The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking a highly-motivated and capable executive to serve as the Assistant Director for Communications.
This position is a Senior Executive Service (SES) career-reserved position. Positions in the SES are not graded. SES pay is commensurate with qualifications. SES employees are eligible for bonuses and awards based on performance. Veteran's preference is not applicable to SES.
Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking a highly-motivated and capable executive to serve as the Assistant Director for Communications.
This position is a Senior Executive Service (SES) career-reserved position. Positions in the SES are not graded. SES pay is commensurate with qualifications. SES employees are eligible for bonuses and awards based on performance. Veteran's preference is not applicable to SES.
Open to the public
Senior Executives
Clarification from the Agency:
Applications will be accepted from all qualified U.S. Citizens. Join the U.S. Census Bureau where we are looking for diverse, innovative thinkers. Embark on a new career that is challenging and exciting!
The Assistant Director for Communications is responsible for the following activities:
Leads the Census Bureau's programs related to media relations, stakeholder engagement, legislative and intergovernmental affairs, and relationships with other non-governmental organizations, as well as the communications campaigns for censuses and surveys.
Responsible for the Census Bureau's "brand management" efforts and for establishing and managing an integrated communications operation to detect, respond and measure social intelligence related to the Census Bureau and the decennial census based on historic and real-time response and communications data to proactively improve the perception of Census Bureau operations and its reputation.
Represents the agency as a high-level official in a variety of governmental and public forums, including Congress, meetings of State Data Center and Census Information Center directors, national governmental and non-governmental organizations, private technology sector companies, the National Academy of Sciences, the Office of the Inspector General, the General Accounting Office, and other organizations.
Manages the administrative, staffing and budget functions for the Communications Directorate, and oversees ongoing functional area operations and coordination with the Census Bureau program directorates.
Travel Required: Occasional Travel
Description: Travel may be required to attend or present at meetings and conferences on topics relevant to the U.S. Census Bureau's mission.
To meet the minimum qualifications, you must show that you possess all of the Executive Core Qualifications and Professional/Technical Qualifications listed. These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, senior level experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in leading and managing a comprehensive program in a complex organization. An individual's total experience 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.
Due to COVID-19, the Census Bureau is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 30 calendar days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period consistent with the Census Bureau's telework policy and approval from your supervisor.
Conditions of Employment:
U.S. Citizenship.
Background investigation and/or security clearance is required.
One-year probationary period may be required.
Public Financial Disclosure (SF-278 filing within 30 days is required).
Qualifications
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):
ECQ #1 - Leading Change: 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.
Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, and Vision.
ECQ #2-Leading People: 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 conflict.
Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, and Team Building.
ECQ #3 - Results Driven: 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.
Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, and Technical Credibility.
ECQ #4 - Business Acumen: involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, and Technology Management.
ECQ #5 - Building Coalitions: 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.
Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy and Influencing/Negotiating.
Fundamental Competencies: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning and Public Service Motivation.
Professional and Technical Qualifications (PTQs):
Demonstrated experience promoting and marketing information which support the needs of a broad range of information users including federal, state, and local governments, public and private universities, researchers, the private and non-profit sectors, the media and the public.
Demonstrated experience effectively managing a large communications operation, including directing and integrating large, complex and high profile communications plans across paid-media, earned-media, public relations, the Web, and social media effectively, efficiently, on budget and on time.
Demonstrated experience dealing with Congress including preparations for committee hearings, briefings for expert staff, liaison with members and their staff as well as other Executive Branch agencies, and state and local governments, especially written and oral presentation skills explaining complex technical and operational issues for less expert audiences.
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 (SF-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.
The materials you send with your application will not be returned.
Veterans' preference is not applicable to positions in the Senior Executive Service.
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.
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.
Selective Service - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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 Professional/Technical Qualification (PTQ) and each Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) listed. 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.
Please review the complete guide to writing executive qualifications at www.opm.gov/ses and use the Challenge, Context, Action, Result (CCAR) model to develop your statements.
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".
Qualified applicants will 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 selecting official. Applicants will be evaluated on the quality and extent of their total accomplishments, experience, the ECQs, and the PTQs.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
In addition to your online application, the following documents must be submitted and received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement:
1. Resume (uploaded as attachment or USAJOBS resume created with USAJOBS Resume Builder)
2. Narrative ECQ and PTQ statements (uploaded as an attachment or included in the online application.)
3. For SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) Graduates: You must submit your SESCDP OPM-Certification documentation.
4. Education: You must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Education's web site at http://www.ed.gov . You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
Applicants who fail to submit required documents WILL NOT receive consideration for this position. Application will result in an "Incomplete" rating.
If you are unable to upload documents, you may fax your documents using the instructions below. Please fax with the appropriate cover sheet. Please refer to the fax cover sheet for the fax number. Each document must be dialed and faxed in separately as each sheet includes an identification number, which ensures your document is processed correctly.
FAXING INSTRUCTIONS: Please fax legible documents using the appropriate coversheet. Documents may be faxed at any time during the open period of this announcement by going to http:/www.usajobs.opm.gov
1. Log into MYUSAJOBS
2. Click on "Applications"
3. Locate the vacancy you applied to
4. Under "Applicant Status" column, click on "More Information"
5. Select "View/Generate Fax Cover Sheet" and click "Continue"
Do not submit any additional information that is not required: Extraneous materials such as award certificates will not be considered.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the Monster Government Solutions system to complete your application process; answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying on-line for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please call the USA Staffing help desk at1-877-662-7730 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST (excluding Federal holidays) for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
As the Applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate.
A complete application package consists of the following:
1. Resume and responses to the online job questions submitted via this website.
Your resume should include the following information:
a. Your full name, mailing address (including zip code), and day and evening telephone numbers.
b. Paid and Non-paid job-related work experience.
For each job listed you are to provide:
(1) Job title
(2) Duties and accomplishments
(3) Employers' name and address
(4) Supervisor's name and phone number
(5) Starting and ending dates (month and year)
(6) Hours per week
(7) Salary
(8) If Federal; Title, Series, and grade/pay band
c. Education. Provide name, city and state of all schools attended; i.e., colleges and universities, vocational, trade, business, technical. Provide dates of attendance, major, and type and year of any degrees received. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, you may refer to the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
d. Other Job Related Qualifications Information: Provide training courses, special skills you possess, certificates and licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, etc., applicable to the position.
2. A narrative statement for each Executive Core and Professional/Technical Qualification. Failure to respond or address any of the Executive Core and Professional/Technical Qualifications marks an application as incomplete and incomplete applications WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED, resulting in an "INCOMPLETE" rating. Responses to ECQs must not exceed 10 pages.
3.For SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) Graduates: You must submit your SESCDP OPM-Certification documentation.
4. For current Senior Executives or individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility: You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your career appointment status in the SES.
5. For current Federal employees: You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your current tenure, position title, series and grade level.
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 the Executive Resources Office either by e-mail at hrd.executive.resources@census.gov, or by telephone at 301-763-3727. 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.
Census Executive Resources - All Directorates
4600 Silver Hill Road
Washington, DC 20233
US
Next steps
The Executive Resources Office will provide notification of applicant status through periodic emails at the four points of the hiring process, as applicable, in a timely fashion. The four points of notification are: Application Received; Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Not Met; Panel Rating of Best Qualified (Application referred to the Selecting Official) or Panel Rating of Qualified/Not Qualified (Application not referred to Selecting Official); and Selected or Not Selected.
Applicants can check the status of their application at any time after the announcement closes by accessing USAJOBS website.
Select "My USAJOBS" and enter your ID and password. Click the link titled "Applications" and select the link under "Application Status" next to the name of the announcement. Your status will be updated as changes occur. If you have any questions, you may contact the Executive Resources Office at hrd.executive.resources@census.gov, or by telephone at 301-763-3727.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
In addition to your online application, the following documents must be submitted and received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement:
1. Resume (uploaded as attachment or USAJOBS resume created with USAJOBS Resume Builder)
2. Narrative ECQ and PTQ statements (uploaded as an attachment or included in the online application.)
3. For SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) Graduates: You must submit your SESCDP OPM-Certification documentation.
4. Education: You must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Education's web site at http://www.ed.gov . You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
Applicants who fail to submit required documents WILL NOT receive consideration for this position. Application will result in an "Incomplete" rating.
If you are unable to upload documents, you may fax your documents using the instructions below. Please fax with the appropriate cover sheet. Please refer to the fax cover sheet for the fax number. Each document must be dialed and faxed in separately as each sheet includes an identification number, which ensures your document is processed correctly.
FAXING INSTRUCTIONS: Please fax legible documents using the appropriate coversheet. Documents may be faxed at any time during the open period of this announcement by going to http:/www.usajobs.opm.gov
1. Log into MYUSAJOBS
2. Click on "Applications"
3. Locate the vacancy you applied to
4. Under "Applicant Status" column, click on "More Information"
5. Select "View/Generate Fax Cover Sheet" and click "Continue"
Do not submit any additional information that is not required: Extraneous materials such as award certificates will not be considered.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the Monster Government Solutions system to complete your application process; answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying on-line for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please call the USA Staffing help desk at1-877-662-7730 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST (excluding Federal holidays) for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
As the Applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate.
A complete application package consists of the following:
1. Resume and responses to the online job questions submitted via this website.
Your resume should include the following information:
a. Your full name, mailing address (including zip code), and day and evening telephone numbers.
b. Paid and Non-paid job-related work experience.
For each job listed you are to provide:
(1) Job title
(2) Duties and accomplishments
(3) Employers' name and address
(4) Supervisor's name and phone number
(5) Starting and ending dates (month and year)
(6) Hours per week
(7) Salary
(8) If Federal; Title, Series, and grade/pay band
c. Education. Provide name, city and state of all schools attended; i.e., colleges and universities, vocational, trade, business, technical. Provide dates of attendance, major, and type and year of any degrees received. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, you may refer to the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
d. Other Job Related Qualifications Information: Provide training courses, special skills you possess, certificates and licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, etc., applicable to the position.
2. A narrative statement for each Executive Core and Professional/Technical Qualification. Failure to respond or address any of the Executive Core and Professional/Technical Qualifications marks an application as incomplete and incomplete applications WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED, resulting in an "INCOMPLETE" rating. Responses to ECQs must not exceed 10 pages.
3.For SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) Graduates: You must submit your SESCDP OPM-Certification documentation.
4. For current Senior Executives or individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility: You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your career appointment status in the SES.
5. For current Federal employees: You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your current tenure, position title, series and grade level.
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 the Executive Resources Office either by e-mail at hrd.executive.resources@census.gov, or by telephone at 301-763-3727. 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.
Census Executive Resources - All Directorates
4600 Silver Hill Road
Washington, DC 20233
US
Next steps
The Executive Resources Office will provide notification of applicant status through periodic emails at the four points of the hiring process, as applicable, in a timely fashion. The four points of notification are: Application Received; Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Not Met; Panel Rating of Best Qualified (Application referred to the Selecting Official) or Panel Rating of Qualified/Not Qualified (Application not referred to Selecting Official); and Selected or Not Selected.
Applicants can check the status of their application at any time after the announcement closes by accessing USAJOBS website.
Select "My USAJOBS" and enter your ID and password. Click the link titled "Applications" and select the link under "Application Status" next to the name of the announcement. Your status will be updated as changes occur. If you have any questions, you may contact the Executive Resources Office at hrd.executive.resources@census.gov, or by telephone at 301-763-3727.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
