Summary

The Executive Director, Strategic Solutions Office position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DHS Headquarters, Management Directorate, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO). The OCPO is responsible for procurement and contracting operations and activities within DHS including initiating, formulating and implementing policies and procedures necessary to achieve and maintain an effective and efficient procurement and contracting program.

Duties

Help

The Executive Director, Strategic Solutions Office serves as an expert business advisor in category management and strategic sourcing, providing expert advice and guidance to DHS leadership and component program management offices on strategic acquisition approaches to meet mission goals, and advising the Executive Director, Strategic Programs Division, the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO), and the Deputy Chief Procurement Officer (DCPO) on current and future Federal policies that affect DHS-wide acquisitions and solutions offerings.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Provides executive leadership and direction for the DHS Strategic Sourcing and Category Management Programs, overseeing a team of senior program analysts in developing strategic acquisition approaches for major DHS mission-critical requirements and programs of national scope and impact.
• Collaborates closely with DHS program offices and Heads of Contracting activities, private industry, and other federal agencies to analyze highly complex and sensitive programs, market data, and acquisition strategies that will significantly enhance the ability of DHS to meet its mission-critical requirements.
• Devises flexible, innovative, strategically sourced solutions to resolve routine and critical issues, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and increasing efficiency and effectiveness for the Department.
• Leads and contributes expert knowledge to the preparation and delivery of complex agency reports and other departmental presentations on DHS enterprise-wide program planning and evaluation for internal and external federal stakeholders, including the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), General Services Administration (GSA), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
• Leads the design and execution of comprehensive studies and in-depth analyses of complex program functions and processes related to category management and strategic planning.
• Develops actionable recommendations that inform and influence category management strategies and decision-making across the Department.
• Formulates and implements plans to improve strategic acquisition program policies, practices, methods, and organizational structure.
• Provides senior leadership direction and guidance for major analytical studies involving the planning, developing, and implementing strategic acquisition programs.
• Provides executive leadership in researching and analyzing complex program issues, delivering expert technical advice and authoritative recommendations that guide Department-wide and government-wide acquisition policy, long-range planning, and strategic direction.
• Leads the analysis of proposed and published regulations affecting strategic sourcing and category management, developing recommended language and coordinating with appropriate OCPO policy officials on potential or proposed changes to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and/or Homeland Security Acquisition Manual.
• Leads the development and review of confidential internal management documents, such as audits and other reports, documents, and correspondence pertaining to DHS-wide and federal-wide category management and strategic sourcing acquisition policies and procedures.
• Directly coordinates with the Office of Management and Budget leadership on DHS' position on matters related to category management.
• Provides guidance and support to DHS senior leadership on the impact of statutory requirements and OMB-issued guidance on DHS-wide acquisition programs regarding category management and strategic sourcing.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.

Qualifications

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 qualification requirements for this position, applicants must satisfy both (1) the Basic Qualifications and (2) demonstrate possession of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) relevant to this position within their resume. Resumes must NOT EXCEED TWO PAGES; any content beyond the two-page limit will not be reviewed, and resumes exceeding this limit may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualifications. If your resume does not provide clear evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

1. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must meet the requirements for the 1102 series as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Standards Manual for Positions which is available at: OPM Qualifications Standards 1102 Website and demonstrate that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (P/TQs) listed below.

Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) or equivalent certification is required. Documentation must be attached to the application package. Applicants seeking to meet the training requirements are required to provide a current FAC-C (Professional) certification, DoD Contracting Professional certification, or request a waiver. You must have completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management; Guidance on Business Related Coursework for the 1102 Contracting Series.

OR - Occupied a GS-1102-14 position since at least January 1, 2000.

2.TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs) and EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs). A sample 2-page resume that incorporates ECQs and TQs can be viewed on this link (indexed at page 16 - 17) Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications and the Qualifications Review Board.

TQs REQUIREMENTS: Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that satisfy the technical qualifications as follows:

TQ 1: Demonstrated experience in leading a complex and multi-faceted acquisition operation that supports an agency. This includes experience in leading an operation implementing major acquisition initiatives across an organization and delivering tangible operational improvements and efficiencies.

TQ 2: Demonstrated experience and significant knowledge of laws, regulations and policies governing the Federal acquisition of services, equipment and supplies. Experience must reflect responsibility for developing business sourcing strategies, category management plans, and supplier relationship management strategies that enhance mission performance, improve acquisition efficiency, and generate savings.

ECQs REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Detailed information on each ECQs, the underlying and fundamental competencies, and information regarding the Structured Interview QRB (SIQRB) Process are available in the "Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications and the Qualifications Review Board."

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Current or Former Political Appointees: OPM must authorize any employment offers made 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 Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the DHS Headquarters Executive Services team.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package.

Official transcripts will be required from the selectee prior to receiving an official offer. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

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. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Additional information

Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.

Recruitment/Relocation/Retention Incentive may be authorized at Management's discretion.

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact Valerie Hopkins via email at [email protected] .