Associate Director for Communications and Publishing - Reston, United States - U.S. Department of the Interior

Summary

Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. This is a Category-3 position. The minimum pay for this position is $191,900. Pay is set based on consideration of the selectee's current salary and other factors.

Routine and situational telework may be approved at the discretion of the supervisor.

Veterans preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service (SES).

This job is open to

Duties

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, each applicant must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of executive-level management capabilities directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications listed below. The ideal candidate will have experience managing employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and evaluating employees. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or equivalent in the private sector or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet these basic qualifications in addition to all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically disqualify an applicant.

The Associate Director for Communications and Publishing leads the Office of Communications and Publishing at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the Department of the Interior. The position reports to the Deputy Director for Administration and Policy. The office is responsible for developing strategic communications on behalf of the entire organization targeted to a wide range of audiences including Congress, the media, non-government organizations, the Administration, other government agencies, the public, the scientific community, and USGS employees.

Specific Duties

The incumbent carries out the following specific responsibilities:

• Provides executive direction and oversight to the program development, priority setting, and activities that assure strategic goals, directions, and communications are coordinated and managed to fully support and enhance public understanding and recognition of the USGS's science programs.
• Oversees the USGS's web and social media presence, including the internal communications program to further the management and strategic direction of the USGS's in-house publishing division that produces peer-reviewed scientific studies and associated products to the public and other government agencies.
• Directs the planning and development of the strategic communications and outreach directions to integrate, streamline, and enhance the delivery of USGS science information through a broad range of communications programs and activities.
• Develops, plans, and implements the full complement of the USGS communication strategies, practices, and initiatives to assure that the USGS's mission of science information is effectively produced and delivered.
• Serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and shares in the planning, direction, and management of the integrated science programs of the USGS, including oversight and guidance for the collaborative communications and outreach programs to advance the general communication and understanding of the scientific program and research activities of the USGS.
• Provides executive-level representation for the USGS in all areas of external relations, including public information policies and programs and congressional and legislative activities, with Congress, Federal, state, and local governments, the communications and information communities in the private sector, academic institutions, and to customer and constituent groups.

Applicants who meet the mandatory executive and technical qualifications will be evaluated by a panel of SES members to determine the degree to which they possess each of the listed qualifications. This evaluation will determine which applicants are best qualified. Each candidate's background, including experience, education, awards, self-development, and training, will be reviewed. This information will be obtained from the application package, including the required narrative statements for the technical and Executive Core Qualifications described in this vacancy.

Additionally, your resume should demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in most SES positions such as:

• Directing the work of an organizational unit;
• Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects;
• Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance, and taking action to improve performance; and
• Supervising the work of employees and exercising important policy-making, policy determining, or other executive functions.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship
• You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1-year probationary period
• Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required)

Additional Information:

• A background investigation is required for this position. It is not a prerequisite to apply; however, the selectee must possess the ability to obtain and maintain a background investigation with a High-Risk as a condition of placement in this position.
• Subject to approval by the Department of the Interior's Executive Resources Board.
• Initial appointments to the career Senior Executive Service must have ECQs certified by an OPM's Qualifications Review Board before appointment, and you will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Employees of the USGS are subject to the provisions of Title 43, U.S. Code, Section 31(a) and may not according to this legislation and related regulations: (a) have any personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in lands or mineral wealth of such lands, whose title is in the United States; (b) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations; or (c) have any substantial personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business in the United States, except where specifically authorized by the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.
• Within 30 days after selection, the incumbent of this position will be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report (SF-278) and supplemental form, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interest (DI-278).
• 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.

Qualifications

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ's)- *Required Documentation*

The Office of Personnel Management has identified five executive core qualifications (ECQs). The ECQs define the competencies needed to build a federal corporate culture that drives for results, serves customers, and builds successful teams and coalitions within and outside the organization. The ECQs are required for entry to the Senior Executive Service and are used by many departments and agencies in selection, performance management, and leadership development for management and executive positions. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential-not technical expertise. The submission of your entire ECQ package (i.e., all five ECQ's narrative statements) must not exceed 10 pages. If you exceed the page limit as prescribed or fail to provide the narrative statements, then you will be ineligible.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: You must have demonstrated an ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

• Leadership Competencies: Creativity & Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision

ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: You must demonstrate the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

• Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building

ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

• Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility

ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This ECQ involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

• Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management

ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This ECQ involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

• Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating

FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning, Public Service Motivation

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs)- *Required Documentation*

MTQs are designed to assess an applicant's experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Each MTQ narrative response must not exceed two pages per narrative statement and include specific examples of your experience, education, and/or accomplishments and address specific challenges, contexts, actions, and results.

• Demonstrated expert experience at the senior leadership level in leading and cultivating a multifaceted customer-focused service team in the delivery of digital media, publication, and other communication platforms with significant throughput volume and ongoing deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience in leading, directing, and working collaboratively to support major program objectives before key stakeholders and priority external audiences, such as Congress, national and international organizations; scientific and professional organizations; Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments; interagency groups; private industry; special interest groups; and public meetings that often involve dealing with highly controversial and sensitive issues.
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience applicable to the running of an effective internal communication program aimed at the continual delivery of information to employees and enhancement of employee engagement.

Challenge-Context-Action-Result(s) (CCAR) Model.

CCAR Model is outlined below. When addressing the ECQs and MTQs, you are strongly recommended to utilize the CCAR Model. Each ECQ or MTQ statement should include more than one example of relevant experience.

• Challenge: Describe a specific problem or goal.
• Context: Talk about the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to tackle a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale).
• Action: Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge.
• Result: Give specific examples of the results of your actions. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.

Your responses to the ECQs and MTQs will be evaluated based on how clearly and concisely you emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of actions taken.

You are required to submit separate narrative statements for each ECQ and MTQ to receive consideration for this position. Please see the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section for complete details regarding the page limitation and formatting requirement.

Education

There is no positive education requirement for this position..

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 .