Supervisory Program Manager

Clarification from the agency

Status candidates (current or former Federal employees with career or career-conditional tenure in the competitive service), CTAP/ICTAP/RPL, VEOA, and Land Management.

As a Supervisory Program Manager, GS-0340-15, your typical work assignments may include the following:

• Directs and oversees a major programmatic area involving planning, and program management activities related to UAS and C-UAS programs, policies, plans, strategies, frameworks, and initiatives. Plans, organizes, directs, coordinates, controls, and evaluates the activities of subordinate organizations, teams, employees, and contractors supporting Department-wide and interagency UAS/C-UAS mission requirements. Provides substantive operational support, strategic planning, executive-level advice, and program direction to address emerging UAS-related homeland security threats. Ensures program activities are aligned with Departmental guidance, statutory authorities, operational requirements, Program Executive Office priorities, and senior DHS leadership direction.
• Oversees the development, coordination, and implementation of UAS and C-UAS policies, plans, strategies, and frameworks, involving complex, sensitive, or unprecedented issues. Advises the Executive Director of the Program Executive Office and other senior officials on UAS/C-UAS program issues, including statutory and policy authorities, limitations, stakeholder equities, resource needs, enforcement considerations, operational risks, technology capabilities, and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties implications. Prepares or oversees the development of briefings, decision papers, policy recommendations, strategic plans, performance measures, and other executive-level products. Resolves issues where policy, precedent, or statutory authority may be limited, evolving, or subject to differing interpretation among stakeholders.
• Develops and maintains partnerships with UAS and C-UAS stakeholders across DHS Components, interagency organizations, and other mission partners. Leads activities to identify shared requirements, reconcile stakeholder equities, resolve policy or operational issues, advance program objectives, and support integrated approaches to UAS detection, mitigation, and homeland security protection. Represents UAS/C-UAS program segments and organizational interests in meetings, briefings, conferences, working groups, executive-level engagements, and other coordination forums. Coordinates among stakeholders with differing missions, authorities, priorities, risk tolerances, and operational interests to gain cooperation, support implementation, and advance Department-wide or interagency strategies.
• Exercises delegated supervisory and managerial authorities over subordinate supervisors, teams, employees, and contractors performing complex program management, engagement, coordination, technical analysis, policy support, operational support, and administrative work. Establishes goals, priorities, work plans, schedules, performance standards, and rating approaches; evaluates subordinate supervisors or leaders; serves as reviewing official for nonsupervisory employees rated by subordinate supervisors; and makes or recommends selections, awards, training decisions, personnel actions, and disciplinary actions. Oversees resources associated with program execution, including budget, staffing, contracts, training, travel, and other support requirements. Ensures assigned programs and processes are covered by internal controls and that precautions are taken to prevent fraud, waste, and misuse of resources. Manages organizational changes affecting structure, content, resources, priorities, and program segments, and furthers equal opportunity in all personnel management actions.

All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

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 must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) and is subject to random testing.
• Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
• You may be required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• You must be able to maintain and obtain a Top-Secret Security clearance.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience
To qualify at the GS-15 level, you must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service (GS-14) or public or private sector equivalent. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: Directing or managing major programs, program segments, or organizational operations involving UAS and C-UAS programs, policies, plans, strategies, or initiatives. Specialized experience must demonstrate experience:

• Leading coordination activities with senior officials, interagency partners, or mission stakeholders.
• Developing or implementing program goals, policies, performance measures, strategic plans, or executive-level recommendations.
• Advising leadership on complex program, operational, resource, stakeholder, or policy issues.
• Overseeing resources such as budget, staffing, contracts, training, or travel; and resolving complex or unprecedented program issues where policy, precedent, statutory authority, or stakeholder interests may be limited, evolving, or subject to differing interpretation.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement.

Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), 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. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment.

IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.

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 experience.

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.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS 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. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

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 how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Flexibility, Interpersonal Skills, Managing Human Resources, Partnering, Problem Solving, Project Management, Resilience, and Technical Credibility

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

If you are the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the application questionnaire, click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13071064

Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must be 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures. View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.)

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

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).

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

After DHS Headquarters 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.

1. Your resume NOTE: Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. For what to include in the resume, click on the link: USAJOBS Help Center
2. Your responses to the job questionnaire. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13071064
3. Are you a current or former Federal employee? Submit your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held; your current promotion potential and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases or accessions.
4. Are you a veteran? You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans' information.
5. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the DHS Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or the DHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL)? Submit the following:
   • A copy of your agency notice,
   • A copy of your most recent performance rating, and
   • A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
6. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit the following:
   • A copy of your agency notice,
   • A copy of your most recent performance rating, and
   • A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
7. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
   • Position title,
   • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee),
   • Agency,
   • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
8. If you are referred, you may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

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