Summary
The Department of the Interior is seeking highly qualified candidates for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Assistant Director, Office of Conservation Investment (OCI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located in Washington, D.C. The Department classifies SES positions by category to establish minimum pay levels. This position is designated as Category 4, with a minimum annual salary of $186,207. Veterans' preference does not apply to positions in the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Duties
The Assistant Director, Office of Conservation Investment (OCI) performs the following key responsibilities: Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for nationally significant conservation grant and financial assistance programs that support fish and wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, Tribal stewardship, recreational access, and public opportunities for hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, and conservation education. Assesses program and project feasibility and establishes national goals, priorities, performance expectations, and implementation strategies to advance OCI's mission and ensure effective program delivery. Exercises executive management and oversight of an annual conservation investment portfolio of approximately $1.3 billion and leads a geographically dispersed national organization responsible for administering complex financial assistance programs. Provides executive leadership for OCI's audit readiness, enterprise risk management, statutory and environmental compliance, and internal control activities, ensuring accountability and stewardship of public resources. Evaluates proposed Departmental policies, consolidated fiscal processes, and management initiatives to assess their operational, financial, and programmatic effects on OCI programs and statutory responsibilities. Serves as a principal executive representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on matters involving national conservation investment and financial assistance programs, engaging with Departmental leadership, Federal agencies, States, Tribes, conservation partners, and other stakeholders to advance national conservation priorities.
Requirements
U.S. Citizenship Subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination. You must be able to obtain/maintain a Tier 4 background investigation. This a Public Trust, Non-Sensitive, High-Risk, position. Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required) Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirements. To verify registration visit SSS.gov. Selections are subject to Department approval. Initial appointments to the SES must have to undergo an ECQ based structured interview with Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Initial appointments into the Senior Executive Service require a one-year probationary period. Individuals selected for an SES position are subject to reassignment Agencies must request OPM approval to appoint current or former (within 5 years) Executive Branch political appointees to permanent competitive service, non-political excepted service, or career SES position.
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. 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 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated based on the quality and scope of your experience and accomplishments. Your Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) must be clearly demonstrated within your two-page resume. Applicants who do not sufficiently demonstrate the required ECQs and TQs will not receive further consideration. Applicants who meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements will have their resumes evaluated by a panel of SES members. The panel will assess the extent to which each applicant demonstrates the required ECQs and TQs. The highest-qualified applicants may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. If the selected candidate has not received Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the candidate will be required to participate in an ECQ-based structured interview with OPM as part of the SES appointment approval process.