As Deputy Administrator, the incumbent is responsible for managing the activities and functions of the NOP. The incumbent exercises full authority for overall planning, coordinating, and directing international program and related activities designed and executed with a view to the overall betterment of the Nations organic agricultural industry; providing national leadership in developing, coordinating, and integrating Program activities with industry and other Federal, State, and foreign agencies, as appropriate.

National Organic Program regulations against certifying agents, producers, handlers, processors, and State Organic Programs; accredits, audits, and trains organic certifying agents; establishes and monitors international recognition and equivalence agreements and arrangements; administers the NOP appeals program, and supports the National Organic Standards Board.

As the Deputy Administrator for the NOP, the incumbent is the Agency’s foremost expert in organic production and as such participates fully with the Administrator and other key officials in planning, developing and administering programs and services for which the NOP is responsible. The Deputy Administrator represents the Administrator and Associate Administrator in formulating and administering long-range policies and programs relating to NOP activities and functions.

The incumbent is independently responsible for and provides leadership and technical expertise in developing, and implementing the following overall Program activities:

Policy Development and Communication: Makes final determinations on implementing, amending, or rejecting policy recommendations by subordinate managers and supervisors within the NOP. Assures appropriate study and analyses of issues related to the totality of USDA organic laws, rules, regulations, and procedures, and reviews for approval all reports relating to NOP program expansion which are reviewed at the Department, Congressional committees, and other government agency levels. Works to achieve consensus on critical, complex, and frequently controversial policy and operational matters.

Standards Development: Oversees the necessary background scientific research and preparation of written standards, including new standards development and National List amendments (materials dockets) all of which govern the activities and regulations of the NOP. Assures the accurate and timely transformation of National Organic Standards Board recommendations into actionable items:;- and oversees the development of implementation plans, taking into account priorities of impacted industry groups, consumers, and the accomplishment of Departmental goals and objectives.

Assures the accurate and timely formulation of long-range standards development relating to applicability, certification, accreditation, product labeling, the National List, potential linkages with other Agency and Departmental programs, and related activities. Oversees the processes involved in obtaining clearance on dockets, and assures prompt and accurate responses to all requests for supplemental information and documentation by reviewing/clearing parties. Represents the Agency with industry group leaders, international constituents, U.S. interagency and Federal-State groups or agencies and other organizations in connection herewith.

Standards Interpretation: Serves as the Agency’s authority on interpreting the USDA organic regulations and provides critical input to Agency officials concerning policy positions on organic production, handling, processing, labeling, accreditation and certification for both domestic and International markets.

Materials Review (National List): Assures the continuing effectiveness of the totality of activities associated with the processes by which the organic industry or other interested parties request to add or delete materials from the NOPs National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances. Applies the National List to International organic growers, certifiers, and inspectors.

Processing, Investigating, and Determining Disposition of Complaints: Assures the efficient and effective handling of the multitude of complaints received each year through the complaint hotline, NOP website, email, and various other sources that involve certified organic operations, certifying agents, State Organic Programs, and/or other participants in the NOP. Makes final decisions regarding investigative policies, practices, procedures, methodologies, and techniques concerning cases of program violation.   Assures the proper conduct of investigations and preparation of investigative reports, and that final dispositions of complaints are consistent with regulations, precedence, and expectations of higher level Agency and Department officials.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Public Financial Disclosure Required (OGE Form 278)
• A 1-year probationary period is required.
• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Public Financial Disclosure Required (OGE Form 278)
• A 1-year probationary period is required.
• Veterans Preference is not applicable in the Senior Executive Service
• Initial appointments are required to serve a 1-year probationary period
• Narrative Statements for the ECQs must not exceed 10 pages

•  Requires incumbent to obtain/maintain a secret security clearance

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.  

Failure to meet the basic qualification requirement and address all Mandatory Technical and Executive Core Qualification factors will result in your application being disqualified.

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 accomplishments, 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.    

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 organizations 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.

Applicants are encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action and Result (C-C-A-R) model outlined in the guide.   

Challenge - Describe a specific problem or goal.

Context - Describe the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to address 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 measures/outcomes that had some impact on the organization. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.

Additional information about the SES and Executive Core Qualifications can be found on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) SES Website. You are strongly encouraged to review OPMs Guide to SES Qualifications for specific examples and guidance on writing effective ECQ narrative statements.  

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. Demonstrated knowledge of the range of concepts, theories, principles, science, and practices related to organic agricultural production, handling, marketing, and the like, and the ability to manage the full life cycle of major program operations and organic agriculture-based projects.

2. Demonstrated ability to lead and direct highly complex professional, scientific, technical, and administrative programs to ensure effective program operation.  Examples should include demonstrated experience in evaluating the effectiveness of program policy and operations for organizational segments under your direction.
 

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. Unless you have already been certified by a Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past, your ECQs must be certified by a QRB after selection and before appointment can occur.