Clarification from the agency

This job is open to Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) applicants only. See the eligibility section in the questionnaire for full details regarding CTAP eligibility and the How You Will Be Evaluated section below for more details. The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Bessemer, AL. This includes all locations that fall within a 50 mile driving distance from 700 Memorial Drive, Bessemer, AL 35022.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Determines overarching objectives for the Directorate, identifies suitable strategies to achieve them, and then initiates, directs, and sets goals for projects and activities according to these objectives. Plans programs from start to completion and monitoring deadlines, assigning resources, and developing milestones and processes.
• Formulates, organizes, and monitors inter-connected projects and coordinating cross-project activities with internal T&I, VEO or external teams throughout VA.
• Leads and evaluates the work of the Associate Directors, project managers and other staff, including providing strategic direction and specific guidance, resolving higher scope issues, and assessing program performance towards achieving Directorate goals and objectives.
• Develops and controls deadlines, budgets, and activities; assesses and mitigates program risks, including ensuring change management approaches are used and resources needs are met or adjusted per organizational priorities.
• Prepares and delivers reports, briefings, and memos for Office and VA leadership on work progress and needs.
• Incumbent acts as a catalyst for the T&I Directorate, understanding and supporting the challenges associated with organizational change by proactively identifying and engaging with internal and external leaders and organizations. Develops coalitions, information networks, partnerships, and seek and nurture opportunities for integration and collaboration throughout the VA.
• Incumbent identifies and enlists allies in the organizational transformation process by generating support through communications and outreach. Incumbent envisions and articulates the intended results of initiatives developed and implemented by the Directorate, developing strategies for reaching relevant stakeholders and enlisting their support and buy in to achieve goals.
• Accurately assesses the potential barriers and resources necessary for change initiatives, providing resources, removing barriers, and advocating for those initiating change. Leads the strategic development of communications messages, materials, and programs and elevating the Directorate's internal and external profile. Responsible for developing a consistent internal and external Directorate messaging strategy that is reflected across all product and service programs, as well as internal and external communications.
• Ensures that relevant stakeholders receive the strategic and tactical communications advice and support required around key initiatives, especially Public Affairs Officers, the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, and congressional liaisons, through regular updates and communications.
• Directly supervises four Associate Directors. Develops job descriptions and assigns work. Formulates performance standards, conducts evaluations, and initiates personnel actions. Recommends hiring of new employees, transfers, promotions, salary actions, terminations, performance management and budget recommendations.
• Establishes and sustains working relationships and partnerships with the Department's major labor organizations, including regular and ad hoc communications and information sharing. Represents T&I as an expert in formal bargaining discussions.
• Oversees and reviews required Directorate operations and processes, including time and attendance, travel, budgets, and others, as managed and completed by the Administrative Officer.
• Develops or approves budgets for operations. Performs other duties as assigned

Conditions of employment

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/02/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.


Grade Requirement: IAW 5 CFR 330.607, CTAP eligible applicants must hold at least a GS-15 or equivalent grade (determined by your representative rate) in their permanent position of record by the closing date of this announcement. This must be supported by the SF-50 submitted. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify.


Driver's License: Must possess a valid driver's license.


You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-14 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Experience managing day-to-day operations/personnel for the office
  • Providing strategic direction and specific guidance
  • Resolving higher-scope issues and assessing program performance towards established goals and objectives
  • Developing long-range, mid-range, and short-range strategic planning through analytical studies and performance assessment
  • Assessing the potential barriers and resources necessary for change initiatives.

• Analytical Reasoning
• Communications
• Leadership
• Strategic Thinking

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Typical Office work not requiring special physical demands. Work environment should be ergonomically appropriate. The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Incumbent may be required to stand and lead presentations for a length of time, each week. Incumbent will be required to have a valid driver's license to visit multiple locations within the regional area of responsibility. Travel is required, estimated at 25%-50%.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be found well qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Leads and manages day-to-day operations of a complex organization or directorate, including supervising senior-level staff, setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Develops, integrates, and executes comprehensive long-range, mid-range, and short-range strategic plans grounded in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, environmental scanning, and performance evaluation metrics; aligns strategic priorities with enterprise goals, anticipates emerging risks and opportunities, and adjusts planning frameworks to ensure sustained organizational effectiveness and measurable mission impact.
• Provides authoritative executive-level leadership and strategic counsel on program direction, policy formulation and implementation, and enterprise-wide operational decisions; synthesizes complex, cross-functional considerations; resolves high-visibility and high-risk issues with significant organizational impact; and ensures alignment across multiple divisions, stakeholders, and governing requirements to advance mission outcomes.
• Directs and evaluates large-scale programs or initiatives involving stakeholder engagement, change management, strategic communications, labor relations, or public affairs functions.
• Establishes and sustains collaborative partnerships and coalitions with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders and labor organizations, and represents the organization in formal discussions or negotiations.
• Develops and oversees program budgets, timelines, performance metrics, and risk mitigation strategies, ensuring effective resource management and successful implementation of change initiatives.
• Conducts enterprise-wide organizational assessments to identify systemic barriers, operational inefficiencies, cultural impediments, and resource gaps affecting strategic change initiatives; designs and implements integrated change management strategies; optimizes allocation of financial, human, and technological resources; and leads large-scale transformation efforts to improve service delivery, stakeholder trust, and overall organizational performance.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Bessemer, AL. This includes all locations that fall within a 50 mile driving distance from 700 Memorial Drive, Bessemer, AL 35022.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.


Structured Resume Review. Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume, starting at your work experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.


Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.


Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be contacted for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Area of Consideration: Eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Bessemer, AL. This includes all locations that fall within a 50 mile driving distance from 700 Memorial Drive, Bessemer, AL 35022.