You must upload your responses to the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs).
As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership and supervisory experience indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under ECQs and Technical Qualifications (TQs) listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent leadership level within state or local government, private sector or non-government organization. As such, your resume should demonstrate 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 other managers and exercising important policy-making, policy determining, or other executive functions.
Failure to meet the basic qualification requirements and address all mandatory ECQs and TQs will result in your application being disqualified.
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, however, are required to address the TQs in the resume.
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. All applicants must submit a written narrative to address the ECQs. Your narrative must address each ECQ separately and should contain at least two examples per ECQ describing your experiences and accomplishments/results. The narrative should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken and the results of your actions. Applicants should not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer. The ECQ narrative must not exceed 10 pages.
- 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. (Competencies: creativity and innovation, external awareness, flexibility, resilience, strategic thinking, vision)
- Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organizations 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)
- 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)
- Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. (Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management)
- 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.
Additional information about the SES and ECQs can be found on the OPM Guide to SES Qualifications. You are strongly encouraged to review OPMs Guide to SES qualifications for specific examples and guidance on writing effective ECQ narrative statements.
Applicants should follow the Challenge, Context, Action and Result (CCAR) model outlined in the OPM Guide to SES qualifications.
- 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 demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.
Mandatory Technical Qualifications (TQs):
In addition to specialized experience, applicants must possess the following technical qualifications that represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. All applicants must submit a written narrative response to the TQs. You must address each TQ separately. Limit your written statements to one and half (1½) pages per technical competency. Please provide examples within your resume and explain the complexity of the knowledge possessed and the sensitivity of the issue(s) you handled.
- Identity Assurance and Authentication - Thorough knowledge of trends in identity assurance and authentication technology and the impact on taxpayers and IRS systems.
- Program/Project Management - Ability to apply program/project management principles, techniques, and practices to effectively manage the achievement of the program or project goals and objectives and the ability to apply these skills in effective working partnerships across organizational lines.
To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.