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Executive Director for Modernization / Chief Innovation Officer

Department of Homeland Security
Transportation Security Administration
Administrator / Modernization

Summary

The Executive Director, TSA Modernization, serves as a principal advisor and strategic leader to the TSA Administrator and Deputy Administrator. This executive is responsible for advancing TSA's transformation into a high-performing, innovative, and adaptable counterterrorism organization.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Salary
$151,661 - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
SW 1
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
HQ-ADM-26-95769-ERD
Control number
880162900

Duties

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The Executive Director for Modernization/Chief Innovation Officer leads the development and execution of TSA modernization initiatives, including the GoldPlus concept; leads TSA's enterprise innovation program;and fosters collaboration across TSA, DHS, and industry stakeholders to achieve strategic and operational goals.
High level duties include:

  • Leading agency-wide modernization and innovation initiatives that advance the goals and objectives of the TSA Strategy, Administrator's Intent, and other Administrator priorities.
  • Representing TSA in executive-level and senior interagency meetings, forums, and engagements to promote alignment, coordination, and integration of modernization and innovation efforts across TSA and with external partners.
  • Planning, directing, and coordinating broad, highly complex projects and initiatives that span organizational boundaries and support TSA's strategic and operational objectives.
  • Overseeing the execution of modernization and innovation initiatives, ensuring timely delivery, resource optimization, measurable progress, and achievement of desired outcomes.
  • Directing efforts related to the Screening Partnership Program (SPP) and GoldPlus, enabling effective private contractors to manage staffing, technology, equipment, and operations at checkpoints.
  • Overseeing integration of advanced AI-driven threat detection and remote screening technology to enhance passenger experience, reduce operating costs, and improve screening efficiency.
  • Maintaining federal security standards and oversight while facilitating private sector innovation.
  • Facilitating cross-organizational processes that encourage creative thinking and provide avenues for employees and stakeholders to submit innovative ideas.
  • Capturing entrepreneurial ideas and innovative practices throughout TSA, strategizing with senior leaders and program offices to transform concepts into actionable solutions.
  • Driving organizational change management efforts to support modernization initiatives and innovation efforts across the agency.
  • Communicating strategic vision, implementing progress, outcomes, and lessons learned to internal and external stakeholders, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  1. Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. Must serve a probationary period of one year unless you previously completed the probationary period in a SES/TSES position.
  3. Must complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  4. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  5. Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  6. Must file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  7. Must complete a favorable Tier 5 Background Investigation (T5).
  8. This position requires a TS/SCI (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information) clearance that must be completed prior to appointment.
  9. You will be subject to a 5-year periodic investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance. Failure to obtain and maintain the required clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents: If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) related to this position within your resume. Your resume MAY NOT EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit will be deemed ineligible and will not receive further consideration. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-BASED. Therefore, evidence of each ECQ and TQ must be CLEARLY REFLECTED in your resume.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the following technical qualifications.

1. Demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategies, policies, programs, or operational improvements that enhance organizational performance, strengthen mission effectiveness, promote innovation, and align workforce, technology, processes, and resources with modernization goals.

2. Demonstrated experience in scouting market trends and aligning innovative practices to achieve strategic objectives and deliver the mission of a large, complex organization.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES)/Transportation Security Executive Service (TSES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect the the ECQs and TQs, you will not receive further consideration for the position.

ECQ 1 - COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDING. This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2 - DRIVING EFFICIENCY. This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 - MERIT AND COMPETENCE. This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 - LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5 - ACHIEVING RESULTS. This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

NOTE: If you are a member of the SES/TSES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES/TSES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES/TSES.

FAILURE TO MEET OR FULLY ADDRESS EACH EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATION AND TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS IN THE RESUME WILL ELIMINATE A CANDIDATE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

Education

This position does not have a positive education requirement.

Additional information

  • The TSA, an excepted service agency, was established by Public Law 107-71, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), on November 19, 2001. ATSA provides TSA with the authority to modify and develop its own human capital program, provided such modifications are consistent with 49 USC 40122.
  • This is an excepted service position. However, there is an interchange agreement with the OPM and TSA that enables Career TSES members who have been approved by the Qualifications Review Board at OPM to qualify for Senior Executive Service (SES) positions without additional competition.
  • You will be required to serve a probationary period of one year unless you previously completed the probationary period in a SES/TSES position.
  • When you enter on duty, you will be required to complete a Public Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 278. You will need to provide this information annually.
  • Veteran's Preference is not applicable to the SES/TSES.
  • Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES/TSES leaders. Individuals selected for SES/TSES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Mobility Agreement.
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm.
  • Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES/TSES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES/TSES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES/TSES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES/TSES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES/TSES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES/TSES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Transportation Security Administration

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. Make an impact; join DHS.

Agency contact information

Executive Resources
Email
ExecutiveResources@tsa.dhs.gov
Address
Executive Resources
DO NOT MAIL
Springfield, VA 22150
US

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