Duties

Summary

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs serves as Health and Human Service's principal Public
Affairs Office. Leading efforts across the agency to promote transparency, accountability and access to critical public health information for the American people. The office conducts national public affairs programs, provides centralized leadership and guidance for public affairs activities, and administers the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

ABOUT THE POSITION

The incumbent serves as the organization's most senior administrative official, and as such, speaks for and makes commitments on behalf of the organization on all administrative management issues, which includes planning and managing a combination of the following programs: procurement, contracting, grants, human capital, budget, information technology, program planning and evaluation, and administrative management and support.

The incumbent provides advice, on behalf of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs on those matters which are of an unusually sensitive, precedent setting, or highly consequential nature. Expert executive, managerial and diplomacy skills to provide executive direction, leadership and guidance to all components; and provide leadership in planning, developing, implementing, and monitoring policy, program plans and initiatives, and using effective monitoring systems for critical health and human services initiatives.

Executive level knowledge of administrative, business and information management approaches, policies, techniques and practices in use in the Federal Government for effective overall management of complex, highly dynamic organizations, and the relevant social and economic factors pertinent to those services.

Comprehensive knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, and the law, regulations, directives, policies and practices in use in the Federal Government for discharging government responsibilities under these Acts and ensuring open, transparent, and accountable Federal actions.

Expert oral and written communication skills to represent the organization at meetings and conferences inside and outside the government, in matters of concern to the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and the Department of HHS; and coordinate major activities with internal staff and key outside organizations, including those at the Federal and State level and individuals representing major constituent groups.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This employer participates in the E-Verify Program
• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Subject to satisfactory security and suitability determinations
• New appointees must successfully complete a 1-year probationary period
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test; random testing after appointment
• This is a career position in the SES. Unless the selectee is already a member of the SES with career status or has successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program certified by OPM.
• Executive qualifications must be approved by OPM before appointment can be effected. If you are selected, you will be responsible for working with an HHS Executive Consultant, or QRB Writer to develop an ECQ narrative for submission to OPM
• You must meet the qualification requirements of this position no later than the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.

Qualifications

Open to all groups of qualified individuals from the public. Current employees within the Federal civil service. Career SES and SES reinstatement eligibles. SESCDP graduates may also apply for noncompetitive consideration.

As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory/Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet this basic qualification requirement and all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically exclude you from further consideration.

All competitive candidates for SES positions with the Federal Government must demonstrate leadership experience indicative of senior executive level management capability. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show in your resume that you possess the Fundamental Competencies, five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), and the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ's), listed below. It is recommended that your resume emphasize levels of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, and program accomplishments and results.

Fundamental Competencies:

Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

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.

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ's):

This position also requires that you possess MTQ's that represent knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. The following MTQ's must be evident in your resume.

Demonstrated the ability to effectively and innovatively lead organizational/functional transformation utilizing comprehensive technical knowledge of all HR functions to determine if the products, services, and programs of an organization are in full compliance with applicable policy, regulations, and statutes while also maximizing process efficiency and program effectiveness.

Demonstrated experience in conducting program analysis to identify risks/issues and to provide options/alternatives to leverage Federal acquisitions approaches, processes, and policies necessary to execute large, complex programs involving technologies, processes and personnel in multiple locations.

Demonstrated experience in successfully managing and leading information technology and information management functions including: strategic planning, systems acquisition, hardware life cycle management, software development, network operations, data center administration, telecommunications, computer security, and content management systems and services.

Demonstrated experience formulating, justifying, administering and executing an office budget, including development and providing analysis of alternative budget proposals using Federal and other budget-related laws, regulations, policies, precedents, methods and techniques to coordinate and submit products that meet Department level or higher level guidance.

Demonstrated experience communicating effectively and managing FOIA policy and operations and coordinating e-Discovery efforts for a cabinet level agency in accordance with laws, regulations, rules and policies, including both paper and electronic records, and information processes and requirements within a large complex organization and in support of high-level litigation, investigations, and Congressional responses and maintaining positive customer-service oriented business relationships with internal stakeholders, managers, employees, vendors, other government agencies and the public.

It is STRONGLY recommended that you visit the following Office of Personnel Management (OPM) webpage for more information regarding the Fundamental Competencies and ECQs.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/#url=Overview

IF SELECTED, you will be required to complete an ECQ package by drafting narratives for each of the ECQs and be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in order to be placed in this position. If you are currently serving in a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), you WILL NOT need to draft the ECQs.

Education

There is no positive education requirement for this position.

Additional information

Salary for Senior Executive Service positions varies depending on qualifications. The annual salary range may be found at the top of this announcement. This position may be eligible for performance bonuses and performance based pay adjustments.

Probationary Period:

An individual's initial SES career appointment becomes final only after the individual successfully completes a one year probationary period.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure

HHS inspires public confidence by maintaining high ethical principles, and all Federal Government employees are subject to the conflict of interest statutes and regulations, including the Standards of Ethical Conduct , that govern activities with outside organizations and reporting financial holdings. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521 also requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-278 , prior to assuming the SES position, annually, and upon termination of employment.

Security and Background Requirements

If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees .

Equal Opportunity Employment

Equality is held as one of the most important values at HHS. Selection for this, and any other position, will be based solely on merit. HHS does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age or membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or any other non-merit factors.

If applying online poses a hardship to you, you may submit your application by contacting Gregory Stewart .

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact: . Requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Veteran's Preference

Veteran's Preference does not apply to the SES.

Mobility

Individuals selected for executive positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines

Selective Service

As a condition of employment, all male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service. If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your cover letter (NOT TO EXCEED ONE PAGE) and your resume (NOT TO EXCEED FIVE PAGES), demonstrating possession of the technical qualifications and achievement of the five executive core qualifications are the documents that will be used to determine your basic and specialized qualifications for the position. YOU MUST ADHERE TO THE PAGE LIMITS ABOVE AND INCLUDE BOTH DOCUMENTS OR YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Confidential

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

All applicants are required to submit the following documents to be considered for the position:

• Resume that contains your full name, address and phone number, and does not exceed the five (5) page limit.
• Cover Letter (optional).
• Online Assessment Questionnaire. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click here: ( https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10599025 ).

NOTE: THE USAJOBS RESUME TEMPLATE MAY RESULT IN A RESUME BEING LONGER THAN FIVE PAGES. PLEASE VERIFY PAGE LENGTH BEFORE SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION.

Applicants who are currently, or were previously, Federal employees must also submit:

• An SF-50 showing your current or former civil service status; and
• Proof of OPM Qualifications Review Board certification (OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program graduates), if applicable.

NOTE: Documents submitted that are not listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement will not be considered or forwarded to the rating panel or selecting official.

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.