Summary
This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency, Resilience, Federal Insurance Directorate (FID).
The incumbent serves as the Chief Actuary for the FID within the Resilience organization with responsibility for serving as the lead technical advisor on actuarial analysis and policy. In addition to providing executive leadership and oversight for the actuarial aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
All Groups of Qualified Individuals - All US citizens
Duties
The incumbent will conduct ongoing research to better understand industry best practices and stay up to date on the latest information from the actuary profession. The incumbent will also network within the actuary profession and stay abreast of the newest technologies, regulations and working practices that affect risk transfer and the pricing of risk. The incumbent will support the directorate in performing analytical studies of an exceedingly complex and mathematical nature, incorporating actuarial professions and economic analyses into alternative program designs, rate structures, reinsurance mechanisms and alternative approaches for making the NFIP actuarially sound.
As a member of the senior management team, the incumbent will support the Assistant Administrator of Federal Insurance within Resilience and assists the senior executive(s) for Federal Insurance on all actuarial matters. In addition, the Chief Actuary can serve as an advisor to the FEMA Administrator, when necessary.
Specific responsibilities include:
- On behalf of the Assistant Administrator for Federal Insurance, serves as the NFIP's focal point when running an actuarially sound insurance program and ensuring we are setting actuarial rates for all policyholders. Serves as a senior representative for Federal Insurance providing actuarial advice and relying on their actuarial expertise when meeting with key Congressional staff, major industry leaders and national stakeholder organizations.
- Stays up to date and researches the latest information, technology and work practices that impact the actuarial profession and how those may apply to the NFIP.
- Will not supervise staff or manage human capital resources but will work collaboratively with the Actuarial and Catastrophic Modeling Branch Chief, Reinsurance Branch Chief, and other branch chiefs across the Federal Insurance Directorate to ensure we have long-range planning in place for running a financially sound flood insurance program. Collaborate across the directorate and helps advise on product development, rating setting, running a reinsurance program, and the overall management of risk for the NFIP.
- Provides authoritative guidance and leadership in developing independent recommendations for major policy and program changes resulting from actuarial reviews.
- Contributes proactively to developing and executing the NFIP's business strategy through the provision of superior information, advice and guidance. Acts as senior representative for Federal Insurance with contractor staff, insurance companies, and their industry advisory groups, and others in the interpretation of policy matters concerning actuarial aspects of the NFIP.
- Provides expert guidance on quantitative and actuarial analyses, including rate making for existing and for new converages based on consideration of loss experience and theoretical damage and frequency data resulting from hydrologic studies, and the study of the catastrphic loss funding requirements unique to the NFIP to accomplish long-term goals.
- Provides expert guidance on mathematical and statistical analyses for estimating the impact of present and future economic conditions and alternative Federal, state, local government and business policies and programs designed to mitigate financial and physical losses due to the flood hazard.
- Networks externally and builds relationships that are key to the success of the NFIP and that allow them to better understand the latest information, technology, and business practices from the actuarial profession.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a US citizen to apply for this position.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
- You may be required to undergo periodic drug testing.
- You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
- Selectee will be required to complete an OGE 278, Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure form.
- You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
Qualifications
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must meet the requirements for the Actuarial Science 1510 series as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Standards Manual for General Schedule Positions which is available at: Actuarial Science Series 1510 (opm.gov) and demonstrate in a separate narrative that you possess the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) listed below.
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess all of the mandatory Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs). These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in the disciplines of mathematics, statistics, business, finance, economics and insurance, in addition to one-year of actuarial experience at the next lower grade level. 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. An individual's total experience and education must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position.
All applicants must show evidence of the following PTQs below in order to meet basic qualifications for this position. Please label and include your name on each page. Please give examples and explain how often you used your skills, the complexity of the knowledge possessed, the level of people you interacted with, the sensitivity of the issues you handled managing a large public or private sector organization that administers complex, rules-based benefits or services, etc. It is recommended that you draft your PTQ(s) in a word document and then upload into the system. You must address each PTQ separately, and you should not exceed two pages per PTQ. You are required to respond to all PTQs. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as 'ineligible'.
Additional Qualifications: Applicants must have at least three years of specialized experience in, or closely related to the actuary profession associated with the National Flood Insurance Program. With at least one year of this experience in planning and executing difficult programs of national significance or planning and executing specialized programs that show outstanding attainments in the field of research or consultation.
Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) (Mandatory):
PTQ 1: Demonstrated knowledge of actuarial sciences, mathematics, relevant statistics, business, finance, economics, and insurance. Demonstrated knowledge of theory and application of various professional disciplines of mathematics such as probability and statistics, calculus, and actuarial science to conduct studies and perform quantitative analyses to support the development of data to determine insurance coverage and rates associated with the National Federal Insurance Program (NFIP).
PTQ 2: Demonstrated knowledge of actuarial procedures and techniques associated with the property/casualty insurance industry to perform complex analyses and involve evaluation of new actuarial concepts and practices for their use in the NFIP.
PTQ 3: Demonstrated knowledge of data systems and capabilities to perform statistical and other type analyses to make actuarial projections.
PTQ 4: Demonstrated ability to ensure key national and organizational goals, priorities, values and other issues are considered in making program decisions and to exercise leadership to ensure the organization's mission and strategic vision are reflected in the management of its people.
PTQ 5: Demonstrated ability to communicate both orally and in writing, within and outside the organization, with mitigation stakeholders, other federal agencies, federal, state and local governments, agent's organizations, and program committee representatives and clearly explain, advocate, and negotiate with individuals and groups, often representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests and points of view.
Do not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer. Applications directing the reader to search within the application or to "See Resume" are considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Failure to submit a narrative statement or address any of the PTQs is also considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. As a result, you will be rated as "INCOMPLETE."
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.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.
Veterans, Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers, and people with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above and contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
Education
Required Education: A bachelor's degree that included courses in actuarial science, mathematics, relevant statistics, business, finance, economics, insurance, or computer science totaling at least 24 semester hours. This course work must have included a minimum of 12 semester hours of mathematics that included differential and integral calculus and one or more courses in mathematics for which these calculus courses were prerequisites.
Actuarial Science Series 1510 (opm.gov)
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: A minimum qualifications screening will be conducted by Executive Services. Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and extent of accomplishments and experience related to the mandatory Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs). This information will be obtained from the application and narrative statements. The narrative statements allow the applicant to describe their background to the position's specific requirements. Failure to provide specific information in each of the narrative statements will result in an applicant receiving a lower rating or disqualification. Minimally Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided to the rating and ranking panel members. Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation.
2. Rating and Ranking: Eligible applicants will be evaluated by a screening panel composed of a diverse mix of senior executives selected for organizational and/or functional backgrounds relevant to this position. The 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. You are being evaluated under the category rating method. If you are determined to be qualified, you will be placed into the 'Best Qualified,' 'Well Qualified,' or 'Qualified' categories. The panel discusses each application and reaches a consensus on the 'Best Qualified,' 'Well Qualified,' or 'Qualified' candidates.
3. Referral: Only the individuals in the Best Qualified category will be referred to the Hiring Manager/Selection Official for consideration and possible interview. The FEMA 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. All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. You should expect that we will verify performance, suitability, and security information and consider that information in making employment offers. A false representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection, and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
Veteran's Preference does not apply to the Scienfitic or Professional (ST) positions.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Resume
- 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.
- Include start and end dates for each position (e.g., month and year; month, day, and year).
- Your resume must be 5 pages or less.
- Transcripts
- A copy of your school transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from a U.S. accredited college or university. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript.
- Upload under "Transcript" document type in the agency application system.
- Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs):
- Each of the PTQs listed in the Qualifications section of the Job Opportunity Announcement MUST be addressed.
- Number each of your responses with the PTQ number you are addressing and provide specific examples of your experience, education and accomplishments that are applicable.
- Please limit your responses to no more than two pages for each PTQ.
Are you a current or former Federal employee? Submit your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows competitive or excepted service appointment, tenure group, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please submit the SF-50 showing the highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. Please note: Performance award, Details, and Realignments are not acceptable SF-50s.
Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
- Position title,
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee),
- Agency
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
IMPORTANT: Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents 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 10/25/2024.
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.
FEMA 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.
FEMA 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.
Next steps
Once you submit your application, we will review your experience and qualifications to determine if you possess the required PTQs for the position based on the information submitted in your package. Those who meet the qualifications will be referred to a rating and ranking panel members to determine the "best qualified" candidates who will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
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.
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!
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