This position serves as the Deputy Director for Communications for the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. The FPAC Mission Area is USDA’s focal point for the nation’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners for crop insurance, conservation programs and technical assistance, and commodity lending and disaster programs with over 22,000 employees, nearly $22 billion in budget authority, and 5,000 offices located in all 50 States, American Samoa, Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

• Establishes and sets FPAC-wide communications policy and strategy to ensure support for FPAC decisions that affect the public and that need to be communicated in a politically sensitive manner.  Responsible for drafting and administering policy guidelines on press contacts, photography, audiovisual activities, graphic design, radio-TV, and policy, editorial, or graphics clearances for publications; and assisting with the preparation of directives, procedural manuals, and articles for publication.   
• Serves as the principal FPAC contact for leaders at all levels of government regarding the dissemination of consistent and timely information regarding FPAC programs and is responsible for managing external communications on extremely controversial and sensitive policies and initiatives that come under intense scrutiny by the media, Congress, and the general public. Serves as a liaison with the Department’s Office of Communications, other Mission Areas, and other Executive Branch Agencies and Departments to ensure that accurate information is relayed in an efficient and effective manner.
• Directs the FPAC's social networking policy and procedures. Ensures that the FPAC website and social media (such as blogs, video channels, webcasts/podcasts, twitter, etc.) provide a timely and accurate posting of current events, appropriate links to associated programs and activities, and professional development of user friendly design features.  Ensures that content is appropriate and in accordance with FPAC requirements for security, accuracy, propriety, and policy. 
• Responsible for establishing and developing policies and procedures for implementing FPAC programs and activities and special initiatives involving communications to limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and minority communities and to 1890 land grant institutions. Ensures that traditionally underserved communities are aware of FPAC’s programs and operations. Oversees communications activities and initiatives with a wide array of agencies, special interest groups, and 1890 land grant institutions. With input from the other FPAC agencies, directs the FPAC USDA/1890 Liaison program and fosters relationships between FPAC and 1890, American Indian, and Hispanic colleges, universities and organizations.  Oversees the development of communications tools including video, Web design and content management, and photography. 

Conditions of employment

• Veterans Preference is not applicable in the Senior Executive Service
• Initial appointments are required to service a 1-year probationary period
• Narrative Statements for the ECQ’s must not exceed 10 pages
• Requires incumbent to obtain/maintain a security clearance

•  CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.
•  Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you may be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report inquiry.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. As such, 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 (ECQs): The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential not technical expertise. They measure whether an individual has the broad executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions.  All applicants must submit a written narrative to address the ECQs. Your narrative must address each ECQ separately and should contain at least two examples per ECQ describing your experiences and accomplishments/results.  The narrative should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishment s, policy Initiatives undertaken and the results of your actions.  Applicants should not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer.  The narrative must not exceed 10 pages.    

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Note: Current career SES members, former career SES members with reinstatement eligibility, and SES Candidate Development Program graduates who have been certified by OPM do NOT need to address the ECQs.

1. Leading Change: This core qualification involves the 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. (Competencies: creativity and innovation, external awareness, flexibility, resilience, strategic thinking, vision)

2. Leading People: This core qualification involves 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. (Competencies: conflict management, leveraging diversity, developing others, team building)

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. (Competencies: accountability, customer service, decisiveness, entrepreneurship, problem solving, technical credibility)

4. Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. (Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management)

5. Building Coalitions: This core qualification 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. (Competencies: partnering, political savvy, influencing/negotiating)

Fundamental Competencies: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications; Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Continual Learning, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Public Service Motivation. The Fundamental Competencies are crosscutting; and should be addressed over the course of each ECQ narratives. It is not necessary for you to address the Fundamental Competencies directly as long as the narrative, in its totality, shows mastery of these competencies on the whole. 

For additional guidance, applicants may visit the OPM Guide to Senior Executive Qualifications.  Applicants are encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action and Result (C-C-A-R) model outlined in the guide.  The definitions of the SES ECQs and their underlying competencies can be found at: http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp. 

B. MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): All applicants must submit a written narrative response to the following TQs.  You must address each TQ separately. Each TQ narratives must not exceed two (2) pages. Please give examples and explain the complexity of the knowledge possessed and the sensitivity of the issued you handled.

1. The incumbent will have demonstrated experience in a highly political environment leading a national communications program. 
2. The incumbent will have a broad knowledge and understanding of farm and/or conservation policies and programs, including experience improving communications from a national platform to both broad audiences and targeted groups (such as limited resource operations and the socially disadvantaged).

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 on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education (if applicable). Your application will be rated and ranked by an Executive Resources Board (ERB) Panel, using only the information submitted within the application package. Applicants who do not demonstrate in their application sufficient possession of the ECQs & MTQs will be determined ineligible for further consideration.
To view the application form, visit: https://ses.usda.ntis.gov/cp/?event=jobs.previewApplication&jobid=A14D0147-F4C0-4BCA-80B1-A94400BD8444