Clarification from the agency

Those applicants who meet the mandatory qualifications of the announcement.

• Advises the Commissioner, Chief of Staff, Associate Commissioner for External Affairs and other senior coordinating officials on public information and agency programs relating to media communications.
• Directs and manages all aspects of the Office of Media Affairs (OMA) commonly referred to as the "Press Office".
• Plans, directs and executes media relations efforts to inform and educate general and specialized public about FDA programs, actions and accomplishments.
• Serves as spokesperson for FDA on high-profile and sensitive agency issues.
• Briefs the Commissioner and other senior leaders for agency media events.
• Cultivates and maintains effective working relationships with members of the media, particularly with FDA "beat" reporters.
• Facilitates press conferences, media briefings, media availability and media interviews with agency senior officials and prepares officials on advisable conduct during agency news events.
• Provides expert advice and guidance on all aspects of communication to press officers, subject matter experts, principals and other agency officials.
• Acts quickly and effectively as a senior communication counsel to staff as well as senior officials in providing sound media relations advice for major roll outs, agency announcements and key initiatives.
• Responds to questions and/or criticism for members of the news media concerning sensitive and complex subjects.
• Serves as immediate supervisor to GS-15 public affairs specialists. Assigns work, and reviews and evaluates completed work.
• Serves as Agency focal point for formulation and dissemination of public warnings as well as general news of FDA activities.

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 the Assistant Commissioner for Media Affairs, 1035, ES - 00, you must possess the following:

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

Specialized Experience Requirement
To be qualified for this position, your résumé 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 résumé, 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 résumé 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)
2) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)

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

1. Demonstrated experience planning, organizing and carrying out media relations and communication activities for an organization which includes, the timely release of information to the media, advising senior leadership in the agency on the management of public affairs initiatives and media matters; and evaluating the efficiency or effectiveness of public information programs, projects or operations.

2. Demonstrated knowledge overseeing the release of all information provided to news media and ensure all communication products are well written and in line with media principles, practices and expectations and formulating and interpreting program-related policies and experience developing key messages, questions and answers, news releases and other communication documents.

3. Demonstrated experience serving as a spokesperson on high-profile and sensitive organization issues and representing the agency in internal and external meetings; building constructive relationships with customers, peers, supervisors, managers and subordinates; and advising on all news media engagement opportunities on sensitive/controversial issues and providing recommendation for strategic communication messaging.

Desirable Qualification (DQs)-- It is desired that you have the following (please show in résumé that you possess these qualifications):

1. Demonstrated experience managing an organization of press officers, senior advisors and subordinate supervisors; developing and recommending strategy for all press matters, particularly for controversial and time sensitive communication challenges.

2. Demonstrated senior communications experience in a science-based, health care, regulatory or food-related industry, agency or organization.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) -- Your résumé 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 résumé:

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.

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.

The application process for this position is RESUME ONLY. You should address the TQs, DQ, and ECQs within the context of a 5-page résumé. Any information submitted in excess of 5 pages WILL NOT be considered. We strongly encourage you to submit a résumé 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 résumé 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

The job opportunity announcement closes (at 11:59 pm ET on 07/02/2021).

Your résumé 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 résumé 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 résumé 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.

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.