Duties

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before appointment or onboarding with the agency. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement by contacting the Human Resources representative listed on this announcement.

The incumbent of this position has full responsibility for establishing, and providing strategic direction for the Office of Observation (OBS). The OBS integrates mission execution needs with the 3 year budgetary cycle processes. The Office leads planning and allocates resources to select the best mix of executable programs, projects, and activities for the development and enhancement of observational systems owned and leveraged by National Weather Service (NWS). Specifically, the incumbent has full responsibility for:

The discharge of managing observation platforms operated and maintained by NWS.

Managing the development of cost-effective software enhancements, maintenance fixes, and life-cycle replacements for NWS observational platforms.

Managing quality control and IT security of observational data, ensuring configuration management of all NWS operational systems including analysis, review, and tracking of all changes to the configuration baseline;

Manages resources to maintain and sustain effective operation of fielded observational systems.

Maintaining a record of network configurations and monitoring reporting of station histories.

Serves as the principle management liaison with operational centers and field offices for their observational requirements, performance, and support/sustainment activities.

Serving as the focal point for coordinating problems and issues with operational observing systems through interaction with operations and data providers.

Ensuring configuration management of all NWS operational systems including analysis, review, and tracking of all changes to the configuration baseline.

Ensuring national maintenance and logistics policies, engineering designs, specifications and installation and maintenance standards, and procedures are developed for operational weather systems.

Ensuring NWS operational equipment is procured, properly reconditioned, and quality controlled in order to meet the needs of NWS operating support systems.

Ensuring that the necessary management and technical support are provided for OBS activities including program planning: program evaluation; budgetary preparation and support for observational systems.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Incumbent may be subject to geographic mobility.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret 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.

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, you must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability; and that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ's) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQ's) listed under "How You Will Be Evaluated." 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 with state or local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess all of the mandatory Executive Core Qualifications and Professional/Technical Qualifications listed below. 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.

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 12 point font.

Professional/Technical Core Qualifications (PTQ):

PTQ 1 - .Experience which demonstrates an understanding of the administrative and program operations that support operational weather, water, and climate service delivery programs and observing systems engineering development.

PTQ 2 - Experience which demonstrates expertise in planning, development, technical design implementation and operation of large-scale data management, processing, and management information systems.

PTQ 3 - Experience using program planning and analysis skills to identify risks/issues and provide options/alternatives in response to problem areas associated with a variety of environmental technology and acquisition activities.

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

There is no education requirement for this position.

Additional information

Background Investigation: This position is designated as Secret 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.

COVID 19 Telework Status: The physical worksite for this position is located in Silver Spring, MD. However, the NOAA/NWS is currently under a maximum telework posture due to the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore, this position is currently under a 100 percent telework schedule. The position's telework schedule will likely change in the future when NOAA/NWS moves away from its telework posture. At that time, the incumbent will be expected to report to the physical work site in accordance with the updated status requirements of their supervisor. The nature and scope of future telework opportunities will be subject to the unit's telework policy, and any applicable bargaining unit agreements, and supervisory approval. Payment of relocation expenses, as applicable, will be paid in accordance with this Job Opportunity Announcement. Non-compliance with the supervisor's telework schedule requirement could result in adverse action, including separation.

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.

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.

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 Mary Wilson, the servicing Human Resources Specialist, either by e-mail at mary.wilson@noaa.gov or by telephone at 301-628-1880. 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.