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Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

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

Summary

OAR is where science comes to life.  Become part of a team that develops innovative ideas and technologies and collaborate with the many talented and dedicated people who work to solve the mysteries of the deepest oceans to the surface of the sun.  Explore the facets and trends of the earth's environment that will influence the future.  Become a part of the team that provides the nation with scientific information to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
02/16/2022 to 04/04/2022
Salary
$135,468 to - $203,700 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
25% or less - Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings and conferences.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OAR AA-2022-0001
Control number
637799700

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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To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement Safer Federal Workforce Task Force 2 pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
This announcement is also updated on March 18, 2022 to provide the following information:
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provides guidance on applying for Senior Executive Service Positions. The Guide To Senior Executive Service Qualifications provides information the requirements for submitting your resume and Executive Core Qualification documents. The link to the Guide is: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf
In addition, NOAA is hosting two Q&As sessions to take your questions on the NOAA process. These sessions are listed below: NOAA Senior Executive Service Positions Q&A Session Tue, Mar 22, 2022 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM (EDT) Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/900991093
Applying for NOAA Senior Executive Service Positions Q&A Session Thu, Mar 24, 2022 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (EDT) Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/886271157

As OAR Assistant Administrator, the incumbent is responsible for the direction and administration of all activities of OAR, resolving operational and technical management problems, maintaining surveillance over operations, and ensuring the timely and adequate implementation of established goals and programs. The Assistant Administrator is responsible for the discharge of the following essential organizational functions to strengthen the preeminence and value of NOAA science and services for the public good:

  1. Leads a coordinated research program that ensures OAR's compatibility and effectiveness in serving NOAA's programmatic needs over both the short and long term.
  2. Promotes innovative research for a better understanding of the atmospheric, coastal, oceanic, climatic, and geophysical processes that underlie the services and products of NOAA.
  3. Maintains awareness of the research and development portfolio across the agency.
  4. Maintains awareness of relevant research and development activities outside NOAA and assisting the transfer of results from these efforts to NOAA as appropriate.
  5. Champions policies for planning, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting research and development activities comprising the entire NOAA research and development enterprise.
  6. Maintains oversight and portfolio planning and execution responsibilities along with the AAs of each corresponding Line Office to ensure that research and development programs across NOAA and of OAR are designed and executed to meet the current and future requirements of these service components.
  7. Promotes the transfer of research results and new technology to other components of NOAA, and both to and from scientific organizations outside NOAA.
  8. Maintains cognizance of and engagement with research and development programs being conducted by other relevant federal and/or university entities and ensures that OAR research investments complement external efforts.
  9. Supports NOAA-wide planning, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting of NOAA's research and development enterprise, and provides guidance for optimizing the portfolio at near-term, mid-term, and long-term periods.
  10. Promotes scientific integrity and encourages scientists throughout the organization to communicate science to further scientific literacy and sound decisions making.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Incumbent may be subject to geographic mobility.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI 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 and Professional/Technical Qualifications listed below and the educational requirement.  These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in managing a comprehensive business program in a complex organization.  An individual's total experience and education 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.

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.

Professional/Technical Core Qualifications (PTQs): HR SPECIALIST ENTERS IN PTQs

PTQ 1 - Understanding of one or more scientific disciplines related to OAR's research, including atmospheric, meteorological, climatological, oceanographic, physical, chemical, environmental and/or engineering sciences, and an ability to provide executive leadership on the advancement of research and scientific initiatives within one or more of these disciplines.

PTQ 2 - Ability to administer a scientific, technical and/or research organization at an institutional level, including setting policy and directing financial and administrative program operations.

PTQ 3 - Senior level experience in collaborating with external stakeholders and partners on scientific issues, and communicating scientific topics and results to a broad range of constituents (e.g., scientists, the public, the Agency, Congress, etc.) with differing levels of seniority and scientific background.


NOTE: Responses to PTQs must not exceed 2 pages per PTQ, for a total of 6 pages.

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 in 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

A combination of education and experience (education equivalent to one of the majors mentioned) 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 Top Secret/Secret Compartmented Information 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.

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 Mr. James Triem the servicing Human Resources Specialist, either by e-mail at james.b.triem@noaa.gov or by telephone at (301) 628-1881. 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.

COVID 19 Telework Status: The physical worksite for this position is located in Silver Spring, MD. However, NOAA/OAR is currently under a maximum telework posture due to the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore, this position is currently under a 100 percent telework schedule.  The position’s telework schedule will likely change in the future when NOAA/OAR moves away from its maximum telework posture.  At that time, the incumbent will be expected to report to the physical work site in accordance with the updated status requirements of their supervisor.  The nature and scope of future telework opportunities will be subject to the unit’s telework policy, any applicable bargaining unit agreements, and supervisory approval.  Payment of relocation expenses, as applicable, will be paid in accordance with this Job Opportunity Announcement.  Non-compliance with the supervisor's telework-schedule requirement could result in adverse action, including separation.

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 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.

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.

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.

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


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