Experience
Education
Qualifications
Benefits
Special Commitments

Summary

Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. This is a Pay Category-5 position. The minimum pay for this position is $147,649. Pay is set based on consideration of the selectee's current salary and other factors.

Routine and situational telework may be approved at the discretion of the supervisor.

Veterans preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service (SES).

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Duties

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, each applicant must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of executive-level management capabilities that are directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications listed below. The ideal candidate will have experience managing employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and evaluating employees. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or equivalent in the private sector or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet this basic qualification requirements in addition to all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically disqualify an applicant.

The Legislative Counsel is located in the Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs (OCL) at the Department of the Interior (Department) and reports to the Director. The OCL is responsible for liaising with Congressional Committees and individual Members of Congress; coordinating the Department's presentation of views on all legislative matters and resolves inter- and intra-Departmental disagreements on policy and issues related to those views; and serving as the Secretary's focal point for Congressional oversight, Congressional correspondence, and Congressional requests for documents.

Specific Duties

The incumbent carries out the following specific responsibilities:

  1. Oversees the preparation and coordination of the Department's views on all legislative matters to include proposed legislation, testimony, legislative reports, correspondence on legislation, and any other written statement expressing views on a legislative matter.
  2. Coordinates and engages in the establishment of legislative guidance and strategy, taking into account Administration and Departmental policies, fiscal constraints, and the need for a legislative program that reflects the needs of the diverse components and mandates of the Department.
  3. Advises the Secretary, the Assistant Secretaries, the Director of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, and the bureau and office directors on legislative and oversight matters using a thorough and detailed knowledge of legal concepts, principles, and practices.
  4. Directs the development and review of all Departmental testimony presented to authorizing committees of the U.S. Congress including who should represent the Department before Congress and directs and participates in the coordination of all testimony.
  5. Faciliates with the Director to assist the Department's nominees for Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed positions to finalize nominations and prepare for Senate confirmation activities.
  6. Represents the department with Office of Management and Budget, other executive Departments, and the White House at high level policy meetings in which those views are considered.

Applicants who meet the mandatory executive and technical qualifications will be evaluated by a panel of SES members to determine the degree to which they possess each of the listed qualifications. This evaluation will determine which applicants are best qualified. Each candidate's background including experience, education, awards, self-development, and training will be reviewed. This information will be obtained from the application package, including the required narrative statements for the technical and Executive Core Qualifications described in this vacancy.

Additionally, 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; and
  • Supervising the work of employees; and exercising important policy-making, policy determining, or other executive functions.

If your resume does not include these basic qualifications, then you will not be considered further for this position and will not be determined as minimally qualified.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  1. U.S. Citizenship
  2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
  3. Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1-year probationary period
  4. Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required)
  5. This position requires pre and post-employment drug screening.

Qualifications

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ's)- *Required Documentation*

The Office of Personnel Management has identified five executive core qualifications (ECQs). The ECQs define the competencies needed to build a federal corporate culture that drives for results, serves customers, and builds successful teams and coalitions within and outside the organization. The ECQs are required for entry to the Senior Executive Service and are used by many departments and agencies in selection, performance management, and leadership development for management and executive positions. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential-not technical expertise.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: You must have demonstrated an 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 & Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision

ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: You must demonstrate 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 Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility

ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This ECQ 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 ECQ 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, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning, Public Service Motivation

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs)- *Required Documentation*

MTQs are designed to assess an applicants experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Each MTQ narrative response must 1.) not exceed two pages per narrative statement; 2.) include specific examples of your experience, education, and/or accomplishments; and 3.) address specific challenges, contexts, actions, and results.

  1. Broad knowledge of law and in-depth knowledge of multiple specialties (e.g., environmental law, land law, trust law, and financial management law).
  2. Extensive, specialized knowledge of and experience with the legislative process, and demonstrated experience in managing the legislative coordination and representation of an organization.

Challenge-Context-Action-Result(s) (CCAR) Model.

CCAR Model is outline below. When addressing the ECQs and MTQs, you are strongly recommended to utilize the CCAR Model. Each ECQ or MTQ statement should include more than one example of relevant experience.

  • Challenge: Describe a specific problem or goal.
  • Context: Talk about the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to tackle a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale).
  • Action: Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge.
  • Result: Give specific examples of the results of your actions. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.

Your responses to the ECQs and MTQs will be evaluated based on how clearly and concisely you emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of actions taken.

You are required to submit separate narrative statements for each ECQ and MTQ to receive consideration for this position. Please see the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section for complete details regarding the page limitation and formatting requirement.

Education

Applicants must have a J.D. or LL.B. degree and be current members in good standing of a bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or commonwealth of the United States.

You must provide transcripts of the awarded degree and good standing as required by this announcement. Additional information in the "Required Documents" sections.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

CURRENT FEDERAL APPLICANTS: If you are a federal employee (non-SES or SES), then you must include your most recent performance appraisal within the last 12 months of your submission to this application. Additionally, you must include your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that reflects an appointment (i.e., initial, transfer, reinstatement, and etc.) or pay adjustment.

NON-FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must include your most recent performance appraisal within the last 12 months of your submission to this application OR a justification stating the reason why this information cannot be provided.

SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL APPLICANTS:

Your resume, performance appraisal, SF-50, Executive Core Qualification's (ECQs), and Mandatory Technical Qualification's (MTQs) for this announcement must be received online via the USAJOBS/Application Manager application system by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on closing date of the announcement. ECQs and MTQs must be submitted in the CCAR model format as previously outlined within this vacancy announcement. Email submissions from an applicant will not be accepted. Failure to submit a complete application will eliminate an applicant from further consideration. Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist point-of-contact prior to the closing date if assistance is needed to submit an application online.

The applicant selected for this position will be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report, SF-278, and the supplemental form, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interest, DI-278. All forms must be filed within 30 days after the selection for this position.

The sensitivity level of the position requires completion of a successful background investigation of the selectee.

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. If 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.

If applicable, travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulations and Departmental policy.

Click here for general eligibility for a permanent change of station (PCS) move.

Click here for Federal Travel Regulations PCS information.

To view FAQ regarding PCS click here.

Senior Executive Service Probationary Period: If you are selected for this position, you will be required to serve a one-year SES probationary period, if one has not previously been completed.

THIS IS A DRUG TESTING DESIGNATED POSITION. In accordance with Executive Order 12564, and under the Department's Drug Free Workplace Program: Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. This position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

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.

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  • Benefits
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  • 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.
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  • 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.

We will conduct an initial qualifications evaluation of all the applicants who have provided the required documentation. Minimally qualified applicants will be rated and ranked by a SES Rating Panel to determined the Best Qualified applicants. The best qualified applicants will be referred to the Selecting Official for further consideration and possible panel interview. You will be notified of the outcome after completion of the selection process. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position and failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume will result in a "not qualified" determination.

Upon receipt of your completed application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the qualification requirements. Our determination will be based on your separate narrative statement responses to the Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications using the required CCAR Model in addition to the information stated in your resume. If you are among the best qualified applicants, then your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. Interviews are exclusively at the discretion of the Selecting Official.

FINAL CERTIFICATION: If you are selected, then you must be certified by the Office of Personnel Management's Qualifications Review Board before you are appointed to the position. You are exempted from this requirement if you are a:

  • current career SES member;
  • former career SES member with reinstatement eligibility; or
  • SES Candidate Development graduate and have already been certified by OPM.

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How to Apply

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Applicants must submit all the required information, as stated above:

1. Your Resume must include the required information listed below:

a. Vacancy Announcement Number and Position Title

b. Your full name, day and evening phone numbers, e-mail and mailing address. If applicable, reinstatement eligibility to the Senior Executive Service and dates held during the SES career appointment.

c. Job titles (include series and grade if Federal job), salaries, employers' names and addresses, supervisors' names and phone numbers (indicate if we may contact your current and former supervisors), duties, starting and ending dates and hours per week of paid or non-paid work experience that relates to this vacancy.

d. Job-related training courses, special skills, certificates and licenses, honors, awards, publications and special accomplishments.

e. Educational information, including the name, city and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degree received. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, you may refer to the following U.S. Department of Education website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

f. Your resume must include evidence of how you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). In addition, your resume should clearly demonstrate the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ's) required by this vacancy announcement.

Your application package to include your Resume, SF-50 (including appointment information such as a transfer, initial appointment, or reinstatement) if you are a federal employee, most recent performance appraisal (i.e., must be within the last 12 months of your submission to this application) and or a justification of why this information cannot be provided. Mandatory Technical Qualification's (MTQ's), and Executive Core Qualification's (ECQ's) for this announcement must be received online via the USAJOBS/Application Manager application system by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on closing date of the announcement. ECQ's and MTQ's must be submitted in the prescribed format outlined within this vacancy announcement failure submit the ECQ's or MTQ's in the outlined format will result in your application not receiving full consideration for this position. Email submissions of applicants will not be accepted. Failure to submit a complete application will eliminate an applicant from further consideration. Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist point of contact before the closing date if assistance is needed when submitting an application.

The Department of the Interior provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis. Please use the agency contact listed below if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.

It is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and sent is received and is accurate.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, please click on:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12339625

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Agency contact information

Erica Williams Erica Williams

Phone

571-419-9760

Email

erica.williams@bsee.gov

Address

Office of the Secretary

45600 Woodland Road

Sterling, VA 20166

US

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Next steps

Due to COVID-19, the Office of the Secretary of Interior is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement in accordance with the Department's reentry procedures provided by your Servicing Human Resources Office. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days per pay period depending upon the terms of the Department of the Interior's telework policy.

You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgment from USAJobs that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line assessment questionnaire, resume and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.

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Confirmed 16 hours ago. Posted 20 days ago.

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