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Director, Satellite Ground Services

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) provides secure and timely access to global environmental data and information from satellites and other sources to promote and protect the Nation's security, environment, economy, and quality of life.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/01/2019 to 02/01/2020
Salary
$127,914 to - $192,300 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Silver Spring, MD
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel may be required to attend meetings, conferences, training and on-site visits to facilities across the U.S.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—This position may be eligible for relocation expenses.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00 - Position is at the full promotion potential
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
NESDIS-SGS-2020-0001
Control number
553065000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all groups of Qualified Individuals/All-Sources (U.S. Citizens Only)

Duties

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The Office of Satellite and Ground Services (OSGS) conducts studies, provides overall satellite systems planning; performs detailed satellite system integration. Installation, and acceptance for the major components of NOAA’s Polar-Orbiting and Geostationary satellites. The OSGS serves as the single organization for planning and execution of the NESDIS satellite Enterprise Ground System that will comprise a single, integrated ground system architecture (common ground system) offering cost-effective, secure and sustainable support for the NESDIS mission.

The Director, Satellite Ground Services (SGS) is responsible for but is not limited to the following duties:

  • The incumbent directs the financial, programmatic, technical contractual oversight and performance metrics of common satellite ground systems and services. The incumbent core responsibilities include: directing and overseeing the analyses of satellite ground services support and requirements; working with the Director, Systems Engineering to define and design satellite systems and acquiring, transitioning, and sustaining operational activities for new and existing satellite ground systems.
  • Directs and coordinates the technical support activities of the common ground services (enterprise management and data/product distribution and access of satellite systems services) across all NESDIS satellite and data acquisition programs.
  • Serves as key senior official in NESDIS with responsibility for planning and execution of all common ground services across all satellite and data acquisition programs. The incumbent is accountable to the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the common ground services portfolio.
  • Administers a comprehensive requirements identification and analysis process: establishes common ground services objectives, performance, engineering and cost criteria, and provides engineering and technical consultation regarding service capability, development, implementation and deployment for common ground services.
  • Directs the financial, programmatic, technical, contractual oversight, and performance metrics of common ground services.
  • Develops and manages the program acquisition for development and execution of common ground services.
  • Defines and direct satellite and common ground services research, development, and engineering activities that support the mission of OSGS and determine the potential impact upon overall program resources of accommodating new technologies. 
  • Ensures that the overall strategic direction and priorities of satellite and common ground services are aligned with those of NESDIS, NOAA, DOC, and that program decisions and activities that support and promote the NOAA long-range goals and strategies.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Incumbent may be subject to geographic mobility.
  • Obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Special Sensitive Security clearance.
  • Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1 year probationary period.
  • Position is subject to pre-employment background investigation.
  • Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required).
  • Position is subject to random drug testing.

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, you must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability; and that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) listed under "How You Will Be Evaluated." 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 with state or local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess all of the mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQS) listed below.  Your responses must demonstrate possession of these qualifications typically acquired through experience, education, and training, which reflect progressive development and achievement in managing a comprehensive business program for a complex organization.  An individual's total experience must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position.  Please provide examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibility, the scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken, and level of contacts. All qualified candidates will be evaluated on the relevance of their experience, education, training, self-development, honors, awards, and outside activities. Failure by non-Senior Executive Service members to submit a narrative statement addressing each of the ECQs and PTQs will result in loss of consideration.


SES Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

ECQ 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.

ECQ 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.

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.

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

ECQ 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.

NOTE: Responses to ECQs must not exceed 10 pages typed in 12-point font, or the application will be disqualified.  

Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs):


PTQ 1 - Expert knowledge and extensive technical experience in implementing, managing and analyzing a comprehensive satellite and/or common ground services program within an applied engineering and service oriented environment.

PTQ 2 - Demonstrated experience in common ground systems, satellite data acquisition, and data processing as it relates to the management of satellite data and services.

PTQ 3 - Experience that demonstrates the ability to manage public resources, provide program oversight, and develop and execute program budget(s) and financial reporting information.


NOTE: Responses to PTQs must not exceed 2 pages per PTQ, for a total of 6 pages, or the application will be disqualified. 

For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp
 
Example of ECQ statements are available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

Education

A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Additional information

Background Investigation: This position is designated as Secret and requires that a background investigation be conducted and favorably adjudicated in order to establish security eligibility.

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 (OGE-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.

Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required by P.L. 104-134 to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.

Drug Testing: Applicants tentatively selected for employment in any position are subject to designated and/or random pre-employment and employment urinalysis. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment and/or removed from employment with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.

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.

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

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.

Selective Service: Male applicants born after 12/31/1959, who are required to register with the Selective Service under section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act, must be registered (or must have registered at the time they were required to do so) in order to be eligible for appointment. For more information, visit the SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM web site at http://www.sss.gov/default.htm.

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

The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify Kamilah Starks , the servicing Human Resources Specialist, either by e-mail at kamilah.starks@noaa.gov or by telephone at (301)628-1844. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users may contact us via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.

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.

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 Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) listed and each Professional/Technical Qualification (PTQ). If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program 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.

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".

How you will be evaluated:

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

•Best Qualified

•Well Qualified

•Qualified

The servicing Human Resources Specialist will forward all minimally qualified applicants to 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 appointing authority. Applicants will be evaluated on the quality and extent of their total accomplishments, experience, the ECQs, and the PTQs.


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