Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all qualified candidates.

• Serves as a senior advisor to the Administrator on policy matters, advises and counsels the Deputy Administrator and Administrator and shares fully in responsibilities for advising and counseling other key official.
• Serves as a principal advisor to the Deputy, represents and speaks for Deputy Administrator on policy matters and operating problems relating to programs, and supports the Deputy Administrator in overall program planning and review.
• Shares fully with Administrator and key officials in formulating, implementing, and effectively administering RBCS policies, plans, and objectives needed to carry out the functions required for successful program administration.
• Provides expert managerial leadership to key field officials Agency-wide. Schedules and conducts conferences, trainings, and meetings. Exercises delegated loan approval authority on cases requiring National Office prior clearance.
• Provides direct supervision of the Program Operations Division and direction to Division Directors and their subordinate staffs, as assigned by the Deputy Administrator.
• Provides expert leadership and direction to subordinates for the formulation, installation, and daily technical guidance of program operations carried out in each respective functional area.
• Evaluates performance of Division Directors, receives evaluations by Division Directors on their subordinate staff, makes selection for supervisory positions, hears employee grievances and complaints, and reviews serious disciplinary problems.
• Develops and maintains relationships, and liaison with Congress, key USDA officials, and representatives of other Federal, State, and local agencies, outside organizations, private credit sources, public interest groups, and the public.
• Is accountable for providing executive direction and expert leadership and contributes in the formulation, execution, meeting and evaluating of progress towards long-range objectives.
• Serves as a focal point in the development of reviews and studies to provide specialists with operating program information essential to the development of internal policy and program decisions.
• Assures review of legislation, executive orders, and other regulations to ascertain implication of proposed provisions on operations, to recommend program operations policy, and establish operations processes.
• In concert with Staff Directors, assigns major segments of the overall RBCS program and gives continuing attention to the objective of assuring maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
• Is responsible for ensuring program staff in the field are properly trained and knowledgeable on subject matters appropriate to their positions; and are kept aware of RBCS and administration activities, priorities, goals, and objectives.
• Is responsible for overseeing effective and efficient delivery of programs, ensuring that appropriated funds are allocated properly and within the guidelines and according to priorities set by the administration.
• Is responsible for implementing programs, executing operating policy, coordinating program activities, and continuously evaluating the progress toward achieving immediate objectives.
• Gives technical direction and leadership to studies of present policies and program operations.
• Initiates new or revised policies, system and operating practices and provides executive direction of regulatory and operational releases and practices in the program area with related operation of other USDA agencies and Federal organizations
• Provides technical leadership, training, and guidance to RBCS officials and key members of their staffs regarding the financial functions of RBCS.
• Directs a continuing program for analysis and evaluation of financial programs operations to assure detection of inadequacies and inconsistencies. Institutes corrective measures and assures follow-through is required to promote greater efficiency.
• Oversees regular reviews of the RBCS portfolio, including risk assessment, monitoring of delinquencies, and exposure to fraud and abuse.

Conditions of employment

• Veterans Preference is not applicable in the Senior Executive Service.
• Initial appointments are required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
• Narrative Statements for the ECQs must not exceed 10 pages.
• Background Investigation required.

Qualifications

YOU MUST UPLOAD YOUR RESPONSES TO THE EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs) AND TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs).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-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. As such, your resume should demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in most SES positions such as:

- Directing the work of an organizational unit- Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects;

- Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance and taking action to improve performance; and

- Supervising the work of employees; and exercising important policy-making, policy determining, or other executive functions.

Failure to meet the basic qualification requirement and address all Mandatory Technical and Executive Core Qualification factors will result in your application being disqualified. 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. All applicants must submit a written narrative to address the ECQs. Your narrative must address each ECQ separately and should contain at least two examples per ECQ describing your experiences and accomplishments/results. The narrative should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy Initiatives undertaken and the results of your actions. Applicants should not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer.

The narrative must not exceed 10 pages. NOTE: Current career SES members, former career SES members with reinstatement eligibility, and SES Candidate Development Program graduates who have been certified by OPM do NOT need to address the ECQs.

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)

Fundamental Competencies: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Continual Learning, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Public Service Motivation. The Fundamental Competencies are crosscutting; and should be addressed over the course of each ECQ narratives. It is not necessary for you to address the Fundamental Competencies directly as long as the narrative, in its totality, shows mastery of these competencies on the whole.

Applicants are encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action and Result (C-C-A-R) model outlined in the guide.

Challenge- Describe a specific problem or goal.

Context - Describe the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to address a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale).

Action - Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge.

Result - Give specific examples of measures/outcomes that had some impact on the organization. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.

Additional information about the SES and Executive Core Qualifications can be found on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) SES Website. You are strongly encouraged to review OPMs Guide to SES Qualifications for specific examples and guidance on writing effective ECQ narrative statements.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): All applicants must submit a written narrative response to the following TQs. You must address each TQ separately. Each TQ narratives must not exceed two (2) pages. Please give examples and explain the complexity of the knowledge possessed and the sensitivity of the issued you handled.1. The incumbent will have demonstrated executive experience in leading and implementing significant financial assistance programs and policy initiatives. This includes extensive knowledge of grant, loan, and loan guarantee programs, including those that provide technical assistance.2. The incumbent will have demonstrated executive experience in leading significant economic development programs impacting economic opportunity and wealth creation in rural America.

1. The incumbent will have demonstrated executive experience in leading and implementing significant financial assistance programs and policy initiatives. This includes an extensive knowledge of grant, loan, and loan guarantee programs, including those that provide technical assistance.

2. The incumbent will have demonstrated executive experience in leading significant economic development programs impacting economic opportunity and wealth creation in rural America. This includes knowledge of and experience with the oversight and monitoring of appropriated funds to ensure they are allocated properly and providing leadership and direction to subordinates.

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.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12186389