Clarification from the agency

All Qualified Civil Service Employees: The "civil service" consists of all persons who occupy positions in the executive (includes excepted service), judicial, and legislative branches. Included are experts and consultants who occupy appointive positions, individuals in the Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission. SES reinstatement eligibles outside the civil service and SESCDP graduates with noncompetitive eligibility may also apply for noncompetitive consideration for this position.

The Chief Information Officer (CIO)/Assistant Director (AD) position functions as a trusted partner and expert advisor to the Director, Deputy Director, and other Executives with the identification, development, implementation, and support of technologies and applications which add significant value to transform or support program operations related to the FLETC and DHS's mission, goals, and objectives. This position also advises the Director and Deputy Director on significant and sensitive issues impacting the FLETC, its relationship with other components within DHS, over 90 Partner Organizations (POs), and the community. Typical assignments include:

• Providing executive direction and oversight of the directorate through a Deputy Chief Information Officer / Deputy Assistant Director and subordinate management staff.
• Ensuring that organizational strategic and tactical goals and objectives are developed, communicated, managed, and performed effectively, as well as ensuring FLETC, DHS Headquarters, and customer expectations and program requirements are met.
• Providing executive oversight and responsibility and accountability for formulating, planning, developing, acquiring, implementing, and supporting enterprise-wide mission support functions to include: IT operations and support, Network Operations Security Center (NOSC) activities, IT asset life-cycle management, system modernizations and enhancement activities, cybersecurity activities, information and technology accessibility activities, information resource management activities, and IT acquisition management activities. Principle areas of technology-based enterprise-wide responsibilities are voice communications, radio communications, wired/wireless data communications, network infrastructure, data center operations, data management, end-user support, software license management, applications integration/ support, database development/support, web services, cloud-based IT systems, video teleconferencing, audio/visual systems, mobile device management, electronic training systems, and other technology-driven operational systems.
• Serving as the primary advisor for FLETC's IT operations and support, IT systems/program management, cybersecurity, information and technology accessibility, information resource management, and IT acquisition management activities for the implications of policy and program decisions from higher echelons, as well as the impact and expectations regarding the laws and implementation guidance.
• Developing and advocating a culture of conscientious stewardship with regard to FLETC assets and human capital resources.
• Ensuring risk management principles and practices are used to make program management decisions and effective internal controls are developed, tested, implemented, and regularly re-assessed for effectiveness.
• Representing FLETC on IT matters related to the interest of the FLETC, DHS, the law enforcement community, Executive and Judicial Branch agencies, committees, congressional members, and the local communities.
• Assuring that the interests of FLETC are represented in councils, working groups, steering committees, and other similar groups which manifest as a result of continued evolution. This position directs the development and presentation of FLETC responses to inquiries from DHS, Congress, and other entities, and collaborates with other FLETC senior executives to ensure successful interaction with related programs and operations of other organizational elements of FLETC and POs; and chairs and represents FLETC as the principle advisor on IT operations and support, NOSC activities, cybersecurity activities, information and technology accessibility activities, information resource management activities, and IT acquisition management issues for a wide variety of committee, task forces, intradepartmental teams, interdepartmental teams, federal special project groups, and other working groups.
• Leading transformational enterprise-wide activities through the adoption/creation of innovative technology-based solutions which integrate key FLETC and DHS strategic priorities and performance goals.
• Pursuing National Archive and Records Administration (NARA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and DHS records and information management goals and objectives by aligning FLETC's records and information management activities with those of the agency to ensure the protection and maintenance of FLETC's official records and to be responsive to the public's request for FLETC information.
• Pursuing OMB and DHS Office of Accessible Systems and Technology accessibility goals and objectives by aligning FLETC's information and technology accessibility (Section 508) activities with those of the agency to ensure that FLETC information and technologies are accessible to FLETC staff, law enforcement students, and the public who have physical disabilities.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to be considered for this position.
• You will be required to undergo pre-employment and random drug screening.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Selectee will be required to complete form OGE-278, Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Form.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain Top Secret/SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) security clearance.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You will serve a one-year probationary period unless you previously completed the probationary period in the SES.
• Position is eligible for situational-only telework based on agency policy.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.
• Position requires a signed mobility agreement to relocate as necessary.
• Work during weekends and federal holidays may be required.
• Overtime may be required.
• Emergency Essential position required to sustain operations under all conditions such as in the event of a localized emergency situation and/or to ensure Continuity of Operations for Mission Essential Functions or Primary Mission Essential Functions.

Qualifications

All applicants must meet the qualification requirements listed below by the closing date of this announcement.

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial 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-15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or nongovernmental organizations. 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;
• Supervising the work of employees; and
• Exercising important policymaking, policy determining, or other executive functions.

The application process to recruit for this position is the TRADITIONAL-BASED method. The applicant must address each Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) separately. For guidance in preparing a narrative statement addressing ECQs, please access OPM's website by clicking here.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs):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 (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) 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. 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; supervising the work of employees; and exercising important policy-making, policy determining, or other executive functions.

Applicants are encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action and Result (C-C-A-R) model outlined in the guide at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf.

• CHALLENGE: Describe a specific problem or goal.
• CONTEXT: Describe individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to address a particular challenge (e.g., clients, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale).
• ACTION: Describe the specific actions you took to address a challenge.
• RESULT: Describe specific examples of measures/outcomes that had impact on the organization. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.

Your narrative response should not exceed 10 pages, be typed in 12-point font with one-inch margins. (Draft your ECQs in a Word document before uploading into the system to ensure these guidelines are met.) Information that exceeds these guidelines will not be reviewed. Detailed information on each ECQ, the underlying and fundamental competencies, sample narratives and a tips sheet for writing effective ECQs are available in the "Guide To Senior Executive Service Qualifications" Senior Executive Service Executive Core Qualifications and Senior Executive Service Qualifications & Fundamental-Competencies.

Unless you are currently serving under a Career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or a graduate of an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP), you must address the ECQs. Your narrative must address each ECQ separately and demonstrate the underlying competencies in the narrative. Examples should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities; the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services you managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues you addressed; and the results of your actions. You should use action-oriented leadership words to describe your experience and accomplishments and quantify your experience wherever possible to demonstrate your accomplishments (e.g., number of employees supervised; size of budget managed; amount of money saved, etc.).

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ)s: In addition to the Executive Core Qualifications, all candidates must show evidence of the following MTQs below in order to meet basic qualifications for this position. Please label and include your name on each page. Please give examples and explain how often you used your skills, the complexity of the knowledge possessed, the level of people you interacted with, the sensitivity of the issues you handled managing a large public or private sector organization that administers complex, rules-based benefits or services, etc. It is recommended that you draft your MTQ(s) in a word document and then upload into the system. You must address each MTQ separately and you should not exceed 2 pages per MTQ. You are required to respond to all MTQs. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as 'ineligible.'

MTQ 1. Possesses demonstrated leadership experience in the management of network infrastructure, IT support services, cybersecurity, datacenter/cloud services, telephony, and radio communications systems.

MTQ 2. Ability to effectively define and achieve enterprise-level strategy for the acquisition, integration, and use of IT systems. Background includes providing authoritative statements, organizational positions, and expert-level advice to executive leadership on strategic and tactical IT issues. Significant experience with life-cycle planning of IT assets resulting in the seamless recapitalization of end-of-life assets or the acquisition of new and innovative capabilities which match strategic objectives. Additionally, must possess the ability to plan for the use and integration of artificial intelligence to deliver both mission-specific requirements and mainstream administrative support functions.

MTQ 3. Background indicates demonstrated expert knowledge of principles, methods, and techniques used in information management, records management, Section 508 accessibility requirements, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) compliance.

DO NOT COMBINE THE MTQ AND ECQ STATEMENTS. Failure to meet the basic qualification requirement and address all Mandatory Technical and Executive Core Qualification factors will result in your application being disqualified.

How you will be evaluated

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

A multi-step process is used to evaluate and refer applicants:

1. Minimum requirements: Your application must show that you meet all requirements including the education and/or experience required for this position. You may be rated "not qualified" if you do not possess the qualification requirements for the position. If your application is incomplete, you may be found "ineligible".

2. Rating and Ranking: A panel of subject matter experts will review your application and evaluate your qualifications for this position based on the information in your application. Your application will be rated, based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of this position. Interviews will be at the discretion of the panel and/or selecting official.

3. Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to a selecting official for consideration and possible interview.

Your supporting documents are an integral part of the process for determining your qualifications for the position. If your responses are not supported by your resume, you will be eliminated from consideration. After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, if a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Incomplete or late applications will not receive further consideration.

The application process to recruit for this position is the TRADITIONAL-BASED method. You must address each ECQ separately, providing two examples per ECQ, and limit your statements to no more than two pages per ECQ, totaling no more than ten pages addressing all ECQs. Combine all ECQ responses into 1 document (i.e., all narratives in 1 PDF or Word document). Additionally, you must address each MTQ separately, and you should not exceed two pages per MTQ, typed in 12-point font with one-inch margins. You are required to respond to all MTQs. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as 'ineligible." DO NOT COMBINE THE MTQ AND ECQ STATEMENTS.

Unless you have already been certified by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past, your ECQs must be certified by the QRB before appointment can occur.