Summary
This vacancy is for a Senior Advisor position in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Senior Advisor, 0301-15, positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
This job is open to
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Clarification from the agency
Current Census Bureau employees on a permanent competitive appointment; Current Census Bureau employees on a term, temporary or excepted service appointment with reinstatement eligibility; and Surplus and displaced Commerce employee (CTAP).
Duties
- Advises and supports the Division Chief on all matters that affect the Division
- Consults and coordinates with internal Census Bureau stakeholders, external Department of Commerce stakeholders, other federal or state agencies or industry to handle special and sometimes complex projects.
- Analyzes data, daily operations, and organizational structure to inform recommendations.
- Leads and authors responses to external audits, investigations, inquiries, and other high-level correspondence for the Division Chief.
- Formulates the Division budget for future years and provide executive reports on the execution of current fiscal year budgets.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- U.S. Citizen.
- Suitable for Federal employment.
- Registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
- Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by closing date.
- A one-year probationary period may be required.
- This is a NON-BARGAINING unit position.
Qualifications
Specialized Experience: To qualify at the GS-15 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Providing advisory services and support to management officials equivalent to or at the GS-15 level and above for improving business practices from both an operational productivity and an oversight/compliance perspective; or Evaluating organizational policies and procedures to provide interpretation and recommendations resulting from external audits or investigations and other inquiries that requires executive level review and approval.
Education: Education cannot substitute for experience at this grade level.
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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer.
Education
Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level.
Additional information
Additionally, the following link provides information on the hiring authority that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.
The Department of Commerce also provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.
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.
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.
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.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
Panel Review: You will be evaluated according to your responses to the online questionnaire and the use of a PanelReview. During the Panel Review, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience and demonstration of competencies as described below. Upon completion of the panel review, candidates identified as best qualified will be referred to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
- Influence & Executive Communication
- Organizational Integration & Internal Operations
- Resource & Performance Optimization
- Strategic Consulting & Analytics
- Strategic Governance & Policy Leadership
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
CTAP Candidates: CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website, The Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
If you are invited for an interview, you may be asked to bring a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3).
We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process. Do NOT include the following types of information in your application if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position:
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Date of Birth (DOB)
- Photos of yourself
- Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12956847.
Required Documents
The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply. Your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply.
Your application package should include the following documents:
- Resume: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be deemed disqualified and removed from consideration. Your resume must include your educational and relevant work experience for the position for which you are applying to include the title and dates (mm/yy) of employment along with the number of hours worked per week. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you will not receive consideration for this position.
- SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action," supporting your eligibility, with the exception of current Census Bureau employees. You must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (Form SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series and grade, such as within-grade increase/within-range increase, promotion, initial appointment, reassignment, realignment (Performance Award and General Adjustment SF-50s do not satisfy this requirement). Also provide the SF-50 that reflects the highest grade level held on a permanent basis or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating.
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) documentation, if applicable:
- CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
- A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice);
- A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location;
- A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
- Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
- Education Documentation: If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also includes Census Bureau employees. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to OPM's Qualification Policy for more information.
You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/29/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USA JOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online; however, if you are unable to apply online, please email the Agency contact.
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://usajobs.gov and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions. The four points of notification are:
- Application Received or Application Incomplete;
- Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
- Referred or Not Referred; and
- Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).