Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens only.

The Head of the Integrated Activities Section serves as a member of the Division leadership team and as the Directorate’s principal spokesperson for its cross-cutting activities. The incumbent is responsible for the overall planning, management and commitment of budgeted funds for the section, which includes the following programs: Instrumentation and Facilities, Geoinformatics, Education and Human Resources, Postdoctoral Fellowships, two major facilities (SAGE and GAGE), and cross-cutting research programs Frontiers of Earth Sciences, Critical Zone Sciences, Paleo-Perspectives on Climate Change, and GEOPRISMS. The incumbent guides the Section in formulating and implementing its research objectives and manages its administrative, fiscal and personnel aspects. The responsibilities of the Head of the Integrated Activities Section include the coordination of activities with the division’s Disciplinary Programs Section and other relevant organizations within the Foundation, other Federal agencies, community organizations and international partners.

Conditions of employment

• Public Trust - Background Investigation

• One year probationary period required for all new Career SES appointments.
• Requires an "Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report" (OGE-278).
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust Security Clearance.

Qualifications

EXECUTIVE/MANAGERIAL (E/Ms): Unless you are currently under a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program approved by OPM, you must submit written statements (narrative format) describing accomplishments that would satisfy the E/Ms.  If you fail to do so, you will be rated as "ineligible."

Mandatory

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 in this E/M is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

2. Leading People. This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent in this E/M is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

3. Results-Driven Leadership. This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent in this E/M is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

4. Business Acumen. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

5. Building Coalitions. This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, non-profit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL (P/Ts): All applicants must submit written statements (narrative format) of accomplishments that would satisfy the P/T qualifications.  You must address each P/T qualification separately. 

Mandatory

1. Education, strongly preferred at the Ph.D level, or equivalent professional experience, or a combination of education and equivalent experience, in at least one of the major sub disciplinary fields of the Earth Sciences (e.g., geology, paleontology, hydrology, geochemistry, geophysics, tectonics).

2. Substantial research contributions and strong evidence of scholarship in earth sciences and/or related disciplines, as evidenced by publications, innovative leadership in research administration, and professional leadership and awards.

3. Skill in balancing complex and diverse program demands and available resources in response to major advances and/or changing needs of earth sciences research and technology and demonstrated ability to exercise sound professional judgment in the initiation of research in the field of earth sciences.

4. Broad understanding of universities and other academic institutions and/or large facilities where research and education in earth sciences is conducted, including knowledge of grant and contract administration; and fiscal management with experience in scientific research support.

When responding to the P/T and E/M qualifications, you must clearly show that you possess the experience, knowledge, skills and ability to perform the duties of this position by submitting narrative responses in which you detail your experience in each of the E/Ms and P/Ts.

Your examples should be clear and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope, and complexity of the programs managed and program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives and level of contacts.

Applicants who do not provide narrative statements addressing both the E/M and P/T qualifications will be rated as "ineligible".

Applicants currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by OPM are not required to address the Executive/Managerial (E/M) Qualifications (ECQs); but a narrative statement for each of the Professional/Technical (P/T) Qualifications  is required.

To view additional information on the proper preparation of Executive Core Qualification (ECQs) statements, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications.

(http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/)

Security Clearance: Public Trust - Background Investigation

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will be evaluated by an Evaluation Panel of senior officials.  The panel will rate and rank applicants on the basis of the quality and extent of total accomplishments, experience and education.  The panel will assess the degree to which candidates possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the professional/technical qualifications of the position and the executive/managerial qualifications to determine the best qualified candidates. The best qualified candidates will be referred to the appropriate official who will recommend selection. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, physical disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit reason. 

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