Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens.

The Office of the Senior Procurement Executive (OSPE) is responsible for ensuring that the Department’s acquisition business processes operate efficiently and effectively and are responsive to the needs of their customers and the advancement of DOT’s strategic goals.

The Deputy Senior Procurement Executive is responsible for developing departmental acquisition and administration policies and procedures, developing, evaluating and enhancing the business strategies that the Department uses, providing the necessary professional assistance for effective implementation of these policies and strategies and supporting the Department’s Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) in carrying out his/her responsibilities for overseeing the management of the  acquisitions and business processes.

The Deputy Senior Procurement Executive will:

• Provide guidance to senior officials relative to the procurement and acquisition’s program, providing advice, counsel and assistance to management and program officials in developing, implementing, and evaluating program plans, strategies, program announcements, guidelines, and procedures relative to the acquisition programs and resolve issues in areas of overlapping responsibility such as value engineering, suspension and debarment, and other transactions.
• Along with the SPE, be accountable for the development, issuance, assessment, and review of the Department’s overarching acquisition policy and oversight framework. Advises the SPE and other senior officials on strategic alternatives for policy development.
• Provide guidance to policy developers as they implement changes required by statute or regulation and reviews policy implementation for consistency with DOT’s strategic direction and the latest acquisition practices.
• Review proposed legislation and Government-wide directives which impact on acquisition practices and drafts departmental responses on such proposals. Develop and coordinate proposals for legislative and regulatory reform for acquisition and identify opportunities for regulatory or legislative changes and coordinate proposals both within DOT and with other Government agencies.   
• Provide functional acquisition subject matter expertise in support of acquisition reporting requirements/implementations.
• Develop a comprehensive acquisition management system of policies, procedures, guidelines, protocol and requirements.
• Keep abreast of relevant acquisition management statutory requirements, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Provide advice and guidance on acquisition policy matters within OST.
• Provide oversight on the development and implementation of a professionalism program for the acquisition work force with the goal of transforming DOT’s acquisition work force into business leaders.  Establish standards for career advancement and minimum training requirements.  Work with the DOT operating administrations to assess and meet the needs of the acquisition work force.  Support Government-wide acquisition workforce initiatives. Develop training and qualification standards for both procurement professionals and program officials who are part of the acquisition work force.
• Provide oversight of the management of the Department’s $200 million purchase card program. Ensure purchase cards are being used appropriately and make changes to policies and procedures when necessary to improve the operation of the program.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Provide all required documents by closing date.
• A Secret clearance is required.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Complete a one-year SES probationary period (unless already completed).
• TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework.  The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), you must clearly articulate and describe within your five (5) page resume evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity.  Your resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to perform the duties of this position and meet the mandatory Technical Qualification(s) and Managerial Executive Core Qualifications listed below.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Below are the descriptions of the mandatory technical qualifications for this position. Your five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet these technical qualifications. 

1. Demonstrated experience developing and interpreting concepts, principles, practices, policies, rules and regulations as they relate to procurement operations and programs in accordance with applicable laws, statutes, OMB Circulars, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Prior experience must reflect responsibility for both pre-and post-award management and administration.

2. Ability to identify effective and efficient business strategies for acquiring supplies and services to meet complex customer needs utilizing knowledge of supplier industries and technologies and customer programs and businesses. Demonstrated expertise in overseeing major Federal acquisitions.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Below are descriptions of the mandatory ECQs that are required for all SES positions. Your  five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the 5 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. Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision
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. Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building
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. Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management
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. Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating

FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation.

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 and executive resumes.

How you will be evaluated

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

A Senior Executive Service (SES) reviewing panel will evaluate your application based on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education. Applicants determined to be highly qualified may undergo multiple interviews.  The best qualified applicant will be asked to submit a written 10-page narrative statement addressing each of the ECQ areas (Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, Building Coalitions). If selected, your written narrative statement addressing the ECQs must be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB), unless you are a current SES executive or have successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program. You must receive certification before you can be appointed to the position.

All applications must be completed and submitted electronically no later than midnight ET of the closing date. Final reviews will be performed after the announcement closing, and timely notice of the status of your application will be emailed to you. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and selecting Application Status.