Clarification from the agency

You are encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application package. Your application may not get full consideration if you do not follow the instructions as outlined in the section "How to Apply."

As the Deputy Assistant Secretary and the accountable executive official of the Special Initiatives Division (SID), the incumbent has responsibility for the program management of all programs administered by SID/OELA, and in the absence of the Assistant Deputy Secretary/Director of OELA, assumes accountability for all of OELA’s operations, policy, and program implementation. These responsibilities include:

• The incumbent serves as a nationally recognized expert in English learner education, in the areas of standards and assessment, curriculum and instruction, accountability systems, teacher professional development and all areas that impact services and support to English learners. Advises the Assistant Deputy Secretary/Director on national trends and issues related to the needs of English learners. Ensures that the Assistant Deputy Secretary/Director is aware of significant issues and controversial matters related to programs and policies that may affect English learners and recommends solutions to resolve issues.
• Collaborates with the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and other offices that serve English learners in providing direction and leadership in technical assistance, consolidated monitoring, and data analyses to state and local educational agencies, and other grantees. Works closely with the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development and other offices to ensure that policies, programs, and priorities, are consistent with statutory requirements and Department policies.
• Works closely with other offices such as the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs and the Office of Communication and Outreach to provide responses to inquiries from internal and external stakeholders. Under the direction of the Assistant Deputy Secretary/Director provides information to the press, members of Congress, White House staff, key Department officials, Federal and private agencies, and other constituent organizations on OELA activities.
• Works closely with the Office of the Secretary to advise on and, under the direction of the Assistant Deputy Secretary/Director, implements the Secretary’s goals for building and expanding multilingualism as a foundational element of improving access and high-quality education for English learners and all students.Leads the development of the OELA outreach plan. Under the direction of the Assistant Deputy Secretary/Director, provides outreach to external stakeholders, including special interest groups, to obtain their views on improving outcomes for English learners. Represents diverse views and perspectives of the English learner community to administration officials.
• Makes presentations and speeches on Department programs and policies that support English learners at national, regional, and local conferences and meetings.
• Assists in achieving OELA's goals through collaboration and teamwork, working across divisions within the office, with other offices in the Department, and with external groups, agencies, and organizations.
• Advises officials on program plans and priorities that are fundamentally significant in establishing, meeting, and evaluating mission objectives, policies, and overall program goals. Advise on the creation, development, continuation or abandonment of specific programs and the far­ reaching consequences. Develops a range of alternatives for the solution of policy problems on which even the top national experts disagree and on which political leaders and interest groups have strongly held views.
• Conceives, conducts, and coordinates high-priority planning studies which provide in-depth analyses on issues of national importance and influence key department decisions. Develops and coordinates the preparation of information and decision memoranda which define broad educational program options, assess their utility, integrate, and analyze relevant information, and recommend course of action for the department.
• Resolves major conflicts with other ED programs, other agencies, and organizations. Represent the principal office in negotiation of volatile problems and issues. Develop solutions that are consonant with overall legal requirements and policies.
• Prepares, contributes to, and encourages others to prepare articles, reports, and similar documents which develop, interpret, and disseminate vital educational program data and information.
• Participates in a variety of high-level Department-wide or government-wide task forces and committees, often serving as leader of such groups. In this capacity, serves as a catalyst in stimulating new ideas and analyzing advanced concepts for the solution of complex educational problems.

Conditions of employment

• One year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Requires a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278.
• Relocation expenses will NOT be paid.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust Security Clearance

Qualifications

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Unless you are currently under a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program approved by OPM, you must submit written statements (narrative format) describing accomplishments that would satisfy the ECQs. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as 'ineligible.' You should provide 2 written examples for each ECQ and your ECQs should not exceed ten (10) pages total. When uploading your ECQs, choose the Supporting Document Type called ECQ.

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 in this ECQ is 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 in 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 in 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.

To view additional information on the proper preparation of Executive Core Qualification statements available on the Office of Personnel Management's website please click here.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): All applicants must submit written statements (narrative format) of accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualification. You must address each technical qualification separately. You must limit your narratives to two (2) pages per technical qualification. When uploading your MTQs, choose the supporting Document Type called MTQ.

MTQ 1: Demonstrated experience in creating or developing policies, programs, or initiatives supporting and advancing English learners, multilingualism, or other structured educational opportunities for English language acquisition; including evidence of executive level experience in sustaining them by building, coordinating, or leading a diverse workforce and partnering across various technical and professional organizations, constituent groups, or other associations to understand and align positions with competing demands, in an efficient and culturally responsive manner.

MTQ 2: Demonstrated leadership experience and effectiveness in the implementation and management of language education programs, dual language programs, seal of biliteracy, or other related programs; with evidence of measurable success in leading comprehensive administrative programs of national impact, showing commitment to high engagement in stakeholder management, respecting and leveraging diversity, and achieving consistently excellent results in leading executive functions that support those programs, such as grants management, contracts management, budget and financial management, human capital and resource management, and information technology.

MTQ 3: Evidence of executive leadership in the administration of grant programs and managing financial awards processing for grantees, including risk analysis, grant monitoring, data analysis, reviews of annual performance and reporting, and program compliance requirements to ensure proper close out of the grant awards received; with demonstration of effective management and supervision of staff in providing technical assistance to support grantees in the implementation of high‐quality programs that meet grant program requirements and other legal obligations; and successful and efficient stewardship of appropriated budget and other resources allocated to support the administration of the programs, and funding of program grantees.

When responding to the MTQs and ECQs, you must clearly show that you possess the experience, knowledge, skills and ability to perform the duties of this position by submitting narrative responses in which you detail your experience in each of the ECQs and MTQs.

Your examples should be clear and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope, and complexity of the programs managed and program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives and level of contacts.

Applicants who use "see resume" as a response WILL NOT receive consideration for the position.

Current or Former Political Appointees:  The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office.  Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action or removal from Federal Service.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants will be evaluated by a Qualifications Review Panel of senior officials. The panel will rate and rank applicants on the basis of the quality and extent of total accomplishments, experience and education. The panel will determine the degree to which candidates possess the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the mandatory technical requirements of the position and the mandatory executive core qualifications requirements. Among the factors the evaluation panel will consider in determining the applicant's relative capacity and fitness for the position are education, training, experience and demonstrated executive level qualifications. The Panel will review your resume against each mandatory technical qualifications and mandatory executive core qualifications to determine the best qualified candidates. Candidates determined to be best qualified will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration for the position.