Head of Hearings Hub B, C, D, and E

Clarification from the agency

All groups of qualified individuals within the Civil Service and individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility may apply. Additionally, current career Senior Executive Service (SES) members, OPM certified graduates of an SES Candidate Development Program (CDP), and individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility may be considered noncompetitively.

Disability Adjudication provides the basic framework and mechanisms through which individuals and organizations who are dissatisfied with determinations affecting their rights to and amounts of benefits, or their participation in benefit programs administered by the Agency under the Social Security Act, may administratively appeal such determinations in accordance with the requirements of the Administrative Procedure and Social Security Acts.

SSA Hearings Offices are organized into five (5) distinct Hearings Hubs within Disability Adjudication. Please refer here to view a current listing of Hearings Hubs. Selectees will be appointed to an appropriate Hearings Hub at the discretion of the Chief of Disability Adjudication.

The Head of Hearings Hub is responsible for the following:

• Setting the vision, direction, and policy for the assigned Hearings Hub, ensuring alignment with agency and national priorities.
• Leading and providing strategic oversight for all hearing offices and personnel within the assigned hub, ensuring the effective execution of the hearings process and the accomplishment of agency-wide goals and objectives.
• Assessing the performance and operational effectiveness of hearing office management, including workload distribution, adherence to policy, resource utilization, and productivity. Sets strategic priorities and performance goals.
• Developing and implementing outreach initiatives with external stakeholders, including advocacy organizations and bench-bar groups, to foster collaborative relationships and advance the mission of the hearing offices.
• Leading and coordinating hub-wide initiatives to strengthen collaboration and communication between field offices, hearing offices, and the Hub thereby optimizing operational effectiveness and ensuring alignment with agency objectives.
• Assessing current human and material resources to support program objectives and maximize operational efficiency.
• Directing the development and justification of the hub's budget, ensuring that fiscal resources are aligned with the operational needs and priorities of the hearings program.
• Establishing and maintaining on-going communication with congressional offices on issues of mutual interest and ensures the timely and accurate response to congressional, public, and media inquiries.
• Providing strategic recommendations to the Chief of Disability Adjudication (CDA) regarding policy modifications to enhance operational efficiency and program effectiveness.
• Evaluating work performance of the Hearings Management Officer and their subordinate supervisors and serves as the reviewing official on evaluations of nonsupervisory employees rated by subordinate supervisors.
• Analyzing hearing practices and procedures to detect trends, training needs, and operational challenges.
• Promoting innovation to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and the overall effectiveness of the hearings process within the Hub.
• Developing and executing strategies to improve operational performance and reports outcomes to senior agency leadership.
• Serves as the CDA's representative on national committees or during other speaking engagements, as delegated, to advance agency initiatives and communicate organizational priorities.
• Leading implementation of human resource management strategies, encompassing staffing, recruitment, retention, disciplinary actions, employee development, labor-management relations, performance evaluation, and equal employment opportunity for all hub personnel.
• Overseeing and ensuring the completion and compliance of all mandatory training requirements for personnel within the hub. Ensure all hearing offices fully implement and follow safety, security and emergency plans and measures including adherence to the Hub emergency Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) policy.

Conditions of employment

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (equivalent to the GS-15 in either the General Schedule (GS) or a comparable pay plan).

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency
• 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.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests
• Must file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• 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.

• Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back;
• FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation); and
• SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information).

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.

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME BASED. It is important that your resume be complete and thorough, following the requirements outlined below.

As a basic requirement, to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, applicants MUST demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications within their 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.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (equivalent to the GS-15 in either the General Schedule (GS) or a comparable pay plan). Typically, experience of this nature will have been 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 non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet this basic qualification requirement and all executive core qualification factors automatically disqualifies an applicant.

NOTE: If you are (1) a member of the SES, (2) have been certified through successful participation in an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or (3) have SES reinstatement eligibility, you must attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs):
None

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS (DQs):
1. Senior-level experience directing a large-scale disability program.
2. Senior-level experience applying workload management strategies and techniques to meet and improve enterprise-wide metrics.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): 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 reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs, 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 - 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 - 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 - Demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality;

ECQ 4: Leading People - 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; and

ECQ 5: Achieving Results - Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

**Note for Current and/or Former Political Appointees: 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 within your application package.

How you will be evaluated

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

Do not list a Social Security Number or Date of Birth on any attachment.

Once the application process is complete, a Human Resources Specialist will conduct a review of your resume and supporting documentation. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) listed above. The ECQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed.

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your accomplishments and experience. Your application will be rated and ranked by an SES Rating Panel, comprised of at least three SES members, using only the information submitted within the application package. Applicants determined to be Highly Qualified must demonstrate sufficient possession of the ECQs and DQs, and will be referred to the hiring component for further consideration. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration, including reference checks.

Upon selection, if you have not provided evidence of noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible), you must participate in a Structured Interview assessment based on the ECQs conducted by an OPM QRB prior to appointment. Your application will be forwarded to OPM for review and certification by the QRB.

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, and by the closing date of the announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

• Resume (2-page maximum) - 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) showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.
• Vacancy Assessment Questionnaire Responses - Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs/Application Manager when you apply to this vacancy.
• 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.
    • Failure to provide the proper documentation may result in the rating and ranking of your application under competitive procedures, which requires you to demonstrate possession of the ECQs within your 2-page resume.
  • CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES: If you are a current Federal employee, you must submit a recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) to substantiate your minimum qualifications eligibility.
    • You must provide an SF-50 that reflects your current position, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (e.g., a Within-Grade Increase or Promotion/Reassignment).
    • You may need to provide more than one SF-50 to substantiate your eligibility.
    • Heavily redacted documents that do not contain the required information may result in an ineligible rating.
• Strongly Recommended: Most recent performance evaluation
• If you are a current or former political appointee within the last five (5) years, including Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES, please submit documentation of your appointment, including a copy of your SF-50.

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