Duties
Serving as a Senior Policy Advisor GS-0301-14/15 makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) team and mission. This position is located in the Mission and Readiness Support Directorate located in Glynco, Georgia.
This position serves as a Senior Policy Advisor responsible for providing counsel to the Assistant Director (AD) and Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) on all activities and matters involving FLETC initiatives, operations, and programs. Represents the AD and serves as a liaison to other FLETC Directorates and FLETC's Partner Organizations (PO). The position regularly meets with FLETC senior officials and coordinates with them on behalf of the AD on substantive policy issues affecting the FLETC mission.
Typical duties include:
- Serving as the principal staff and expert advisor to the AD and DAD on the most major issues involving the agency, with particular emphasis on those projects and issues relating to major training, budgetary, congressional, and Departmental initiatives.
- Maintaining continuing contact with senior management officials to assess and gauge changes and their potential impact on operating policies that may affect FLETC.
- Directing the analysis of changes, developments, and initiatives and generating formal recommendations and proposals for the AD's and DAD's consideration and final decision.
- Developing and providing the AD and DAD with new and unique perspectives, analyses, best approaches, and other authoritative advice to implement and achieve cooperative activities, resolving philosophical and operating differences, and coordinating high level and sensitive joint policy issues affecting FLETC.
- Overseeing projects involving the most effective allocation and commitment of resources.
- Working with other Senior Policy Advisors and program managers across Directorate lines to develop recommendations for the AD and DAD regarding effective allocation of Directorate resources.
- Serving as the AD's liaison in many areas, often involving controversial, complex, and unprecedented issues and other matters that impact FLETC-wide, agency, and Departmental operations.
- Facilitating strategic and operational plan development and implementation, thereby having FLETC-wide, Department-wide, and government-wide impact.
- Making assignments to subordinate offices based on general guidance and operational knowledge of FLETC, consulting with the AD and DAD only where issues of prioritization and conflict need to be resolved.
- Preparing and summarizing special reports for the AD relating to programs, positions, and projects.
View common definitions of terms found in this announcement:
Common Definitions.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
- You must successfully pass a background investigation.
- This is a non-bargaining unit position.
- Must possess and maintain a valid state issued driver's license to conduct official government business.
- As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be serving in a position in Schedule Policy/Career of the Excepted service. You will obtain competitive status after two years of service in this position.
- Your employment in this position will be at-will.
- Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals of adverse actions concerning performance, discipline, and other matters arising under chapters 23, 43, and 75 of title 5, USC will not be available to an individual serving in this position.
- The DHS Office of General Counsel will enforce prohibitions on prohibited personnel practices and not the Office of Special Counsel.
- This position is eligible for situational-only telework based on agency policy.
- Occasional travel may be required.
- Overtime may be required.
- Working weekends and federal holidays may be required.
- Position is Emergency Essential required to sustain FLETC’s operations under all conditions, in the event of a localized emergency situation, such as inclement weather, interruptions to power, or dismissal or closure of DHS operations or services.
- Ensures FLETC Continuity of Operations for Mission Essential Functions or Primary Mission Essential Functions in the event of an emergent disruption of operations locally or DHS-wide (such as Devolution and/or reconstitution).
- Required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, within 30 days of starting your federal employment and annually thereafter as long as you occupy a position that requires financial disclosure reporting.
Qualifications
A resume must be no more than two pages. If an applicant's resume exceeds two pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted. For additional assistance, please visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements
You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess the following:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the federal service. Specialized experience includes the following: 1) Reviewing, interpreting and providing commentary on policies and programs; 2) Reviewing, analyzing and evaluating reports, written correspondence, and program proposals; and 3) Formulating, executing and maintaining budget allocations.
-OR-
You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess the following:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the federal service. Specialized experience includes the following: 1) Analyzing and developing policies and programs; 2) Representing the organization on internal and external initiatives; and 3) Facilitating effective stewardship of resources.
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Note: Current DHS Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows a permanent appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1" or "2"), tenure group (block 24 should show a "1" or "2"), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education
If selected, you may be asked to provide a copy of your college transcripts.
Additional information
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is not authorized.
This position may be filled at the GS-14 or GS-15 level. If selection is made at the GS-14 level, promotion to the GS-15 level may occur without further competition.
Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and FLETC policy, FLETC is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. FLETC personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment with FLETC must successfully complete a drug test and receive a negative test result as a condition of employment.
Current permanent DHS employees who are re-employed annuitants must be aware that their annual salaries will be reduced by the amount of their retirement annuity and by further cost of living increases. FERS retirees receiving a FERS annuity supplement must also be aware that, like social security benefits, their FERS annuity supplement is subject to an earnings test and may be reduced if the salary earned is more than the social security exempt amount of earnings. Additional information is available on OPM's website or by contacting OPM.
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies during the next 90 days. This could result in a few or many vacancies being filled from this announcement.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to fletc-jobinfo@fletc.dhs.gov.
Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, FLETC requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for suitability/fitness as a condition of placement in this non-sensitive, moderate risk position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
Physical demands: The work is largely sedentary in nature.
Work Environment: Work is performed in an office setting, although occasional travel and site visits may be required.
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.
Review our 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.
A resume must be no more than two pages. If an applicant's resume exceeds two pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If met, we will use multiple assessments to determine the degree to which your experience, education, and training demonstrate the following competencies needed to perform this job: Communication, Leadership, Planning and Evaluating, Problem Solving and Professionalism.
To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process, including the application, 1st hurdle which consist of a subject matter expert (SME) structured resume review and 2nd hurdle will be an SME structured interview.
Resume review: SMEs will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume, starting at your work experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened). Applicants passing the resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.
Structured Interview: Applicants who successfully pass the SME resume review may be invited to participate in a structured interview. The structured interview will be used to further assess an applicant's job-related competencies based on the requirements of the position.
Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13002842
If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be removed from consideration, or your score may be lowered.
Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).
After FLETC completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining candidates referred for selection consideration may be shared with other DHS Components. During the application process, you may choose to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results to be shared. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements."