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Associate Deputy Administrator

Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The incumbent serves as the Associate Deputy Administrator for the AMS National Organic Program. Position is in the Washington D.C. office 3 days per week. Relocation will be paid.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/07/2023 to 07/13/2023
This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$155,700 to - $183,500 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DE-12035733-23-NO
Control number
735438100

Duties

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  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Sharing fully with the Deputy Administrator the overall responsibility for overseeing the development, formulation, administration and coordination of Program activities and policies.
  • Evaluating assigned Program operations and issuing instructions and determinations.
  • Formulating policies and programs of NOP and serving as a consultant and advisor to the Deputy Administrator, Associate Administrator, AMS Administrator and other officials of the Department on matters relating to NOP activities.
  • Providing leadership in developing and maintaining working relationships with the Legislative and Regulatory Review staff for issues related to the Programs mission.
  • Reviewing legislative drafts, proposals, and reports prepared at the Division/Program level for comments and, as necessary, preparing or suggesting amendments and redrafts.
  • Establishing and maintaining relationships with organic certifiers, producers and handlers, trade organizations, advocacy groups, other country organic programs, the public, and other Federal agencies.
  • Managing work through subordinate supervisors, Division Directors, who each direct substantial program segments, involving urgency and technical complexity due to policy analysis and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
  • Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

FOR THE GS-15 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-14 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates all of the following:

  • Demonstrated second-line supervisory experience, overseeing both technical and administrative supervisors and staff, from a junior through senior level.
  • Experience in developing, implementing, and communicating policy and oversight practices associated with an organic certification program, or other agriculture- or food-based, identity-preserved, standards-based program.
  • Experience formalizing, institutionalizing, and documenting workflows and processes across subordinate units in a multi-disciplinary organization.
  • Experience writing briefing papers and memos on complex technical policy topics, and demonstrated experience briefing senior leadership and external groups on priorities and technically-focused policy options and directions.
Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
  • First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
  • This position is being concurrently announced under Merit Promotion Announcement Number MP-12031871-23-NO. Current or former Federal employees or other eligible applicants may apply to both announcements to expand all possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.
  • Worksite Information: This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Additional information regarding ad hoc, occasional, or reoccurring telework may be obtained at a later time from the hiring manager or program during the hiring process.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

  • Compliance Inspection
  • Customer Service
  • Human Capital Management
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Problem Solving
  • Technical Competence


Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12035733

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