Duties

Summary

The position is located in the Office of the Chief Acquisition Executive (CAE) within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The Chief Acquisition Executive (CAE) provides management and oversight over all acquisition functions and processes for the agency while ensuring statutory, regulatory, and higher-level policy requirements.
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Responsibilities

The Chief Acquisition Executive (CAE) serves as a senior CISA official with full authority to act, commit resources, and give recommendations for final approval on major programmatic actions. The CAE's main objective is to provide strategic support for all of the agency's major acquisitions in a manner consistent with the missions of the agency, program objectives, applicable laws, regulations, principles, and standards. The CAE works closely with other CISA senior executives in planning annual spending and acquisitions.

Specific responsibilities include:

Establishing acquisition processes within CISA consistent with DHS acquisition policies, and tracking the extent to which the requisite resources and support are provided to program managers and senior officials to ensure successful and effective acquisitions.

Managing CISA's major acquisition portfolio in compliance with applicable Department and CISA regulations and policies.

Participating in the DHS Acquisition Review Boards (ARB) for Level 1 and 2 acquisitions within CISA's portfolio.

Submitting all Level 1 and 2 acquisitions through the Acquisition Review Process, including Level I joint/consolidated investments for which CISA is the designated lead.

Executing Acquisition Decision Authority (ADA) responsibilities for Level 3 acquisition programs and Component Level 2 acquisitions when delegated by the Under Secretary of Management (USM).

Assessing and concurring with Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) plans presented by Operational Testing Authorities (OTA).

Assessing personnel resources and requirements of subordinate program offices for adequacy of functional support to programs I projects and resolves issues that develop inadequate requirements.

Selecting qualified acquisition professionals from certificates of eligibility; identifying training needs; ensuring program certification levels are attained and consistent with DHS competency area requirements; and submitting funding requirements according to the Clinger-Cohen Act.

Directing, managing, and coordinating activities between the key business processes and programs and ensures appropriate integration and communication among the Directorates, Divisions and Offices at Headquarters and field locations.

Serving as an integral member of the Director's executive staff or policy-formulating group, responsible for participating fully in program and policy formulation and execution for CISA-wide protective and investigative mission support operations.

Serves as an advisor to the Director, Deputy Director and CISA senior officials on all acquisition matters and is responsible for keeping them informed regarding capital investment, component acquisition project management, and CISA enterprise initiatives.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Selective Service - males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service see http://www.sss.gov/
• Filing of OGE 278 - Public Financial Disclosure.
• You must be able to obtain and hold a obtain/maintain a Top Secret (SCI) clearance.
• If selected, a one-year SES Probationary period may be required.
• You must submit to a drug test and receive a negative test result prior to appointment to this position.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.
• Relocation expenses are not authorized. Other recruitment incentives may be authorized.
• All employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
• This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. § 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide detailed evidence of possession of each of the Executive Core and Technical Qualifications listed below in a supplemental statement to assist reviewing officials in determining the best qualified candidates to be referred to the selecting official. Qualification and experience determinations will be based only on the information you submit.

The application process used to recruit this position is the Traditional Method.

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.

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs):

MTQ 1 :
Mastery of the Federal acquisition processes, programs and policies, including demonstrated expert level knowledge and leadership experience in applying acquisition regulations, acquisition processes, and systems engineering standards for large and small scale acquisition programs.

MTQ 2 :
Experience managing a portfolio of enterprise-level and inter-agency or equivalent acquisition programs and the ability to manage cybersecurity and infrastructure/support/services acquisition development.

MTQ 3 :
Possess a comprehensive understanding of major systems acquisition processes, acquisition reform initiatives, and deliverables for federal agencies.

Challenge Context Action Result Model
An ECQ or Mandatory Technical Qualification (MTQ) statement should include more than one examples of relevant experience.

Challenge. Describe a specific problem or goal. Context. Talk about the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to tackle a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale). Action. Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge. Result. Give specific examples of the results of your actions. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.

Additional information on the Executive Core Qualifications is available at Senior Executive Service Executive Core Qualifications

Veteran's preference does not apply to the SES.

Probationary period: You will serve a one-year probationary period unless you previously completed the probationary period in the SES.

Education

There is no positive education requirement for this position.

Additional information

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications listed above.

The ideal candidate will have experience supervising employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and evaluating employees. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector or non-governmental organizations.

Failure to meet this basic qualification requirement and all executive and technical qualification factors automatically disqualifies an applicant. 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 in this vacancy. As such, your resume should demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in most SES positions such as:

• Directing the work of an organizational unit;
• Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects;
• Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance and taking action to improve performance; and
• Supervising the work of employees; and exercising important policy-making, policy determining, or other executive functions.
• If your resume does not include these basic qualifications, you will not be determined qualified for this position.

We recommend that your resume addressing the ECQs include examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize their level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of actions taken.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your application will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. A panel will be convened to determine "best qualified" candidates. The rating and ranking will be based upon consideration of the degree to which you meet the Executive Core Qualifications, and Mandatory Technical Qualifications. Interviews and qualifications inquiries may be required.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
National security

Required Documents

1. REQUIRED Your resume - it must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement. Insufficient information will result in a not qualified rating. It is recommended that you include the following information:

• Full name, mailing address, and day and evening telephone numbers
• 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. REQUIRED two separate documents: (1). A narrative statement addressing each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ), and (2). Narrative statement addressing the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). Each ECQ and each technical qualification must be addressed separately. The narrative addressing ECQ's must follow the format provided at Guide To Senior Executive Service Qualifications (Adobe Acrobat required). MTQs narrative statements must not exceed 2 pages for each individual technical qualification(s). Your entire ECQ package (i.e., all five ECQ's narrative statements) may not exceed 10 pages in its totality. Two pages per ECQ is desired. IF YOU EXCEED THESE LIMITS, YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

OR

If you are a graduate of an approved SES Candidate Development Program, you must include a copy of the OPM certification of eligibility and a narrative statement addressing only the mandatory technical qualifications.

OR

If you are a current or former career SES member, you must submit documentation of your SES status (i.e., SF-50 appointing you into the SES) and a narrative statement addressing only the mandatory technical qualifications.

This document MUST be submitted using "Qualifications" as Document Type.

3. REQUIRED If you are 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. Please remove your social security number and date of birth.

The following categories of applicants MUST address the Mandatory Technical Qualification factors. These Categories include:

• Applicants who are currently serving under a SES career appointment (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50-Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES), or

• Applicants who are eligible for reinstatement to the SES (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50-Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES), or

• Applicants who are graduates of OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Programs (must provide proof of OPM Qualifications Review Board certification).

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.