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Assistant Director for Communications

Department of Commerce
U.S. Census Bureau
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking a highly-motivated and capable executive to serve as the Assistant Director for Communications.

This position is a Senior Executive Service (SES) general position. Positions in the SES are not graded. SES pay is commensurate with qualifications. SES employees are eligible for bonuses and awards based on performance. Veteran's preference is not applicable to SES.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/13/2021 to 06/12/2021
Salary
$132,552 to - $199,300 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Suitland, MD
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel may be required to attend or present at meetings or conferences on topics relevant to the U.S. Census Bureau's mission.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation expenses may be authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
SES-2021-0012
Control number
601091700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all qualified U.S. Citizens. Join the U.S. Census Bureau where we are looking for diverse, innovative thinkers. Embark on a new career that is challenging and exciting!

Duties

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The Assistant Director for Communications will:

  • Provide leadership and oversight to the offices within the Communications Directorate.  

  • Serve as a senior spokesperson and rapid response lead for the Census Bureau and the census program, and will be responsible for the development of communication strategies designed to deliver effective messaging consistent with the priorities and objectives of the Census Bureau’s programs, as well as in response to crises and sensitive matters.

  • Be responsible for the Census Bureau’s “brand management” efforts and for establishing and managing an integrated communications operation to detect, respond and measure social intelligence related to the Census Bureau and the decennial census based on historic and real-time response and communications data to proactively improve the perception of Census Bureau operations and its reputation. 

  • Be responsible for the development and implementation of an effective and integrated communication strategy to support the Census Bureau’s programs, such as the American Community Survey, the decennial census, all demographic and socioeconomic surveys, and the economic census and census of governments.  

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship.
  • Background investigation and/or security clearance is required.
  • One year probationary period may be required.
  • Incumbent may be subject to geographic mobility.
  • Public Financial Disclosure (SF-278 filing within 30 days is required).

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess all of the Executive Core Qualifications and Professional/Technical Qualifications listed. These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, senior level experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in leading and managing a comprehensive program in a complex organization. An individual's total experience must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position. Applicants must meet all of the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

ECQ 1 - Leading Change: 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.

Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, and Vision. 

ECQ 2-Leading People: 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 conflict.

Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, and Team Building. 

ECQ 3 - Results Driven: 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, and Technical Credibility. 

ECQ 4 - Business Acumen: involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, and Technology Management. 

ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions: 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 and Influencing/Negotiating.

Fundamental Competencies: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning and Public Service Motivation.

Professional and Technical Qualifications (PTQs):

PTQ #1 - Demonstrated experience promoting and marketing information which support the needs of a broad range of information users including federal, state, and local governments, public and private universities, researchers, the private and non-profit sectors, the media and the public. 

PTQ #2 - Demonstrated experience effectively managing a large communications operation, including directing and integrating large, complex and high profile communications plans across paid-media, earned-media, public relations, the Web, and social media effectively, efficiently, on budget and on time.

PTQ #3 - Demonstrated experience dealing with Congress including preparations for committee hearings, briefings for expert staff, liaison with members and their staff as well as other Executive Branch agencies, and state and local governments, especially written and oral presentation skills explaining complex technical and operational issues for less expert audiences.

For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/

Example ECQ statements are available at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

Additional information

Financial Disclosure: This position is covered under the Ethics in Government Act, which requires comprehensive financial disclosures from employees. The appointee will be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (SF-278), within 30 days after his/her appointment, and then annually thereafter.

Qualifications Approval and Probationary Period: Persons newly selected for career appointment to the Senior Executive Service must have their executive core qualifications approved by an Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board and will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Mobility: Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.

The materials you send with your application will not be returned.

Veterans' preference is not applicable to positions in the Senior Executive Service.

Please DO NOT put your SSN on pages within your application package.

Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Signature - Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.

False Statements - If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be fired after you begin work, or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

Selective Service - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants are required to submit a narrative statement for each Professional/Technical Qualification (PTQ) and each Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) listed. If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and had your ECQs certified by OPM, then you only need to address each PTQ, and you do not need to submit an ECQ narrative. All other applicants are required to respond to all ECQs and PTQs, addressing each ECQ and PTQ separately. Please give a complete and detailed answer for each qualification. Please keep in mind each ECQ and PTQ are unique qualifications. Therefore, duplicate responses are not sufficient in determining if you meet that specific qualification.

Please review the complete guide to writing executive qualifications at www.opm.gov/ses and use the Challenge, Context, Action, Result (CCAR) model to develop your statements.

Do not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer. Applications directing the reader to search within the application or to "See Resume" are considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Failure to submit a narrative statement or address any of the ECQs and/or PTQs is also considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. As a result, you will be rated as "INCOMPLETE".

Qualified applicants will be evaluated by an Executive Resources Board (ERB) rating panel of senior managers to determine the degree to which they possess the executive core and professional/technical qualifications, and best qualified candidates may undergo an interview and a reference check. The ERB rating panel will make recommendations on best qualified candidates to the selecting official. Applicants will be evaluated on the quality and extent of their total accomplishments, experience, the ECQs, and the PTQs.
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