Clarification from the agency

You must complete the application process and submit all required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. This Senior Executive Service job is open to: U.S. Citizens (all qualified U.S. Citizens).

The DRA provides executive leadership of the Regional Office and works in partnership with state, local, and tribal and territorial governments, emergency managers, emergency response providers, medical providers, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, multijurisdictional councils of governments, and regional planning commissions and organizations in the geographical area served by the Regional Office. The DRA shares fully with the RA to implement and administer FEMA policies and programs in support of Agency and Administration goals and objectives, and to ensure customer satisfaction. Conducts strategic planning, coordination, analysis, and evaluation of Regional programs. Incumbent serves as the advocate of Administration policy for all FEMA programs based on headquarters guidance and in the absence of the RA, can be the point of contact to appropriate members of Congress, State Governors, Federal, state, and local officials, tribal governments, and territories on matters concerning FEMA’s regional policy, programs, and operations.   

The DRA makes day-to-day operational and management decisions, with signatory authority on matters not requiring the Regional Administrator’s review. Represents and speaks for the RA on matters concerning regional program operations in contacts with other components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), other Federal departments and agencies, customers, contractors, other business partners and the general public.

Works in concert with the RA and regional staff in the development of business practices, procedures and guidelines relating to reengineering and benchmarking initiatives as well as other actions to improve competitive standing of regional programs and activities. This includes assisting in identifying performance measures and methods for tracking, monitoring, evaluating and supporting performance improvement plans focused on cost, timeliness, and customer satisfaction or other performance measures associated with regional and local operations in connection with national goals and objectives.

Specific programs administered by the RA requiring Deputy Regional Administrator oversight and support:

• Regional comprehensive emergency preparedness and continuity programs including devolution planning in an all-hazards approach to emergency management. Assist in the development of regional capabilities needed for a national catastrophic response system.
• Disaster preparedness, response and recovery activities, and disaster assistance in accordance with the provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (the Stafford Act), when an emergency or a major disaster is declared by the President, including damage assessment, mitigation assistance, grants administration, and overall coordination of Federal, state, Local, Tribal, Territorial, private, and volunteer response efforts.
• Regional Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation programs, in accordance with the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, and Hazard Mitigation under Section 404 of the Stafford Act.
• Environmental and historic preservation measures to ensure compliance; Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands under EO 11988 and 11990, respectively.
• The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that encourages state and local participation in the NFIP, in accordance with the national Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended.
• The Technological Hazards program that supports state and local governments in the development and exercise of emergency response plans involving chemical or radiological incidents at commercial nuclear power plants as well as transportation accidents involving hazardous materials.

EMERGENCY ASSIGNMENT: Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
• File a Public Financial Disclosure (SF-278) within 30 days of appointment.
• If selected, a one-year SES Probationary period may be required.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain a Top Secret (SCI) clearance.
• This position is subject to random drug testing.

Qualifications

Each applicant is required to submit a comprehensive narrative statement, which addresses BOTH the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) outlined below. Applicants who do not submit a supplemental narrative statement that addresses these factors will be ineligible for further consideration. The narrative portion for the Technical Qualifications MUST NOT EXCEED 6 PAGES TOTAL. The supplemental narrative statement for the Executive Core Qualifications should address the necessary level of management skills, characteristics, qualities, specialized knowledge, and technical competence that would indicate successful performance in the SES. This evidence must include clear and concise examples that emphasize the applicant’s level of responsibilities, scope, and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives, and level of contacts. The narrative portion for the Executive Core Qualifications MUST NOT EXCEED 10 PAGES. For guidance in preparing a narrative statement addressing the ECQs, applicants can access OPM’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/

The following categories of applicants may omit the mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), but MUST address the Technical Qualification factors:

• Applicants who are currently serving under a SES career appointment (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50--Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES).
• Applicants who are eligible for reinstatement to the SES (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50--Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES).
• Applicants who are graduates of OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Programs (must provide proof of OPM Qualifications Review Board certification).

All required application materials will be reviewed to determine if applicants meet the mandatory qualification requirements. Qualification and experience determinations will be based only on the information supplied by the applicant. The best-qualified candidates for this position will be distinguished from other minimally qualified applicants by an evaluation committee to determine the degree to which qualification requirements are met. Applicants should provide specific evidence of possession of the mandatory Technical and Executive Core Qualifications, as outlined under Qualifications Criteria, to assist the evaluation committee in determining the best-qualified candidates that will be considered for final selection. The Executive Core Qualifications of the selectee are subject to approval by the Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board (QRB). Unless you have already been certified by an OPM QRB in the past, your ECQs must be certified by an OPM QRB before appointment can occur. 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. 

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS – MANDATORY

1.  Comprehensive knowledge and demonstrated ability to successfully apply emergency management principles and practices and the Federal Government's disaster response and recovery authorities to compliment and support state, tribal, territorial, and/or local governments as well as the non-profit and private sectors during all phases of emergency management.

2.  Knowledge of organization and program management theories, principals and techniques and ability to successfully use them to exercise leadership, manage a diverse and complex organization, and build effective and diverse teams.

3.  Demonstrated experience in collaborating with and building partnerships across federal and/or state and local agencies as well as with private and nonprofit organizations.

Applicants currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by OPM are not required to address the Executive Core  Qualifications (ECQs); but a narrative statement for each of the Technical  Qualifications (TQs) is recommended.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (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 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments and experience. Your application will be evaluated by an internal rating and ranking panel. Highly qualified candidates may undergo an interview and a reference check. Unless you have already been previously certified by a Qualifications Review Board (QRB), your Executive Core Qualifications must be certified by an OPM-sponsored QRB prior to appointment.