USDA invites qualified individuals to apply to the Senior Executive Service (SES) Candidate Development Program, (CDP), expected to begin December 2024. The SES CDP is designed to develop individuals with proven leadership potential who wish to serve at the executive levels of government. Qualified individuals are those who have demonstrated, through their performance and experience, the potential to assume executive-level positions with the Federal Government.

Duties

The USDA 12-16 month Candidate Development Program (CDP) integrates the following components: Orientation Modules 360 Assessment Executive Coaching Executive Development Plan Interagency "Classroom" Training Executive Mentoring Developmental Assignment Agency Action Learning Project Continuous Learning Activities Professional Readings OneUSDA Forum Series

Requirements

• Veterans Preference is not applicable in the Senior Executive Service.
• You must be a United States Citizen.
• Narrative Statements for the ECQs must not exceed 5 pages.
• You must have at least one-year experience equivalent to the GS-14 level and above.
• You must submit all application documents by the closing date.
• You must be a civil service employee.
• A minimum of 1-year supervisory experience at the GS 14 level or above.

Qualifications

The USDA's SES Candidate Development Program requires that individuals have at least one year of supervisory experience at the GS-14 level (or above). Candidates must demonstrate competence or potential for development in the five SES Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) which are the leadership criteria defined by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to certify candidates for SES positions. OPM will certify candidates primarily on their demonstrated mastery of the ECQs. OPM's Guide to the Senior Executive Service Qualifications provides detailed information on the Executive Core Qualifications. As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Services (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 listed below. After a Candidate completes the program, the Executive Review Board (ERB) will determine if the candidate successfully completed all SESCDP requirements and demonstrated that they are prepared to serve as a member of the SES or if more development is needed. Training for the SESCDP will be funded by the candidate's employing organization. The total estimated cost is $25,000 per candidate. The home organization continues to pay salary and benefits and will incur any travel cost. All applicants must submit online written statements in narrative format, not to exceed 5 pages, describing your accomplishments against each of the ECQs. You must address each ECQ separately and are required to respond to all ECQs. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as "ineligible." When addressing the ECQs, applicants must include one notable example per ECQ using the Challenge-Context-Action-Result (CCAR) model: 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. 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. 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 policymaking, policy determining, or other executive functions. Failure to meet the basic qualification requirements outlined and to address all Executive Core Qualification factors will result in your application being disqualified. Phase I: Initial Review of Application Package The application package will undergo review for completeness, basic qualifications, and eligibility. Phase II: Minimum Qualifications Review Applicants who are qualified through the initial review, will receive a review of their resume and documentation. Applicants must submit a Standard Resume, SF-50, and responses to all ECQ's, not to exceed 5 pages. Font is to be no smaller than size 11 with .5 margins and single spaced. ECQ's are to be in narrative format, describing their accomplishments against each of the five executive core competencies: 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. (Competencies: creativity and innovation, external awareness, flexibility, resilience, strategic thinking, vision) Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organizations 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. (Competencies: conflict management, leveraging diversity, developing others, team building) 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. (Competencies: accountability, customer service, decisiveness, entrepreneurship, problem solving, technical credibility) Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. (Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management) 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. (Competencies: partnering, political savvy, influencing/negotiating). Phase III: Structured Interview (SI) Applicants who reach this phase will undergo a structured interview by a panel of USDA executives. The panel will rate and assess candidates using targeted questions. Candidates advancing to the structured interview phase will be required to provide Agency and Supervisory Endorsement. Phase IV: Certificate Best qualified applicants will be placed on a selection certificate for selection consideration by the USDA Executive Resources Board (ERB). Phase V: Selection The USDA SES CDP Executive Resources Board (ERB) will confirm and ratify final selections based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and potential to master the 5 Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).

Education

This job does not have an educational qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Departmental Administration - ONE USDA 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Maria Gonzalez
• Phone: 240-877-9278
• Email: [email protected]