Duties

This announcement is admended to update the COVID-19 verbiage on May 12, 2022: Applicants are advised that NOAA will request information regarding the COVID-19 vaccination status of applicants for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.


The Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) provides NOAA with scientific research and development that accelerates the transition of state-of-the-art satellite data, systems, products, and services to operational use by the land, atmosphere, ocean, and climate user communities. The STAR Director is responsible for scientific research and development that accomplishes the transition of state-of-the-art satellite data, systems, products, and services to operational use by the land, atmosphere, ocean, and climate user communities consistent with the NESDIS and NOAA mission. As Director the incumbent has full responsibility for:

Provide supporting science for space-based instrumentation, raw observations, derived data, products, and applications that are critical for NOAA's national and international programs, including calibration/validation methodologies and algorithm development.

Provide expert service to other NESDIS offices regarding current and future sensor and mission planning and development, instrument problems, or systems hardware components.

Represent NESDIS in coordinating with appropriate NOAA elements or other U.S. Government agencies in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of NOAA and non-NOAA operational and research satellite observations, data, and products that result from research activities.

Managing the interactions with the NESDIS direct reporting Cooperative Institutes, and the overall interactions with the academic community through NOAA/university cooperative institutes and science centers to provide mechanisms for research collaboration in scientific areas of mutual interest.

Coordinate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Defencse, and other Federal agencies and significant international agencies partners, as appropriate, on the development of operational product applications from NOAA and NOAA partner environmental satellites.

Ensure accurate and rapid transition of science to operations and support observing system performance through close cooperation between STAR and operations, and coordination with operational partners both inside NOAA and external, as appropriate.

Accelerate and improve the quantitative use and assimilation of research and operational satellite data in weather, ocean, climate, and environmental analysis and prediction systems; support the activities of the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation.

Leverage applied science research across satellite programs (domestic, research or international) to provide integrated applications that consistently improve the use of new domain knowledge, reduce application maintenance, and increase the economic value of merged, blended, assimilated or other product or calibration/validation activities.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Incumbent may be subject to geographic mobility.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
• Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1 year probationary period.
• Position is subject to pre-employment background investigation.
• Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required).
• Position is subject to random drug testing.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess all of the mandatory Executive Core Qualifications and Professional/Technical Qualifications listed below and the educational requirement. These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in managing a comprehensive business program in a complex organization. An individual's total experience and education must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position. Applicants must meet all of the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

SES Executive Core Qualifications:

ECQ 1 - Leading Change: This core qualification involves the 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.

ECQ 2 - Leading People: This core qualification involves 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.

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.

ECQ 4 - Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5- Building Coalitions: This core qualification 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.

NOTE: Responses to ECQs must not exceed 10 pages typed in 12-point font.

Professional/Technical Core Qualifications (PTQ):

PTQ 1 - Experience in the planning, development, implementation, and management of research and development programs involving the physical sciences and remote sensing observations.

PTQ 2 - Experience coordinating with individuals from Federal agencies, academic institutions, research foundations, the private sector and/or international organizations on satellite remote sensing programs and services.

PTQ 3 - Experience managing the development and application of methods, techniques and theory utilized in setting research and quality assurance standards for meteorology, oceanography, and other remote sensed satellite data.

Note: Responses to PTQs must not exceed 2 pages per PTQ, for a total of 6 pages.

For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp Example of ECQ statements are available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

Education

A degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

or

A combination of education and experience (education equivalent to one of the majors mentioned) that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Additional information

Background Investigation: This position is designated as Top Secret/SCI and requires that a background investigation be conducted and favorably adjudicated in order to establish security eligibility

Financial Disclosure: This position is covered under the Ethics in Government Act, which requires comprehensive financial disclosures from employees. The appointee will be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278), within 30 days after his/her appointment, and then annually thereafter.

Qualifications Approval and Probationary Period: Persons newly selected for career appointment to the Senior Executive Service must have their executive core qualifications approved by an Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board and will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Mobility: Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.

Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required by P.L. 104-134 to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.

Drug Testing: Applicants tentatively selected for employment in any position are subject to designated and/or random pre-employment and employment urinalysis. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment and/or removed from employment with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.

False Statements: If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be fired after you begin work, or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

The materials you send with your application will not be returned.

Please DO NOT put your SSN on pages within your application package. Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Signature - Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.

Selective Service: Male applicants born after 12/31/1959, who are required to register with the Selective Service under section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act, must be registered (or must have registered at the time they were required to do so) in order to be eligible for appointment. For more information, visit the SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM web site at http://www.sss.gov/default.htm .

Veterans' preference: Is not applicable to positions in the Senior Executive Service.

EEO: The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify Mr. Gerry Coffee, servicing Human Resources Specialist, either by e-mail at Gerry.Coffee@noaa.gov or by telephone at 301-628-1882. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users may contact us via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.