Associate Director for Administrative Services

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). There are no positive educations requirements for this position.
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 that are 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 qualification requirements in addition to all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically disqualify an applicant.

The Associate Director for Administrative Services leads the Office of Administrative Services at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the Department of the Interior. The position reports to the Deputy Director of Administration and Policy. The mission is accomplished through data collection, research, comprehensive studies, and information services in the broad disciplines of hydrology, geology, biology, and geography. The office is responsible for the development and implementation of (1) policies; (2) strategic and operational plans; and (3) administrative-business information systems for human capital, facilities, property, safety, security, environmental programs as well as financial assistance and procurement enterprise programs of the USGS.

Specific Duties

The incumbent carries out the following specific responsibilities:

1. Provides executive-level leadership in the overall planning and strategic direction of administrative, business, and human capital policies, and programs in support of the science and information mission of the USGS.
2. Advises, counsels, and collaborates with the USGS Director, Deputy Directors, and Executive Leadership Team in support of the planning, direction, and management of the integrated science programs of the bureau through the oversight, evaluation, and operation of a wide array of business information systems and administrative programs, including human capital, facilities, health and safety, procurement, financial assistance, and environmental programs.
3. Develops and plans the strategic directions to integrate human capital, business information, property, safety, security, environmental, and procurement strategic and operational programs with the overall strategic goals of the USGS, the Department of the Interior Strategic Plan, and the Government Performance and Results Act.
4. Oversees administrative programs in the USGS to ensure that the bureau’s scientific and technical program priorities and goals stay at the forefront of National policies and emerging priorities to promote the integrated, interdisciplinary scientific natural science program direction of the USGS.
5. Serves as a consultant, senior advisor, and representative of the USGS, USGS Director, Deputy Directors, Associate Directors, and Regional Directors with senior government officials including top-level personnel in the Department and the Office of Personnel Management
6. Serves as the bureau’s Procurement Executive, Designated Health and Safety Officer, Senior Sustainability Officer, and the Senior Asset Manager.

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.

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 failed 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 applicants experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Each MTQ narrative response must 1.) not exceed two pages per narrative statement; 2.) include specific examples of your experience, education, and/or accomplishments; and 3.) address specific challenges, contexts, actions, and results.

1. Expert knowledge and demonstrated executive level experience providing leadership and direction in the areas of managing, representing, and overseeing all business operations and services in support of an organization which includes human capital, procurement, financial assistance, facilities, property, occupational health and safety, security, and environmental management.
2. Extensive experience in dealing with sensitive policy areas and resolving complex issues relating to the mission and function of a scientific organization, as well as demonstrated experience interacting with multiple program areas within a large organization, sufficient to render executive decisions or significantly influence the decisions of senior level management.

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

CCAR Model is outline 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.