Clarification from the agency

Those applicants who meet the mandatory qualifications of the announcement.

• The Director, Office of Planning and Evaluation (OPE) works directly with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Senior FDA officials on the agency?s strategic, programmatic and performance planning activities.
• Participates with the Commissioner, Chief of Staff and COO in the formulation of the basic policies and operational philosophy that guide the agency in effectively implementing its responsibilities.
• Interprets the Commissioner?s broad policy decisions into guidance documents promulgating FDA?s priorities, stating program objectives, areas of primary emphasis, and the framework of agency plans in consultation with and for use by the Centers.
• Ensures Centers and Offices plans are integrated into the overall FDA plan in terms of programmatic objectives, resources and capabilities.
• Serves as the senior agency official responsible for performance planning and reporting as required by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA).
• Provides senior leadership and direction to a staff of analysts and project managers engaged in the planning, evaluation and analyses of agency programs, policies and major regulations, the design and development of agency strategic plans.
• Oversees the conduct of comprehensive operations research, statistical or other analytical studies as part of a continuing agency-wide review and evaluation that serves as a basis for forecasting trends and formulating strategic plans.
• Reviews outside studies that address agency policies and programs.
• Collaborates with FDA program directors and agency experts on review of these studies and agency progress toward program objectives.
• Provides assistance to officials in identifying causes of problems, developing alternative solutions, and formulating and recommending agency policies and procedures to provide for improvement of agency efficiency and effectiveness.
• Monitors FDA agency activities of particular concern to the Commissioner to identify and measure performance trends and analyze agency use of program resources.
• Carries out assignments for the Commissioner and COO that involve the establishment of contacts and relationships with high-level officials of the Department, other Executive Departments and Congress.
• Maintains liaison with the Office of the Secretary, HHS and the Office of Management and Budget on matters related to strategic performance planning and program evaluation issues related to agency regulations and policies.
• Participates with the COO and the Commissioner in presenting program proposals to higher echelons.
• Directs or provides analytical and project management support to cross-program initiatives and studies, including but not limited to, user fee programs, business process analysis and coordination of the business processes.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required for federal employment.
• Background and/or Security Investigation is required.
• Must complete 1 year SES probationary period, if not previously completed.
• Application package must be received by closing date of this Announcement.
• Ethics pre-clearance is required.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for Director, Office of Planning and Evaluation (Office of Operations), 1515, ES - 00, you must possess the following:

• • Specialized Experience Requirement
  • Basic Qualification Requirements
  • Education Requirements
  • Technical Qualifications (TQs)
  • Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)

Specialized Experience Requirement
To be qualified for this position, your resume must reflect experience in a managerial capacity with responsibility for providing supervisory direction to a large and diverse organization responsible for promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of programs and operations and preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in such programs and operations. This experience must be evidenced by sophisticated analytical skills, superior written and oral communication skills, good judgment, and experience in interacting with government and non-government officials. Typically, experience of this nature is gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service, or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or nongovernmental organizations. At this level, you would have typically been responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating work that included managing and/or supervising other managers. You must demonstrate in your resume, significant achievements, increasing levels of responsibility as a manager, and a solid record of successful professional performance.

Basic Qualifications Requirement
As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), your resume must show 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:

1) Technical Qualifications (TQs); and
2) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)

Technical Qualifications (TQs) -- Your resume must show that you possess the following TQs:

1. Demonstrated expert knowledge of and experience in interpreting and applying laws, regulations, executive orders, and other policies related to conducting operations research, program evaluation and special studies as a basis for forecasting trends, needs and major problems requiring solution.
2. Demonstrated expertise and skill in planning, development, oversight, evaluation and documentation of strategic planning initiatives.
3. Experience providing excellent customer service for large, diverse and complex organizations; and consultation with various stakeholders and constituencies requiring management of strategic and competing objectives.
4. Demonstrated experience in a managerial capacity with responsibility for providing supervisory direction to a large and diverse organization responsible for promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of programs and operations on a national level and preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in such programs and operations.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) -- Your resume must show that you possess the following ECQs:

1.Leading Change
2. Leading People
3. Results Driven
4. Business Acumen
5. Building Coalitions

Fundamental Competencies are the foundation for success in each of the ECQs and should be evident over the course of your resume:

1. Interpersonal Skills
2. Oral Communication
3. Integrity/Honesty
4. Written Communication
5. Continual Learning; and
6. Public Service Motivation

It is STRONGLY recommended that you visit the following Office of Personnel Management (OPM) webpage for more information regarding the Fundamental Competencies and ECQs. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/.

1. Leading Change: 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: 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: 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: The ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. (Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management)

5. Building Coalitions: 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)

Additional information on the proper preparation of ECQs is available by going to the Office of Personnel Management's web site at http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2010.pdf. Applicants are encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action, and Result model outlined in the guide.

The application process for this position is RESUME ONLY. You should address the TQs and ECQs within the context of a 5-page resume. Any information submitted in excess of 5 pages WILL NOT be considered. We strongly encourage you to submit a resume that is tailored specifically for this position to ensure it includes relevant examples of how you possess the technical qualifications and the five Executive Core Qualifications. Your resume should emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of programs managed (e.g., budget, type/# of staff supervised) and program accomplishments, including the results of your actions.

If selected, you will be required to complete an ECQ package by drafting narratives for each of the ECQs for submission and certification by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in order to be placed in this position. If you are currently serving in a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), you will not need to draft the ECQs.

Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Officers interested in applying for this position can apply to be considered to serve as an SES or as a Commissioned Corps Officer.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the job opportunity announcement closes (at 11:59 pm ET on 03/30/2020).

Your resume and responses to the Assessment Questionnaire are an integral part of the process for determining your basic and specialized qualifications for the position. Responses that are not supported by your resume will eliminate you from consideration. Your application will be evaluated in the following manner:

1. Application packages will be reviewed for completeness. Incomplete or late packages will not receive further consideration.

2. Basic qualifications review. Your resume and questionnaire will be reviewed to ensure that you meet the Specialized Experience Requirement. If you do not meet this requirement, you will not receive further consideration.

3. If it is determined that you meet the basic qualifications for the position, your application package will be further evaluated by a rating and ranking panel, and highly qualified candidates may be invited to participate in a structured interview, submit writing samples, and undergo reference checks. Top candidates may be required to submit further written documentation of qualifications and complete a emotional intelligence assessment.

4. The HHS FDA Executive Resources Board will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority.

All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. You should expect that we will verify performance, suitability, security information and take that information into account in making employment offers. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection, and/or appropriate disciplinary action. All initial appointments to an SES position are contingent on approval from OPM's Qualifications Review Board unless the selectee has successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program. An individual's initial SES career appointment becomes final only after the individual successfully completes a 1-year probationary period. For additional information concerning the SES visit http://www.usajobs.gov/SeniorExecutives.