Duties

Summary

VA structures its SES positions into pay bands. This is a pay band 2 position and the salary range is $127,914 to $185,700. Exceptions to the cap of the range may be considered in certain circumstances.

A Relocation or Recruitment Incentive MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
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Responsibilities

The position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary for Health (USH), Veterans Health Administration, VA Central Office. Within the Office of the USH, the office of the Chief of Staff is responsible for management and oversight of a variety of programs in VACO such as congressional and public affairs, personnel administration, organizational analysis and design, and compliance. In addition, the Chief of Staff is tasked with overall coordination and oversight of many deliverables from VHA to the Secretary, the Hill and other oversight organizations.

The incumbent represents and speaks for the Under Secretary for Health or the Chief of Staff in high level negotiations involving the establishment and implementation of policy in VHA. He/she helps to coordinate plans and operational approaches designed to most effectively carry out the missions of VHA.

• He/she provides leadership and advisory services which are oriented toward providing general management solutions to achieve optimum overall program balance in relation to the Department's mission.
• Works closely with others in formulating, implementing, and evaluating policies, plans, and procedures. Provides representation of VHA in discussions, meetings, conferences, etc., to external organizations such as Congress, OMB, OPM, Veterans Service Organizations and other Federal agencies;
• In the absence of the Chief of Staff, the incumbent provides supervision to staff covering a broad range of critically important areas, including: Chief Communications Officer and his/her staff which consists of VHA Executive Correspondence, Legislative Programs, Voluntary Services and Administrative Operations; the Director of Workforce Management and Consulting Officer and his/her staff which consists of the Health Care Staff Development and Retention Office, the Executive Management Team, the Administrative and Human Resources Management Team and the EEO/Affirmative Employment Team; and the Chief Compliance Officer and his/her staff; and the Director Management Review Service and his/her staff.
• Consults with all organizational levels in VA and other VA stakeholders and interested constituencies regarding VHA policies and operations.
• Advises on initiation, modification or elimination of operating policies designed to improve efficiency or quality of care.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US citizenship is required.
• One-year probationary period required for initial SES appointment.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Incumbents of this position will be subject to a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.
• Successful completion of drug screening required.
• Public Financial Disclosure Report (SF-278) is required.
• May be subject to reassignment geographically or organizationally.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications, applicant must possess the following technical and executive core qualifications. These qualifications would typically be gained through progressively responsible management or executive level assignments such as director of a regional office, medical facility or program manager. An individual's total experience, education and volunteer work experience must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

MANDATORY EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): All applicants must submit a written narrative response to the following ECQs. Your narrative must address each ECQ separately. Additional information on ECQs is available at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/ . Applicants are encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action and Results model outlined in the guide. It is recommended that you draft your ECQs in a Word document and then upload into the system.

1. Leading Change: 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.

2. Leading People: 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.

3. Results Driven: 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.

4. Business Acumen: The ability to manage human, financial and information resources strategically.

5. Building Coalitions: 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.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (TQ)s: In addition, all applicants must submit a written narrative response to the following TQ(s). Please give examples and explain how often you used your skills, the complexity of the knowledge possessed, the level of people you interacted with, the sensitivity of the issues you handled managing a large public or private sector organization that administers complex, rules-based benefits or services, etc. It is recommended that you draft your TQ(s) in a word document and then upload into the system.

TQ: Demonstrated leadership experience in strategic planning; human capital management; and financial management in a large complex healthcare organization.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Veteran Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service.: https://www.opm.gov/faqs/QA.aspx?fid=fcd37029-d607-4fec-a8d6-faecbdb08eef&pid=6d668276-0086-49e3-aa1e-bccfb2bcb379 .

Drug Testing: All applicants tentatively selected for VA Senior Executive Service employment in any position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

Incumbents of this position will be subject to a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Step 1: ECQ qualifications

Step 2: Technical Qualification(s)

Step 3: VA Executive Resources Board

Step 4: Nominating Organization may conduct interviews

Step 5: Approval by the Selecting Official (may include additional screening)

Step 6: OPM Qualifications Review Board certification

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

A complete application for this position includes the following items:

1. Resume not to exceed 5 pages;

2. Written narrative response to address each Technical Qualification(s) not to exceed 2 pages each; and

3. Written narrative responses to address each Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) not to exceed 2 pages each for a total of 10 pages; or

4. Proof of non-competitive eligibility (if applicable). Proof consists of an SF-50 showing career status in the SES and/or proof of certification of your Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) from the OPM administered Qualifications Review Board (QRB).

Non-Competitive Consideration: You are considered a non-competitive applicant if you are a current career Senior Executive, Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certified graduate of a Senior Executive (SES) Candidate Development Program (CDP) or an individual with SES reinstatement eligibility. You may be considered non-competitively for appointment to this position if you meet the mandatory technical qualifications requirements.

Non-competitive applicants do not need to submit ECQ narratives but you must clearly state your status in your resume and submit a written narrative response to the Technical Qualification (s); not more than 2 pages per each TQ with a font size no smaller than 12 points. Proof of non-competitive eligibility is required. The agency has the option of considering you non-competitively or including you in the competitive process.