The Department of the Interior is seeking highly qualified candidates for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Assistant Director, Office of Conservation Investment (OCI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located in Washington, D.C.
The Department classifies SES positions by category to establish minimum pay levels. This position is designated as Category 4, with a minimum annual salary of $186,207.
Veterans' preference does not apply to positions in the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Summary
The Department of the Interior is seeking highly qualified candidates for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Assistant Director, Office of Conservation Investment (OCI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located in Washington, D.C.
The Department classifies SES positions by category to establish minimum pay levels. This position is designated as Category 4, with a minimum annual salary of $186,207.
Veterans' preference does not apply to positions in the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The Assistant Director, Office of Conservation Investment (OCI) performs the following key responsibilities:
Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for nationally significant conservation grant and financial assistance programs that support fish and wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, Tribal stewardship, recreational access, and public opportunities for hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, and conservation education.
Assesses program and project feasibility and establishes national goals, priorities, performance expectations, and implementation strategies to advance OCI's mission and ensure effective program delivery.
Exercises executive management and oversight of an annual conservation investment portfolio of approximately $1.3 billion and leads a geographically dispersed national organization responsible for administering complex financial assistance programs.
Provides executive leadership for OCI's audit readiness, enterprise risk management, statutory and environmental compliance, and internal control activities, ensuring accountability and stewardship of public resources.
Evaluates proposed Departmental policies, consolidated fiscal processes, and management initiatives to assess their operational, financial, and programmatic effects on OCI programs and statutory responsibilities.
Serves as a principal executive representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on matters involving national conservation investment and financial assistance programs, engaging with Departmental leadership, Federal agencies, States, Tribes, conservation partners, and other stakeholders to advance national conservation priorities.
Subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination. You must be able to obtain/maintain a Tier 4 background investigation. This a Public Trust, Non-Sensitive, High-Risk, position.
Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required)
Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirements. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
Selections are subject to Department approval. Initial appointments to the SES must have to undergo an ECQ based structured interview with Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Initial appointments into the Senior Executive Service require a one-year probationary period.
Individuals selected for an SES position are subject to reassignment
Agencies must request OPM approval to appoint current or former (within 5 years) Executive Branch political appointees to permanent competitive service, non-political excepted service, or career SES position.
Qualifications
Basic requirement
Applicants must meet one of the following basic requirements:
A. Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR
B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, or at least 30 semester hours in courses, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education; OR
C. Experience: Four years of experience that demonstrated that the applicant acquired knowledge and understanding of one or more of the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or related disciplines equivalent to that which would have been acquired through completion of a 4-year course of study as described in A above.
In addition to the basic requirement, applicants must meet the following:
Minimum Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications, you must submit a two-page resume (max) that shows you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and two Technical Qualifications (TQs). To be considered, only the first 2 pages of your resume will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
Technical Qualifications (TQs) are designed to assess an applicant's experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience and accomplishments related to the two TQs below:
TQ 1- Conservation Financial Assistance, Statutory Compliance, and Risk Management:
Demonstrated experience providing senior-level leadership and oversight of complex Federal conservation or financial assistance programs, including application of governing statutes and requirements such as the Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669), Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777), Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act, and applicable environmental compliance requirements (NEPA, NHPA, and ESA). Experience must include managing program risk, address audit findings and corrective actions, and ensuring accountability, internal controls, and integrity in the administration of Federal financial assistance.
TQ 2- Enterprise Grants, Fiscal, and Portfolio Management: Demonstrated experience leading and integrating large-scale grants, fiscal, and program operations involving substantial financial and human resources, geographically dispersed organizations, and multiple organizational components. Experience must include coordinating enterprise financial assistance and fiscal processes with senior-level stakeholders; balancing centralized management requirements with program-specific statutory responsibilities; and providing oversight of significant program portfolios, budgets, workforce resources, and organizational performance.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). Your two-page resume should also show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience and accomplishments related to the ECQs. By statute, the Office of Personnel Management prescribes Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for the appointment of career SES members. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and not technical expertise.
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. Sub-Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, Civic-Mindedness
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. Sub-Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology
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. Sub-Competencies: Technical Skill, Problem Solving, Agility, and Resilience.
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. Sub-Competencies: Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgement
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. Sub-Competencies: Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking
In addition to meeting the basic requirement and demonstrating the required ECQs and TQs, candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Government, supporting the principles of the American republic, and upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Candidates will not be hired based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
Already SES Certified?
If you currently hold a career Senior Executive Service appointment, are eligible for reinstatement to the SES, or have completed an OPM-approved Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SES CDP), you need only submit a two-page resume and documentation demonstrating your SES status.
Current or former career SES members must provide the applicable personnel action documenting career SES service. SES CDP graduates must submit a two-page resume and a copy of their SES CDP certification.
Education
PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education
Additional information
Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines. The Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. Pay is set based on consideration of the selectee's current salary and other factors. Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch.
lf you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.
Pay and Performance: Annual pay adjustments and performance recognition, as applicable, are based on performance in the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Recruitment Incentive: A recruitment incentive may be authorized for a newly appointed employee in accordance with applicable regulations. Federal employees transferring to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from another Federal agency who do not meet the eligibility requirements under 5 CFR § 575.102 are not eligible for a recruitment incentive.
Relocation Incentive: A relocation incentive may be authorized for an eligible Federal employee who, at the direction of FWS and based on agency need, must relocate to a different geographic area at least 50 miles from the location of the employee's current position of record.
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.
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.
You will be evaluated based on the quality and scope of your experience and accomplishments. Your Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) must be clearly demonstrated within your two-page resume. Applicants who do not sufficiently demonstrate the required ECQs and TQs will not receive further consideration.
Applicants who meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements will have their resumes evaluated by a panel of SES members. The panel will assess the extent to which each applicant demonstrates the required ECQs and TQs. The highest-qualified applicants may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.
If the selected candidate has not received Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the candidate will be required to participate in an ECQ-based structured interview with OPM as part of the SES appointment approval process.
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.
2.REQUIRED: Your resume - it must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement. Insufficient information will result in a not qualified rating. It is recommended that you include the following information:
Full name, mailing address, and day and evening telephone numbers
Educational information, including the name, city and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degrees received
Information about your paid and nonpaid work experience related to this position including:
Job title (include series and grade if Federal job)
Duties and accomplishments
Employer's name and address
Supervisor's name and phone number
Starting and ending dates of employment (month and year)
Salary
Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor
Information about honors, awards, and special accomplishments
3.REQUIRED: If you are a current Federal employee, a copy of a recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (or similar personnel document demonstrating an appointment), that indicates Federal status, grade, tenure, and type of service. Please redact your social security number and date of birth.
4. REQUIRED: A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (i.e., within the last 18 months form the closing date of this vacancy announcement, from either the Federal or private sector). Please remove your social security number and date of birth from any documentation you provide. If you are unable to provide your most recent annual performance appraisal, please provide a written justification explaining why you could not provide the requested documentation. Failure to provide the most recent annual performance appraisal or written justification explaining why you did not provide the requested documentation you will be disqualified for further consideration because your application will be incomplete.
REMINDER: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59pm ET ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
You must submit all required documents identified in this announcement that are applicable to your candidacy. Failure to submit documentation necessary to establish your eligibility or qualifications may result in disqualification or removal from further consideration.
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.
You must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.
Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to log in or create an account.
Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
Select the documents you want to be included in this application.
Review the package to acknowledge that your documents were reviewed.
After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
Review and Submit Application.
While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So you must select all documents you want to use in the re-application.
Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJobs Account.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
2.REQUIRED: Your resume - it must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement. Insufficient information will result in a not qualified rating. It is recommended that you include the following information:
Full name, mailing address, and day and evening telephone numbers
Educational information, including the name, city and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degrees received
Information about your paid and nonpaid work experience related to this position including:
Job title (include series and grade if Federal job)
Duties and accomplishments
Employer's name and address
Supervisor's name and phone number
Starting and ending dates of employment (month and year)
Salary
Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor
Information about honors, awards, and special accomplishments
3.REQUIRED: If you are a current Federal employee, a copy of a recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (or similar personnel document demonstrating an appointment), that indicates Federal status, grade, tenure, and type of service. Please redact your social security number and date of birth.
4. REQUIRED: A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (i.e., within the last 18 months form the closing date of this vacancy announcement, from either the Federal or private sector). Please remove your social security number and date of birth from any documentation you provide. If you are unable to provide your most recent annual performance appraisal, please provide a written justification explaining why you could not provide the requested documentation. Failure to provide the most recent annual performance appraisal or written justification explaining why you did not provide the requested documentation you will be disqualified for further consideration because your application will be incomplete.
REMINDER: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59pm ET ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
You must submit all required documents identified in this announcement that are applicable to your candidacy. Failure to submit documentation necessary to establish your eligibility or qualifications may result in disqualification or removal from further consideration.
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.
You must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.
Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to log in or create an account.
Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
Select the documents you want to be included in this application.
Review the package to acknowledge that your documents were reviewed.
After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
Review and Submit Application.
While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So you must select all documents you want to use in the re-application.
Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJobs Account.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
