Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all qualified candidates.

• The incumbent serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) within the Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and performs many and varying assignments under the direction of the FNS Assistant Administrator.
• Provides oversight of management and technology organizations to include Human Resources, Contracting, Operations and Facilities divisions as well as high-profile offices/initiatives.
• Provides broad executive level management, leadership, and oversight over administrative and management areas with a focus on improving performance, day-to-day coordination and liaison activities, management controls, communication, and efficiency.
• Works closely with senior Department officials including the Secretarys Office, other Department sub-cabinet officials, USDA Agency heads, White House officials, and officials in other U.S. government agencies regarding interagency matters.
• Direct organizational activities based on broad organizational assessments and evaluations of long-term organizational objectives.
• Assessing and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of agency operations and developing plans for enhancing operational performance.
• Determining resource needs and allocating personnel, funding, and material to achieve overall work objectives.
• Defining and leading a continuous quality improvement process throughout all operational program and service areas.
• Implementing intuitive reporting mechanisms and techniques, such as dashboards, to communicate operational status and other operational concerns.
• Driving and measuring performance against key performance indicators so that technical performance can be continuously evaluated and improved, including how performance complies or varies from acceptable standards.
• Providing strong inspirational leadership and cultivating high-performing teams through recruitment, training, and retention strategies; timely performance evaluation; adequate management development; and succession planning for subordinate staff.
• Duties include a variety of responsibilities, some carried out independently and others in concert and coordination with other FNS executives.

Conditions of employment

• Veterans Preference is not applicable in the Senior Executive Service.
• Initial appointments are required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
• Background Investigation required.

Qualifications

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME BASED. DO NOT submit Executive Core Qualifications in lieu of a resume.

To apply for this position you need only submit a resume which CANNOT exceed FIVE (5) pages using 1-inch margins and a 12-point font. Any information submitted in excess of five (5) pages WILL NOT be considered. You must submit a resume which provides evidence of how you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). Failure to meet the basic qualification requirement and address all Mandatory Technical statements will result in your application being disqualified.

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-15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector, or nongovernmental organizations.

MANDATORY 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.

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)

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (TQ):A supplemental narrative must be uploaded and attached to your application addressing each MTQ listed below. No more than two (2) pages per MTQ is allowed; additional informational information will not be considered. MTQs must provide specific examples that address relevant experience and accomplishments. Applicants must reflect superior technical qualifications demonstrated through leadership and management in the following MTQs. Failure to submit a narrative statement addressing each of the MTQs may cause your application to be deemed incomplete and not be considered.

• MTQ 1: Experience as a member of a management team leading, managing, or overseeing the diverse management and operations portfolio of a large organization that has scope and impact on a national level, with administration and effectiveness of operations subject to the scrutiny of the USDA Secretary and Congress.
• MTQ 2: Extensive management experience in planning, leading, and directing a broad range of operational programs and functions to include human resources, contracting, data strategy, logistics, and facilities.
• MTQ 3:Senior level management experience and skill in enabling the effective delivery of an organization's mission while adhering to the laws and regulations governing a diverse portfolio of administrative programs, internal operations, and services. This experience must reflect a record of successful customer communication, outreach and collaboration, accountability and continuous program improvement of internal business processes and systems.

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.

As part of the Resume Based recruitment method, the EMSB Panel conducts a structured interview for all applicants, both competitive and non-competitive, who are determined to be in the top category from the EMSB Rating Panel. Based on the Panel's evaluation, applicants who are determined Best or Well Qualified will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

A sample 5-page executive level resume and ECQ narratives can be viewed here.


To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12033376