Clarification from the agency

You must complete the application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. This Senior Executive Service job is open to: U.S. Citizens (all qualified U.S. Citizens).

The incumbent serves as FEMA's Chief Technology Officer and is responsible for: leading the agency’s technology strategy, overseeing engineering and architecture; setting direction and in some cases building a wide variety of mission, business, and enterprise agency-wide systems; providing expert technical guidance, best practices, tooling, advisory services and investment and initiative planning in support of the technology and business needs of FEMA and its customers. In conjunction with the Chief Information Officer (CIO), has oversight responsibilities for technology and innovation strategy.

Oversees and manages the assessment of new technologies and the identification and analysis of emerging IT requirements to ensure support of stakeholder needs and compliance with policies, directives, and standards.

Creates and sustains a fast-paced, agile, nimble environment with an emphasis on process automation. Is deeply familiar with agile development, DevOps methodology, and cloud infrastructure with experience leveraging them to add value to the business of the agency and its customers.

Incumbent is a key advisor to both the Deputy CIO and the CIO on technology matters. The incumbent drives innovation in architecture and technology to advance the mission. As a representative of the CIO, and as directed, speaks authoritatively in meetings with the FEMA senior leadership, representatives of other government agencies, state and local officials, and other outside groups.

EMERGENCY ASSIGNMENT: Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required.
• If selected, a one-year SES Probationary period may be required.
• Filing of (OGE-278) - Public Financial Disclosure.
• You must be able to obtain/maintain a Top Secret (SCI) clearance.
• This position is subject to random drug testing.

Failure to meet the basic qualification requirement and all Technical and Executive Core Qualification factors automatically disqualifies an applicant.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Technical Qualifications and Executive Core 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.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show in your resume that you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Technical Qualifications (TQs) listed below.

We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions.

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-ONLY. Although you should not address the ECQs or TQs separately, evidence of each must be clearly reflected in your resume. 

Any information in excess of 5 pages WILL NOT be considered.

A sample 5-page resume that incorporates ECQs and TQs can be viewed on this link (indexed at page 29 - 37): http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS – MANDATORY

1. Expert knowledge and demonstrated leadership of enterprise-wide information technology (IT) systems for a large, complex organization, to include budget and investment management; major software application design and development leveraging agile practices; product & project management; infrastructure, network, and systems engineering; the software and systems engineering lifecycles; and information system security and assurance, as well as the ability to perform resource analysis, data validation, and information delivery for complex technology systems. This includes strong hands-on experience working in a cloud environment (including Infrastructure, Platform, and Software as a Service offerings) and a deep understanding of cloud infrastructure, operations, and monitoring/observability. 

2. Expertise in leveraging targeted sourcing and recruiting to build and lead a modern technology organization representing a range of technical skills, including a digital service team (i.e., combined product, engineering, design, human centered design, customer experience etc.), through agile practices, data, and user experience research. Experience leveraging objectives and key results (OKRs), key performance indicators (KPIs), or similar vehicles to hold themselves and their organization responsible for outcomes. Proven leadership by working through managers and team leads to build teams, drive performance, leverage diversity, coach others, and plan succession. Experience developing and leading analysis of alternatives, business cases, cost-benefit analysis, and risk analysis in both a steady ¬state and operationally active environment, resulting in sound budget and investment management.

3. Expertise in conducting benchmarking to ensure modern technology, architectural, and engineering best practices are implemented. Demonstrated history of identifying strategic needs, developing strategic partnerships, breaking down barriers, and gaining buy-in from executive level partners and senior leadership, resulting in a compelling technical vision that supports the business strategy, then driving the vision by delivering positive business impacts, products, and outcomes throughout the process.

Applicants currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by OPM are not required to address the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs); but a narrative statement for each of the Technical Qualifications (TQs) is recommended.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs):

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 to this ECQ is the 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 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.

ECQ 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.

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.

Additional information on the Executive Core Qualifications is available at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/qualify.asp.

The following categories of applicants may omit the mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), but the Technical Qualifications must be addressed within your Resume:

• Applicants who are currently serving under a SES career appointment (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50--Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES).
• Applicants who are eligible for reinstatement to the SES (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50--Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES).
• Applicants who are graduates of OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Programs (must provide proof of OPM Qualifications Review Board certification). 

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 and experience. Your application will be evaluated by an internal rating and ranking panel. Highly qualified candidates may undergo an interview and a reference check. Unless you have already been previously certified by a Qualifications Review Board (QRB), your Executive Core Qualifications must be certified by an OPM-sponsored QRB prior to appointment. 

All required application materials will be reviewed to determine if applicants meet the mandatory qualification requirements. Qualification and experience determinations will be based only on the information supplied by the applicant. The best-qualified candidates for this position will be distinguished from other applicants by an evaluation committee to determine the degree to which qualification requirements are met.  Applicants should provide specific evidence of possession of the mandatory Technical and Executive Core Qualifications, as outlined under Qualifications Criteria, to assist the evaluation committee in determining the best-qualified candidates that will be considered for final selection.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.