the position. If your application is incomplete, you may be found "ineligible".

2. Rating and Ranking: A panel of subject matter experts will review your application and evaluate your qualifications for this position based on the information in your application. Your application will be rated, based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of this position. Interviews will be at the discretion of the panel and/or selecting official.

3. Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to a selecting official for consideration and possible interview. The DHS Executive Resources Board (ERB) will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority where final interviews and reference checks may occur. Only the selectee will be required to write Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) narratives.

Your supporting documents are an integral part of the process for determining your qualifications for the position. If your responses are not supported by your resume, you will be eliminated from consideration. After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, if a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Incomplete or late applications will not receive further consideration.

The application process to recruit for this position is the RESUME-BASED method.

Separate written narratives addressing the ECQs and TQs will not be considered. Evidence of your qualifications for the ECQs and TQs must be clearly demonstrated in your resume, and no more than five (5) pages will be accepted. A sample 5-page resume that incorporates ECQs and TQs can be viewed on this link (indexed at page 29 - 37) http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf.

Unless you have already been certified by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past, your ECQs must be certified by the QRB before appointment can occur.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Resume

  • Please submit a PDF version resume that DOES NOT exceed 5 pages.
  • Your resume must show evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive-level management capability and directly related to the executive core qualifications and the technical qualifications listed in the Qualifications section in one document. Information exceeding 5 pages WILL NOT be considered.
  • Your resume should emphasize your level of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken, and the results of your actions.
  • Your resume must show evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive-level management capability and directly related to the executive core qualifications and the technical qualifications.
  • Include start and end dates for each position (e.g., month and year; month, day, and year).
  • Your responses to the TQs should be embedded/addressed within your resume not to exceed five pages.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (if applicable):

I am applying as someone that currently holds or has held a position in the federal civil service--the federal civil service is defined as positions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches; it does not include positions in the uniformed services. I must submit:
  • SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action
    • Upload under "SF-50" document type in the agency application system.
  • Proof of holding of federal civil service position
    • If you work(ed) for an agency that does not provide an SF-50--for example, the United States Postal Service--provide documentation that confirms you currently hold or have held a position in the federal civil service.
    • Upload under "SF-50" document type in the agency application system.

I am applying as a current career Senior Executive Service (SES) member. I must submit:
  • SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action
    • Block 5-B (Nature of Action) must identify SES career appointment.
    • Upload under "SF-50" document type in the agency application system.
I am applying as a former career Senior Executive Service (SES) member that is reinstatement eligible. I am eligible for reinstatement to the SES because (1) I successfully completed the 1-year SES probationary period or am exempt because I was converted to the SES as a career appointee when the SES was first established, and (2) left the SES for reasons other than misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or less than fully successful performance, or resignation after receipt of a notice proposing or directing removal under any of the aforementioned conditions. I must submit:
  • SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action
    • Block 5-B (Nature of Action) must identify SES career appointment.
    • Upload under "SF-50" document type in the agency application system.
I am applying as an SES Candidate Development Program graduate. I must submit:
  • Certificate of Executive Qualifications
    • Upload under "Certificate of Executive Qualifications" document type in the agency application system.

IMPORTANT: Failure to meet or fully address each ECQ and TQ in the 5 page resume may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Please do not submit any additional information not requested above.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.

The complete application package MUST be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/29/2024.

To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, 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, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

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.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. Paper applications and information sent by mail WILL NOT be accepted. If you cannot apply online, you may submit a paper application and the required forms. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

DHS is an equal employment employer: Selection for positions will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences.

DHS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer 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 Noncareer SES employee, please indicate this in your resume. Serving in a Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES appointment WILL NOT eliminate you from consideration.

Agency contact information

Christine Benner

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will review your experience and qualifications to determine if you possess the required ECQs and TQs for the position based on the information submitted in your package. Those who meet the qualifications will be referred to a panel of SES members to determine the "highly qualified" candidates who will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Once a selection has been made, the selectee's application will be forwarded to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for approval by the OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB), unless the selectee is a noncompetitive candidate that has been successfully certified by the OPM QRB.

We will notify you by email at various stages in the process. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

DHS/FEMA offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers.

Thank you for your employment interest in the Federal Emergency Management Agency!


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