The Director Office of Hearings and Appeals is located in the Office of the Secretary of Interior at the Department of the Interior and reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Administrative Services.
As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, each applicant must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of executive-level management capabilities that are directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications listed below. The ideal candidate will have experience managing 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 equivalent in the private sector or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet this basic qualification requirements in addition to all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically disqualify an applicant.
The Incumbent Carries Out The Following Specific Responsibilities
The Director exercises program management and administrative responsibilities with respect to the hearings and appeals functions of the Department in accordance with existing policies, regulations, and procedures. These responsibilities include strategic planning, budget formulation and execution, performance management, human capital management, and information resources management.
The Director exercises program management capabilities in setting budget execution and formulation goals; maintains strong relationships with the Department's Budget Office and works collaboratively with that office to secure approval for necessary budget increases or approaches to address potential budget shortfalls.
The Director establishes relationships and works collaboratively with Human Resources to execute workforce planning priorities for OHA generally. When necessary, the Director coordinates between Human Resources and Budget to implement specific workforce initiatives such as the hiring of detailees, law clerks, or other temporary or detailed staff to bridge budgetary gaps while addressing and prioritizing the workload of the various OHA units. To address other budgetary challenges, the Director may coordinate with Human Resources and the Budget Office to employ staff reduction initiatives such as VERA, VSIP, and RIF processes.
The Director exercises jurisdiction over the Administrative Law Judges in the Office's Hearings Divisions for administrative purposes only, including strategic planning, setting of annual adjudication goals, and budgetary decisions. The Director may not direct or participate in decisions of the Administrative Law Judges.
The Director, in accordance with Supreme Court precedent, policy, and guidance, develops appropriate policies and practices for the recruitment and recommendation of judges to be appointed by the Secretary to fill vacant or newly created positions for judges. The Director maintains and cultivates relationships with the Secretary's designee to work on judge appointments to ensure timely and smooth implementation of the appointment decisions.
The incumbent manages a highly diverse and geographically dispersed workforce, and will be required to travel on occasion to provide vision and direction to said workforce. Moreover, the incumbent will be expected to cultivate a fruitful professional working relationship with the Office of the Solicitor and other offices and bureau to ensure the mission of the organization is fully achieved.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
U.S. Citizenship
You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1-year probationary period
Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required)
This position requires pre and post-employment drug screening.
The Office of Personnel Management has identified five executive core qualifications (ECQs). The ECQs define the competencies needed to build a federal corporate culture that drives for results, serves customers, and builds successful teams and coalitions within and outside the organization. The ECQs are required for entry to the Senior Executive Service and are used by many departments and agencies in selection, performance management, and leadership development for management and executive positions. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential-not technical expertise.
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.
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.
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
MTQs are designed to assess an applicants experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Each MTQ narrative response must 1.) not exceed two pages per narrative statement; 2.) include specific examples of your experience, education, and/or accomplishments; and 3.) address specific challenges, contexts, actions, and results.
Demonstrated experience in managing and overseeing a multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed organization to include attorneys and professional staff and managing a Department-level appropriation with a strategic vision to support and maximize efficient unit operations.
Demonstrated proficiency in and originality of approach in interpreting and applying legal principles and resolution to judicial problems in one or more of the following areas: natural resources law, public lands law, environmental law, probate of estates, and Alaska Native and Indian Affairs law.
Demonstrated knowledge of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act and the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act, as well as alternative dispute resolution programs, and experience with the use of alternative dispute resolution processes in the administrative hearings and appeals processes.
Demonstrated experience in managing attorneys and judges (both Administrative Judges and Administrative Law Judges) as well as demonstrated experience with administrative hearings and appeals.
Challenge-Context-Action-Result(s) (CCAR) Model.
CCAR Model is outline below. When addressing the ECQs and MTQs, you are strongly recommended to utilize the CCAR Model . Each ECQ or MTQ statement should include more than one example 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. Your responses to the ECQs and MTQs will be evaluated based on how clearly and concisely you emphasize your 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.
You are required to submit separate narrative statements for each ECQ and MTQ to receive consideration for this position. Please see the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section for complete details regarding the page limitation and formatting requirement.
Education
Applicants must have a J.D. or LL.B. degree and be current members in good standing of a bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or commonwealth of the United States. You must provide a copy of your unofficial transcript that proves that you have successfully graduated from an accredited law school.
YOU MUST PROVIDE PROOF THAT YOU MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.
Additional Information
CURRENT FEDERAL APPLICANTS : If you are a federal employee (non-SES or SES), then you must include your most recent performance appraisal within the last 12 months of your submission to this application. Additionally, you must include your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that reflects an appointment (i.e., initial, transfer, reinstatement, and etc.) or pay adjustment.
NON-FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must include your most recent performance appraisal within the last 12 months of your submission to this application OR a justification stating the reason why this information cannot be provided.
Special Note To All Applicants
Your resume, performance appraisal, SF-50, Executive Core Qualification's (ECQs), and Mandatory Technical Qualification's (MTQs) for this announcement must be received online via the USAJOBS/Application Manager application system by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on closing date of the announcement. ECQs and MTQs must be submitted in the CCAR model format as previously outlined within this vacancy announcement. Email submissions from an applicant will not be accepted. Failure to submit a complete application will eliminate an applicant from further consideration. Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist point-of-contact prior to the closing date if assistance is needed to submit an application online.
The applicant selected for this position will be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report, SF-278, and the supplemental form, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interest, DI-278. All forms must be filed within 30 days after the selection for this position.
The sensitivity level of the position requires completion of a successful background investigation of the selectee.
Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.
If applicable, travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulations and Departmental policy.
Click here for general eligibility for a permanent change of station (PCS) move.
Click here for Federal Travel Regulations PCS information.
To view FAQ regarding PCS click here.
Senior Executive Service Probationary Period : If you are selected for this position, you will be required to serve a one-year SES probationary period, if one has not previously been completed.
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Other
Industries
Human Resources Services
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