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Joining the Secret Service as the Chief of Communications will allow you to serve as the primary spokesperson for the Secret Service and a principle advisor to the Director, Deputy Director, and Chief Operating Officer on the development of Secret Service programs and decisions, ensuring that effective outreach and communication strategies are an integral part of the agency’s operations across all functions. For more information on the Secret Service click here.
Learn more about this agency07/30/2021 to 08/30/2021
$132,552 - $199,300 per year
ES 00
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required
Yes—We may pay relocation expenses.
Permanent
Full-time
Senior Executive
00
Yes
Yes
SES-JD004-21
609323500
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
Current excepted service federal employees.
Those who meet the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).
The Chief of Communications is a Senior Executive Service (SES) position leading the Office of Communications and Media Relations. In this role, you will serve as a primary spokesperson for the Secret Service and will be responsible for extensively communicating to a wide range of audiences including print, broadcast and social media, government officials, and other organizations. You will regularly handle media and public affairs matters across all programs under severe time constraints for developing messages, as well as analyzing information to determine the extent of its urgency and volatility. You will serve as the principle advisor to the Director and his staff on the development and implementation of robust outreach and communications strategies that will enhance the broad range of communications programs and activities within the organization. You will have oversight of the strategic and internal communication efforts and employee to include the internal and external websites, social media, speechwriting, and archivists.
As the Chief of Communications you will work in close partnership with other senior executives to develop and maintain continuing awareness of the agencies’ programs, developments and incidents, and leaderships’ interests and concerns. In addition, you will be expected to develop, plan and implement agency-wide policies and procedures governing information dissemination for external and internal communications.
If selected for this position, you will be required to:
Maintain a TS/SCI clearance and you may be required to submit to a polygraph examination. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
Successfully complete a one-year probationary period in the SES, unless you are exempt based on previous successful completion of such probation.
File an Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 within 30 days after appointment.
Background Investigation: You must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation in order to obtain a Top Secret Clearance as a condition of placement in this position.
Mobility Requirement: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders and generally is a key to advancement. Therefore applicants are expected to be mobile and once appointed SES members will be required to sign a mobility agreement and may be reassigned at the direction of the appointing authority.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Drug Testing: You must submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
Selective Service: If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 and selected for this position, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under Selective Service law.
(1) As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (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 Technical Qualifications listed below. 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-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 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.
(2) EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS: The fundamental competencies within the following five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) are also a part of the selection criteria for SES positions. We recommend that your resume include examples that emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope, complexity, and budget of programs managed, level of contacts, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions. For this vacancy announcement, no separate supplemental ECQ documentation is required. Your resume must incorporate each of the following ECQs:
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 Executive Core Qualification (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.
Applicants can obtain additional information regarding the Executive Core Qualifications on the Internet at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp
(3) MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs):
TQ1. Demonstrated experience as a spokesperson for a large agency / organization, including national-level multi-media engagements, with responsibility for planning, directing, and managing high-level corporate and/or agency communications and public relations programs and events. Experience in strategic messaging, corporate marketing, and creation of communication products for a large agency / organization.
TQ2. Experience and successful implementation of an effective internal communication program aimed at the continual delivery of information to employees and enhancement of employee engagement.
TQ3. Extensive written, oral and presentation communication skills to oversee the writing of speeches, opinion pieces, news releases, magazine stories and other communications.
Please do not submit separate statements addressing the ECQs and TQs.
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.
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
E-Verify Statement: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Click here to learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
This position will require a credit check after initial job qualifications have been determined.
SES positions are NOT subject to Veterans Preference. DO NOT submit your DD214.
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.
You will be evaluated based on the information you provide. Verification of performance, suitability, and security information from reference checks will be taken into consideration when making an offer of employment.
You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education. Your application will be evaluated by a rating and ranking panel, and highly qualified candidates may undergo an interview and reference checks. The Secret Service Executive Resources Board (ERB) will review results and make recommendations on final selection to the appointing authority. Unless you have already been certified by a Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past, your ECQs must be certified by a QRB after selection and before appointment can occur.
Interview Requirement: Multiple interviews may be required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.
To preview questions please click here.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR THE APPLICATION PACKAGE: To receive full consideration, each applicant must submit the documents in the format as designated. Packages that do not include all of the required documents will not be forwarded for consideration.
The Qualifications Documents: Item 1 must be formatted using size 12 font, with 1-inch margins and must not exceed five (5) pages. Do not use borders, provide photos, or list a Social Security Number. Items 2 – 5 must be scanned and uploaded with your application no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Do not submit any additional documents. Unsolicited documents will not be considered.
To verify your application is complete:
Note: ONLY ONE APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED PER INDIVIDUAL; MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS WILL DISQUALIFY THE APPLICANT.
See the Required Documents section for specific document information. Your occupational questionnaire, Resume, and SF-50 (if applicable) for this announcement must be received online via the USAJOBS/Secret Service Hire application system by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit a complete application will eliminate an applicant from further consideration.
Our evaluation will be based on the information you provide. We may also verify performance, suitability, and security information from reference checks and take that information into account in making selections.
This position is being advertised via Secret Service Hire which is an automated staffing system. If you have questions pertaining to your application, you may contact Executive Resources at SESSUPPORT@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling 202-680-8370 (excluding weekends and Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance. Applicants must contact the Agency Point of Contact no later than 4:00 p.m. (EDT) on the closing date of the announcement if assistance is needed when submitting an application.
Special Employment Consideration: The Secret Service encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, and/or psychiatric disabilities].
You may check the status of your application for this position by going to www.usajobs.gov. Click on the "My USAJOBS" tab, enter your user id and password, and click on "My Applications". You will also receive an email notification regarding your application status.
EEO Policy Statement: http://www.usajobs.gov/eeo
Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: http://www.usajobs.gov/raps
Veterans Information: http://www.usajobs.gov/vi
Legal and Regulatory Guidance: http://www.usajobs.gov/lrg
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/609323500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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Building on a Tradition of Excellence and Meeting the Challenges of the Future
The Secret Service is a premier law enforcement organization with two critical national security missions: protect our nation's leaders and to conduct criminal investigations. Our team members continue a tradition of excellence - whether investigating financial crime or protecting national and visiting foreign leaders. In the Secret Service, we serve the country with duty, loyalty, justice, integrity and courage. In the Secret Service, we:
