The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary is responsible for ensuring the timely and effective implementation of directives from the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, and managing and directing the daily operations of NOAA's national and international operations for oceanic and atmospheric services, research, and coastal and marine stewardship.
Summary
The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary is responsible for ensuring the timely and effective implementation of directives from the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, and managing and directing the daily operations of NOAA's national and international operations for oceanic and atmospheric services, research, and coastal and marine stewardship.
The Senior Advisor for Capacity Building and External Engagement will lead, coordinate, align, and integrate activities related to advancing equity through NOAA's mission. The Senior Advisor will provide strategic guidance on the development and implementation of approaches to embed equity considerations across NOAA's policies, programs and processes, working with agency leadership and equity champions. This role will serve as a champion and change agent across the agency on issues pertaining to the investment in and advancement of equitable approaches to science, service, and stewardship and related issues. The opinions and positions of the incumbent contribute greatly towards the development of policies and programs within NOAA and other aligned scientific organizations. The incumbent serves as NOAA's lead liaison to public, private, educational, and international sectors in regards to NOAA's equity strategy.
This position will be critical in ensuring that NOAA's science, service and stewardship are reaching all communities, including those facing disproportionate social, economic, civic and environmental burdens from years of unjust policies. This position must help to create the structures, capacity and enabling environment to support more standardized approaches to policies, programs and processes grounded in equity. The results of the Senior Advisor's work will lead to greater accessibility of NOAA's products, services and grant opportunities, stronger and more trusting relationships between NOAA and underserved and vulnerable communities, and reforms to internal processes to embed more equitable approaches.
More specifically, the Senior Advisor will be responsible for the following:
Identify opportunities to advance equitable approaches to science, service and stewardship, lead goal setting, support problem solving, and create mechanisms for accountability of outcomes. Support, strengthen and champion existing efforts of line, staff and program offices, acting as a sounding board, making connections, and helping to remove barriers as appropriate.
Partner with agency leaders to develop and implement standardized practice grounded in equity (i.e., fiscal, operations, and other internal practices).
Identify and implement opportunities for training, learning and engagement to expand capacity at NOAA to advance equitable policies, programs and processes.
Establish and convene a cross-line office council or team to share knowledge and advance institutionalization of equitable approaches.
Champion, internally and externally, the successes of the equity efforts of the agency, as well as the ongoing challenges, in order to increase visibility and understanding.
Create opportunities to hear directly from NOAA partners, grantees and users specifically from underserved and vulnerable communities, to understand gaps, needs and priorities.
Partner with relevant agency leadership and equity champions to identify and counter racist and inequitable systems within the agency.
To meet the minimum requirements for this position, candidates must demonstrate their experience in their narrative responses to the Mandatory Professional/Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) questions and all narrative responses must be fully supported within their resume.
Experience must have been at a sufficiently high level of difficulty to clearly show that the candidate possesses the required professional/technical qualifications set forth below.
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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Professional Technical Qualifications: Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application materials that they possess technical attributes in the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs).
Key Requirements:
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
Newly appointed SL members must serve a 1 year probationary period.
Position is subject to pre-employment background investigation.
Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required).
Position is subject to random drug testing.
Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess all of the mandatory Professional Technical Qualifications listed below. These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in managing a comprehensive business program in a complex organization. An individual's total experience and education 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.
Professional Technical Core Qualifications (PTQs):
Leading, coordinating, aligning, and integrating activities related to advancing equity through NOAA's mission requires a demonstrable track record of advancing equity and anti-racist program and policy implementation and results at a large governmental or non-governmental institution, a proven commitment to pursuing equity, an informed perspective on applying an equitable approach in decision making and planning, and proven leadership and management experience. A successful candidate will also be a demonstrated team player with experience working collaboratively and building relationships at all levels of an organization and with external partners to achieve measurable outcomes.
Specific professional and technical qualifications are as follows: PTQ 1: Broad background in public policy, sociology, ethnic studies, public health, environmental justice, social work, public administration, or related field; Specific expertise in one or more critical areas, such as oceans, fisheries, climate, meteorology, and coastal resilience.
PTQ 2: Experience in policy advocacy, community organizing, or direct service delivery in areas of equity, environmental justice, or climate justice.
PTQ 3: Demonstrated ability influencing organizational change by working with diverse staff to promote trust, collaboration and partnership between different organizational units and levels of leadership.
NOTE: Responses to PTQs must not exceed 2 pages per PTQ, for a total of 6 pages.
Additional information
Background Investigation: This position is designated as Non-Critical Sensitive Secret and requires that a background investigation be conducted and favorably adjudicated in order to establish security eligibility.
Public 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 (OGE-278), within 30 days after his/her appointment, and then annually thereafter.
Qualifications Approval and Probationary Period: Persons newly selected for a career appointment to the Scientific and Professional (SL) will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. If an employee has completed their 1 full year probationary period requirement under the current position they were competitively selected for, and were selected for a SL appointment, they will not need to complete a new probationary period.
Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required by P.L. 104-134 to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
Drug Testing: Applicants tentatively selected for employment in any position are subject to designated and/or random pre-employment and employment urinalysis. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment and/or removed from employment with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.
Selective Service: Male applicants born after 12/31/1959, who are required to register with the Selective Service under section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act, must be registered (or must have registered at the time they were required to do so) in order to be eligible for appointment. For more information, visit the SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM web site at http://www.sss.gov/default.htm.
Veterans' preference: Veterans' preference applies to SL positions and will be applied accordingly: When category rating is used to fill a SL position, each veteran goes to the top of the quality category for which they are qualified. In practice, this means that veterans who qualify for the highest quality category will be the highest-ranked candidates.
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.
SSN: You will be required to enter your full social security number (SSN) only to initially access and create an account at the OPM USAJOBS website; however, only the last four digits will appear in your resume. 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.
Application materials: The materials you send with your application will not be returned.
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) listed. Please keep in mind each PTQ are unique qualifications. Therefore, duplicate responses are not sufficient in determining if you meet that specific qualification. Failure to submit a narrative statement or address any of the PTQs is also considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. As a result, you will be rated as "INCOMPLETE".
This category rating process does not add veteran's preference points or apply the 'rule of three', but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligible within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318 (b) are satisfied.
The servicing Human Resources Specialist will forward all minimally qualified applicants to be evaluated by an Executive Resources Board (ERB) rating panel of senior managers to determine the degree to which they possess the PTQs 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 appointing authority. Applicants will be evaluated on the quality and extent of their total accomplishments, experience and the PTQs.
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 PTQs is also considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. As a result, you will be rated as "INCOMPLETE".
Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:
-Best Qualified
-Well Qualified
-Qualified
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.
Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
1. Resume
2. 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.
3. PTQ narrative responses should be attached under "Professional Technical Qualifications".
4. Veterans: Your last DD214 (member 4 copy), Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, that shows the type of discharge and all dates of active duty is required to verify your eligibility.
If applying to a vacancy opened to all US Citizens under category rating and wish to be considered as a preference eligible, you need to submit a copy of your DD214 (member-4 copy).
If claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. An SF-15 is desired, but not required.
Veterans' Documentation: Please indicate on your resume the type of veterans' preference you are claiming and provide the appropriate supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.) to validate your claim. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please go to: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx
Sole Survivorship Documentation: If you are applying under Sole Survivorship preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 or another form of official documentation which shows your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008 and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.
5. Displaced Employees: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) and provide all of the following documents:
your most recent performance appraisal,
the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
Applicants who fail to submit requested documents and answer the mandatory questions 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 cover sheet. 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 do not have access to the internet, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.
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 USA Staffing 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.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USA JOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USA JOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USA JOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
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 until11:59 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 1-877-662-7730 Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 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.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 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 Kamilah Starks, the servicing Human Resources Specialist, either by e-mail atkamilah.starks@noaa.govor by telephone at 301-628-1844. 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.
NOAA Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS)
1315 East West Hwy
SSMC4
Silver Spring, MD 20910
US
Next steps
The Office of Executive Resources 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 Well Qualified/Qualified (Application not referred to Selecting Official); and Selected or Not Selected. The most best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified by email of the receipt of your application.
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 Human Resources Specialist at the telephone number listed in the announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
1. Resume
2. 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.
3. PTQ narrative responses should be attached under "Professional Technical Qualifications".
4. Veterans: Your last DD214 (member 4 copy), Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, that shows the type of discharge and all dates of active duty is required to verify your eligibility.
If applying to a vacancy opened to all US Citizens under category rating and wish to be considered as a preference eligible, you need to submit a copy of your DD214 (member-4 copy).
If claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. An SF-15 is desired, but not required.
Veterans' Documentation: Please indicate on your resume the type of veterans' preference you are claiming and provide the appropriate supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.) to validate your claim. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please go to: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx
Sole Survivorship Documentation: If you are applying under Sole Survivorship preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 or another form of official documentation which shows your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008 and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.
5. Displaced Employees: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) and provide all of the following documents:
your most recent performance appraisal,
the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
Applicants who fail to submit requested documents and answer the mandatory questions 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 cover sheet. 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 do not have access to the internet, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.
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 USA Staffing 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.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USA JOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USA JOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USA JOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
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 until11:59 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 1-877-662-7730 Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 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.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 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 Kamilah Starks, the servicing Human Resources Specialist, either by e-mail atkamilah.starks@noaa.govor by telephone at 301-628-1844. 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.
NOAA Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS)
1315 East West Hwy
SSMC4
Silver Spring, MD 20910
US
Next steps
The Office of Executive Resources 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 Well Qualified/Qualified (Application not referred to Selecting Official); and Selected or Not Selected. The most best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified by email of the receipt of your application.
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 Human Resources Specialist at the telephone number listed in the announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
