Deputy Director Operations

Summary

The Department of the Interior is seeking highly qualified candidates for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Deputy Director, Operations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located in Washington, D.C.

The Department classifies SES positions by category to establish minimum pay levels. This position is designated as Category 1, with a minimum annual salary of $207,060

Duties

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As the Deputy Director of Operations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), you will lead Service-wide operations, establish strategic and operational priorities in coordination with the Director, and oversee their implementation to advance the Service's national conservation mission and achieve organizational results.

Major Duties:

• Direct the day-to-day operations of the FWS Regional Offices, establishing priorities, coordinating activities across organizational boundaries, resolving significant operational issues, and ensuring consistent implementation of national policies.
• Advise the Director on organizational management, operational effectiveness, and resource requirements; evaluate organizational structures and management practices; and direct or recommend improvements to enhance efficiency, accountability, performance, and internal controls.
• Oversee implementation of Departmental and Administration policies, priorities, and management initiatives, ensuring compliance with applicable statutory, regulatory, and Departmental requirements.
• Align and oversee fiscal, human, organizational, information, and other resources with Service priorities; evaluate performance and major programs and investments; identify operational challenges; and direct or recommend corrective actions.
• Review significant Service-wide policy, management, operational, and program recommendations; consider relevant scientific, legal, fiscal, economic, and administrative factors; and approve actions within delegated authority or provide recommendations to the Director and other approving officials.
• Represent the Director and FWS in engagements with Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of the Interior, other Federal agencies, and interagency forums to advance Service priorities, negotiate solutions, and resolve significant program and operational issues.
• Exercise the Director's authority, consistent with applicable delegations, during the Director's absence to ensure continuity of executive leadership and operational oversight.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination. You must be able to obtain/maintain a Tier 4 background investigation. This a Public Trust, Non-Sensitive, High-Risk, position.
• Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required)
• Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirements. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
• Selections are subject to Department approval. Initial appointments to the SES must undergo an ECQ based structured interview with Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
• Initial appointments into the Senior Executive Service require a one-year probationary period.
• Individuals selected for an SES position are subject to reassignment
• Agencies must request OPM approval to appoint current or former (within 5 years) Executive Branch political appointees to permanent competitive service, non-political excepted service, or career SES positions.

Qualifications

Educational Requirement

Basic requirement, applicants MUST have:

• A. Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR
• B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, or at least 30 semester hours in courses, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education; OR
• C. Experience: Four years of experience that demonstrated that the applicant acquired knowledge and understanding of one or more of the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or related disciplines equivalent to that which would have been acquired through completion of a 4-year course of study as described in A above.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, 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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualifications, you must submit a two-page resume (max) that shows you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and two Technical Qualifications (TQs). To be considered, only the first 2 pages of your resume will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Technical Qualifications (TQs) are designed to assess an applicant's experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience and accomplishments related to the two TQs below:

TQ 1- National Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resource Program Leadership

Executive-level experience leading, directing, or integrating complex natural resource, conservation, or other science-based programs involving multiple organizational components, competing program priorities, and significant governmental and external stakeholder interests.

TQ 2- Strategic Organizational, Resource, and Operational Management

Executive-level experience developing and implementing organization-wide strategies, policies, and operational improvements for a large, geographically dispersed natural-resource organization, including evaluating program performance, aligning fiscal and human resources with mission priorities, and advising leadership on significant conservation and operational decisions.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). Your two-page resume should also show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience and accomplishments related to the ECQs. By statute, the Office of Personnel Management prescribes Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for the appointment of career SES members. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and not technical expertise.

ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

Sub-Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, Civic-Mindedness

ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

Sub-Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology

ECQ 3: Merit and Competence: This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

Sub-Competencies: Technical Skill, Problem Solving, Agility, and Resilience.

ECQ 4:Leading People: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

Sub-Competencies: Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgement

ECQ 5: Achieving Results: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Sub-Competencies: Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking

In addition to meeting the basic requirement and demonstrating the required ECQs and TQs, candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Government, supporting the principles of the American republic, and upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Already SES Certified? If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the Senior Executive Service, or have completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SES CDP) approved by OPM, you only need to submit a two-page resume and personnel action showing you have held a career SES position. SES CDP graduates must submit a two-page resume and a copy of their CDP program certification with their package.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Additional information

• SES does not have Veteran's Preference and time in grade restrictions. Competitive status is not required.
• Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.
• The Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. This is a category 1 position; the pay range is $207,060-$228,000.
• Annual pay increases and recognition, if applicable, are based on performance in the SES.
• A recruitment incentive may be authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from another Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR a7575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.
• A relocation incentive may be authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record is currently located, due to a need of the FWS.
• If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

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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.

Benefits

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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.

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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.