Deputy Director Operations

About the role

The Department of the Interior is seeking highly qualified candidates for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Deputy Director, Operations, 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 1, with a minimum annual salary of $207,060 Veterans' preference does not apply to positions in the Senior Executive Service (SES).

What you will do

• As the Deputy Director of Operations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), you will lead Service-wide operations, establish strategic and operational priorities in coordination with the Director, and oversee their implementation to advance the Service's national conservation mission and achieve organizational results.
• Major Duties: Direct the day-to-day operations of the FWS Regional Offices, establishing priorities, coordinating activities across organizational boundaries, resolving significant operational issues, and ensuring consistent implementation of national policies.
• Advise the Director on organizational management, operational effectiveness, and resource requirements; evaluate organizational structures and management practices; and direct or recommend improvements to enhance efficiency, accountability, performance, and internal controls.
• Oversee implementation of Departmental and Administration policies, priorities, and management initiatives, ensuring compliance with applicable statutory, regulatory, and Departmental requirements.
• Align and oversee fiscal, human, organizational, information, and other resources with Service priorities; evaluate performance and major programs and investments; identify operational challenges; and direct or recommend corrective actions.
• Review significant Service-wide policy, management, operational, and program recommendations; consider relevant scientific, legal, fiscal, economic, and administrative factors; and approve actions within delegated authority or provide recommendations to the Director and other approving officials.
• Represent the Director and FWS in engagements with Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of the Interior, other Federal agencies, and interagency forums to advance Service priorities, negotiate solutions, and resolve significant program and operational issues.
• Exercise the Director's authority, consistent with applicable delegations, during the Director's absence to ensure continuity of executive leadership and operational oversight.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship 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 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 positions.

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 | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your accomplishments and experience. ECQs and TQs must be demonstrated within your two-page resume. Applicants who do not demonstrate sufficient possession of the ECQs and TQs will be determined ineligible for further consideration.

If you meet the basic qualifications and eligibility requirements, a panel of SES members will evaluate your resume and determine the degree to which you possess each of the listed qualifications. The highest qualified applicants will be considered for one or more interviews.

If the selectee does not have Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), he/she will be required to undergo an ECQ based structured interview with OPM for SES appointment approval.

Documents you must provide

• - Transcripts - Resume (not to exceed two pages).
• If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. - We highly recommend that you DO NOT use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to create your resume. - If a current or former Federal employee, submit SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (or equivalent) please do not send an SF-50 for an award. - Strongly Recommended: Performance Evaluation (not more than 2 years old) - If you are already SES Certified but have NOT held a career SES position, please upload your OPM QRB SES certification.
• Note: You may be asked to provide additional documentation to support your eligibility and the information provided in your resume.

What to expect next

The Department of the Interior will conduct a qualifications evaluation of applicants who supply all the required material. Qualified applicants will be rated and ranked by an executive-level rating panel. Highly qualified candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration and possible interview.

You will be notified of the outcome after the completion of the selection process.

Additional information

SES does not have Veteran's Preference and time in grade restrictions. Competitive status is not required. 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. This is a category 1 position; the pay range is $207,060-$228,000. Annual pay increases and recognition, if applicable, are based on performance in the SES.

A recruitment incentive may be authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from another Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A relocation incentive may be authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record is currently located, due to a need of the FWS.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information ***