Clarification from the agency

All groups of qualified individuals in the civil service.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). We lawfully administer immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establish immigration services policies and priorities.

The Field Operations Directorate was established to oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of the Western Region Office, Central Region Office, Northeast Region Office, Southeast Region Office, the National Benefits Center, the Immigrant Investor Program Office, 16 District Offices and 89 Field Offices located throughout the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Major Duties
The District Director has authority and responsibility over designed areas of operations to ensure proper management and administration of immigration benefits programs and services, as well as responsibility for ensuring robust fraud detection and national security management outcomes. He/she is responsible for leading, developing, analyzing, monitoring, and evaluating all Field Operations Directorate program activities and for implementing any changes that are the result of changes in policy, legislation, regulation, executive action, instruction, etc., and that impact the mission activities of the directorate, USCIS and its stakeholders. The incumbent leads through change, ensures goals and targets are met, and drives innovation through process/program improvement to strengthen program integrity and create efficiencies and achieve agency priorities and outcomes.

The District Director serves as a key management advisor to the Regional Director and ensures that officials are advised of problems or issues in the district that have significant implications for USCIS. He/she works with the Regional Director to ensure program performance consistent with national program management and integrity norms, identifies and resolves any deficiencies. The District Director represents the District in executive communications with headquarters and regional management, other DHS components, other federal agencies, and public or external stakeholder groups. He/she directs and supervises a staff of geographically dispersed Field Office Directors at the GS-14 and GS-15 levels who are responsible for approximately 400 employees located in field offices and field support centers within the designated geographical area.

The District Director is accountable for the district's success in meeting production goals, integrity measures and overall program objectives including but not limited to detecting and disrupting fraud, responsible management of national security. He/she is responsible for obtaining and ensuring field offices have the necessary resources (personnel, facilities, equipment, and budget) to accomplish the workload and makes necessary adjustments to resource allocation across the district when changes in workload or priorities are introduced.

The District Director monitors field office contributions and results across the assigned geographic area by analyzing workload, production, staffing levels, etc., and ensuring all are kept at optimal levels across the district to deliver timely results and quality products. He/she ensures quality assurance measures are in place to safeguard the integrity of field operations workstreams and is responsible for identifying areas of concern and diagnosing root causes of obstacles that prohibit integrity-based, efficient and effective operations. The District Director analyzes and reviews findings; approves and implements changes in policies, practices, and procedures; and implements corrective measures and communicates findings across the Directorate for shared improvement and alignment of strategic goals.

In conjunction with the enforcement elements within the Department, the District Director administratively supports the investigation and apprehension of aliens believed to be illegally in the United States and/or involved in criminal activity by sharing relevant information concerning illegal activities such as fraud and smuggling. He/she participates with other DHS entities in the gathering, evaluation, and dissemination of information.

As a member of the agency's executive team, you will implement the President's Management Agenda within your specific area of responsibility. For an overview of the various responsibilities USCIS carries out within the Government, visit our website at http://www.uscis.gov.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National to apply for this position
• You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• Excess pages will not be considered, if documents exceed page limits.
• File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs). The ECQs and TQs should be evident in the 2-page resume.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

TQ 1: Demonstrates executive level leadership in overseeing operational programs that directly impact the national security or homeland security of the United States. This includes overseeing and ensuring the integrity, efficiency, and quality of program operations using a risk-based approach, and managing organizational and operational change across multiple, geographically dispersed offices.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not effectively demonstrate evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

• ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
• ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
• ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
• ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
• ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

How you will be evaluated

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

Our evaluation will be based on the information you provide. Verification of performance, suitability and security information from reference checks will be taken into consideration when making offers of employment.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (MTQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/

A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants.

1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each, no less than 11pt font and 0.8 margins) showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.

2. VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy.

3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable:

• CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEMBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
• SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification.
• CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee.

Next steps

Additional locations