Duties

Summary

FWS works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Our major responsibilities are to protect and conserve migratory birds, endangered species, and marine mammals and fish. FWS partners with farmers and ranchers, State and local governments, Federal agencies, Tribes, citizen volunteers, corporations, and conservation groups to accomplish its mission. You can find additional information at WWW.FWS.GOV

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Assistant Director - International Affairs (AD-IA) serves as a principal international affairs advisor to the Deputy Directors and the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and is the FWS representative in all areas of international relations, including policies and programs, treaties, and foreign travel of FWS employees. The incumbent directs the conduct of international programs, oversees permitting activities, and coordinates all international programs and activities of the FWS. The incumbent is responsible for a staff of approximately 80 onsite and remote employees who support the work of international affairs to address the increasing importance of FWS participation in, and responsibility for, international activities involving endangered species, global wildlife management, and habitat preservation and restoration. The incumbent oversees the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES), a multinational agreement designed to prevent species exploitation, endangerment or complete extinction resulting from international trade.

Travel Required

50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• A background investigation is required
• Appointment MAY include a requirement for 1 year probationary period
• Executive Public Financial Disclosure Report is required
• Registration with Selective Service

Qualifications

You must meet all qualification requirements outlined within this vacancy by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/23/2019 of this announcement.

Educational Requirement

As a basic requirement, applicants MUST have:
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.

We are looking for an individual with a proven track record of working with executive teams, who possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, expert knowledge of the fish and wildlife conservation and ability to direct and manage mission and program objectives, and has attracted and retained a highly skilled and diverse workforce.

Additionally, applicants MUST demonstrate progressively responsible leadership that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability as outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent with state or local governments, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

Unless you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the Senior Executive Service, or have successfully completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program approved by the OPM and been certified by the OPM, you must submit a narrative statement covering each of the Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications listed below. Your examples should be clear and concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope of complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives and level of contacts.

The narrative addressing ECQ's must follow the format provided at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp

Narrative statements may not exceed 10 pages for ECQ's; TQ's may not exceed 4 pages.

Technical Qualifications:

1. Demonstrated ability and professional experience directing a complex, international program that includes policies and programs, treaties, and foreign travel of federal employees.
2. Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and understanding of agency and governmental goal and objectives as they pertain to international relations and program management.
3. Knowledge of, and professional experience in, working with the United States Congress, the State Department, foreign governments, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and other international conservation organizations.
4. Knowledge of, and professional experience in implementing requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Endangered Species Act, and the African Elephant Act.

Executive Core Qualifications:

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.

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.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
The applicant selected for this position will be required to file a Public Executive Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-278. This form must be filed within 30 days after appointment to this position.

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

A PCS Move is authorized as follows: travel and relocation expenses including reimbursable real estate expenses will be authorized in accordance with the Federal travel regulations excluding contractor-provided home sale. All moving expenses are taxable.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application:

https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

**Applicants that applied to vacancy announcement number SES-19-10359911-RM will need to re-apply to this vacancy for consideration.**

Applicants who meet all 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. Total 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 above.

All applicants must submit the following in order to receive consideration for this position:

1. A resume. You must include the following information:

- Vacancy announcement number
- Full name, mailing address, and day and evening telephone numbers
- Social Security Number
- 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

2. A narrative statement addressing each of the Executive and Technical Qualifications - experience (paid and unpaid), education, training, awards, and/or self-development activities as related to each. Each technical qualification and each ECQ must be addressed separately . Narrative statements for the executive core qualifications may NOT exceed ten (10) pages total and narrative statements for the technical qualifications may not exceed four (4) pages total . IF YOU EXCEED THESE LIMITS YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. PLEASE SUBMIT THESE AS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT IN YOUR APPLICATION, DO NOT ATTACH IT TO YOUR RESUME.

3. Graduates of approved SES Candidate Development Programs must include a copy of the OPM certification of eligibility and a narrative statement addressing only the technical qualifications.

4. Current or former Career SES members must submit documentation of their SES status and a narrative statement addressing only the technical qualifications. NOTE: Non-Career SES members must address the narratives for BOTH the Executive Core Qualifications and the Technical Qualifications.

5. If a current federal employee, a copy of a recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that indicates Federal status, grade, tenure, and type of service.

6. A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (from either the government or private sector).

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

Resume or Application. At a minimum, your resume MUST contain job title (include job series and grade, if federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary. USAJOBS has a template to ensure a complete resume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk?

For this job announcement the following documents are required:

• Your resume
• A complete Assessment Questionnaire
• SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action (that shows your current grade and step) if a current or former Federal employee
• Most recent performance appraisal
• Official or unofficial College Transcript(s). Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A copy of your official transcripts will be required if you are selected. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
• Narrative Statements addressing Executive and Technical Qualifications in the appropriate format

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 .

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.