Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current permanent USDA-Economic Research Service (ERS) employees with competitive status and USDA CTAP/RPL eligible.

• Determines goals, policies, and operating procedures for the Branch. Translates agency mission, programs, and policies into service requirements for the Branch.
• Develops budget and staffing requirements and presents these to the Division Director for approval. Allocates resources to the different parts of the organization and controls expenditures to remain within budget allocation.
• Assigns and monitors work, evaluates performance, assesses training needs, approves leave, rewards performance accomplishments, and takes disciplinary actions when necessary.
• Represents the Agency on interagency and interdepartmental committees as assigned and performs related staff assignments for the Agency.
• Collaborate with senior ISD and Agency management to ensure target audiences are identified and served appropriately, and with USDA colleagues in the Office of Communications and elsewhere, to ensure coordinated Department-wide publishing directions.
• Develop policies and make recommendations regarding the dissemination of information to correct misperceptions and enhance public understanding.
• Speak for the administrator at ERS-sponsored press conferences and in one-on-one encounters with the media to explain or defend the agency’s position involving significant or controversial issues, events, or research developments.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of Moderate Risk background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time in Grade Requirement: Current Federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience for GS-15 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-14 level which is directly related to the work of this position, and which equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Specialized experience for this position is experience leading a publishing, communications, or digital publishing team in a scientific research organization and/or statistical agency; planning and preparing information and data products for the organization; and managing a team that handles writing, editing, design, and graphics for research manuscripts, reports, and other publications prepared by the organization.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

• Leadership and Supervision- Leads staff members towards meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Demonstrates flexibility and resilience, fosters continuous improvement and innovation, develops others, fosters integrity and honesty; manages performance (communicates performance standards and expectations, gives timely and constructive feedback, thinks systematically and inspires change.
• Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, set priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
• Writing -Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12915983

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.

Current and former Federal employees:

• Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
• Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.

Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

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