- Position Title
- DHS Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program
- Agency
- DHS Headquarters
- Announcement Number
- DHS-SES-2021-11024629 Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Friday, February 5, 2021 to Friday, February 19, 2021
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans' Preference?
2.
Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.
Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?
Preferences
1.
Are you currently employed with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)?
2.
If you currently work for DHS, please select your assigned Component. (Note: If you do not work for DHS please select Non-Applicable)
3.
Please provide your current Grade Level or Equivalent. (Make only one selection - Current Grade)
Assessment 1
Applicants can make updates to their assessment questionnaire responses until the announcement closes. All updated responses will need to be re-submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET, February 19th, 2021.
Please note, all questions within this assessment questionnaire require a response to move forward with your application process. Please enter "N/A" or "Not Applicable" to any narrative box that does not apply to you.
Please note, all questions within this assessment questionnaire require a response to move forward with your application process. Please enter "N/A" or "Not Applicable" to any narrative box that does not apply to you.
CIVIL SERVICE: You must select one category (status or non-status) under which you will be considered. Status applicants are applicants serving under career or career-type appointments in the civil service (block 24 on a SF-50). Status applicants must apply as Status. Non-Status applicants are applicants who occupy other than career or career-type appointments within the civil service (e.g., temporary appointments). (NOTE: Excepted service employees may be considered status or non-status depending on whether the applicant has a career or career-type appointment as described above.)
1.
From the descriptions below, select the one category that applies to you.
2.
NARRATIVE: Please provide the following information for your current 1st line supervisor: (NOTE: Supervisor will only be contacted if you are selected as a candidate into the SES CDP).
(1) Full name
(2) Job title
(3) Phone number
(4) Email address
(1) Full name
(2) Job title
(3) Phone number
(4) Email address
3.
NARRATIVE: Please provide the following information for your current 2nd line supervisor: (NOTE: Supervisor will only be contacted if you are selected as a candidate into the SES CDP).
(1) Full name
(2) Job title
(3) Phone number
(4) Email address
(1) Full name
(2) Job title
(3) Phone number
(4) Email address
4.
Is your duty location located inside or outside of the National Capital Region (NCR)?
APPOINTMENT VERIFICATION: Current Career SES members or equivalents including members of the Transportation Security Executive Service (TSES), and former SES CDP graduates from any agency, will not be considered for this program.
5.
Are you currently, or have you been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch?
6.
Have you graduated from an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program in any Federal agency?
7.
Are you a current or former Career SES?
8.
Have your Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) been certified by OPM's Qualifications Review Board (QRB)?
SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE: All qualified individuals within the civil service who have at least one full year of supervisory experience at the GS-14 level (or equivalent) or above, and have demonstrated exceptional executive leadership potential are eligible to apply to the DHS SES CDP. Supervisory experience includes planning, assigning, and evaluating the work of subordinate employees.
9.
Do you have one year of supervisory experience at the GS-14 level (or equivalent) or above that included formally planning, assigning, and evaluating the work of subordinate employees? Your resume must support your response.
10.
NARRATIVE: If you responded 'Yes' to the above question, please list your job title and time period when you obtained your supervisory experience. Statements indicating "see resume" will not be considered. If you responded 'No', please enter "Not Applicable".
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS CATEGORIES: Selection into an SES position requires that you meet the technical qualifications (TQs) for that position.
11.
Applicants must select only one of the four occupational categories below to indicate which track they wish to be considered for this program. Applicants must meet the technical qualifications for the selected track, for which they are seeking consideration.
12.
Attorney/Legal (AL): If you selected Response "D" to Question 11, indicating you wish to be considered only for the Attorney/Legal track, do you have a Juris Doctorate (J.D.), and are you an active member in good standing of a State bar?
13.
NARRATIVE: If you selected Response "B" to the above question, please identify the state(s) in which you are licensed to practice law and your bar license number. If you selected response 'A', please enter "Not Applicable".
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
14.
Do you certify that you have qualifying experience and meet the minimum qualifications to serve in the program area you selected above?
ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD:
What is an Accomplishment Record?
An Accomplishment Record is a set of written statements describing an applicant's past achievements. As part of the DHS SES CDP selection process, applicants submit written narratives describing accomplishments that reflect their capability in three specific leadership competencies identified below. Applicants are also required to provide references to substantiate each accomplishment described. PLEASE READ THROUGH ALL OF THE INFORMATION BELOW TO ENSURE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE REQUIREMENT.
How should I write my Accomplishment Record?
Describe activities which reflect your highest capability for each competency. Include your individual level of accomplishment, and provide facts as clearly as possible so reviewers can evaluate and determine your level of proficiency. ARs must reflect the quality of your accomplishment, including: how it relates to the specific competency, and the accomplishment's scope and impact. Make sure to identify acronyms on first use.
You may submit more than one accomplishment for each competency as long as space allows. However, make sure each accomplishment is described in its full detail, as described below.
Each accomplishment must be written with the Challenge-Context-Action- Result (CCAR) model (Note: You should not label each element within the narrative).
Additional requirements: You are limited to 3,000 characters per competency, , as identified below. Each narrative must include the start and end dates of the time period during which the activities were performed. Please be specific and provide the month and year for the start and end dates (e.g., June 2009 to November 2009). Examples must be within the past ten years and need not be limited to work accomplishments.
Accomplishments from work performed in the community, academia, or any other context can be included. After each narrative, include the name, daytime telephone number, and email address of an individual for each competency who can verify the information you provide.
Be sure to indicate whether this person was your supervisor, co-worker, friend, instructor, chairman of a committee, etc. Do not use a spouse or a close relative (father, mother, etc.) or a person who is presently a direct subordinate as a verifier. The reference must be reachable within a reasonable period.
Applicants who do not provide reference information for each competency will be removed from consideration. Your response for each competency should clearly reflect your individual level of accomplishment related to that competency.
Provide the facts of your accomplishment as clearly as possible so another person can understand and evaluate what happened. Your description must reflect the quality of your accomplishment including: (a) how it relates to the specific competency and (b) its scope and impact. Identify acronyms on first use. Be as thorough and detailed as possible.
The following three competencies must be addressed individually in the Accomplishment Record:
What is an Accomplishment Record?
An Accomplishment Record is a set of written statements describing an applicant's past achievements. As part of the DHS SES CDP selection process, applicants submit written narratives describing accomplishments that reflect their capability in three specific leadership competencies identified below. Applicants are also required to provide references to substantiate each accomplishment described. PLEASE READ THROUGH ALL OF THE INFORMATION BELOW TO ENSURE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE REQUIREMENT.
How should I write my Accomplishment Record?
Describe activities which reflect your highest capability for each competency. Include your individual level of accomplishment, and provide facts as clearly as possible so reviewers can evaluate and determine your level of proficiency. ARs must reflect the quality of your accomplishment, including: how it relates to the specific competency, and the accomplishment's scope and impact. Make sure to identify acronyms on first use.
You may submit more than one accomplishment for each competency as long as space allows. However, make sure each accomplishment is described in its full detail, as described below.
Each accomplishment must be written with the Challenge-Context-Action- Result (CCAR) model (Note: You should not label each element within the narrative).
- Challenge - Describe a specific problem or goal.
- Context - Describe the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to address 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 measures/outcomes that had some impact on the organization.
Additional requirements: You are limited to 3,000 characters per competency, , as identified below. Each narrative must include the start and end dates of the time period during which the activities were performed. Please be specific and provide the month and year for the start and end dates (e.g., June 2009 to November 2009). Examples must be within the past ten years and need not be limited to work accomplishments.
Accomplishments from work performed in the community, academia, or any other context can be included. After each narrative, include the name, daytime telephone number, and email address of an individual for each competency who can verify the information you provide.
Be sure to indicate whether this person was your supervisor, co-worker, friend, instructor, chairman of a committee, etc. Do not use a spouse or a close relative (father, mother, etc.) or a person who is presently a direct subordinate as a verifier. The reference must be reachable within a reasonable period.
Applicants who do not provide reference information for each competency will be removed from consideration. Your response for each competency should clearly reflect your individual level of accomplishment related to that competency.
Provide the facts of your accomplishment as clearly as possible so another person can understand and evaluate what happened. Your description must reflect the quality of your accomplishment including: (a) how it relates to the specific competency and (b) its scope and impact. Identify acronyms on first use. Be as thorough and detailed as possible.
The following three competencies must be addressed individually in the Accomplishment Record:
- Financial Management - Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost benefit thinking to set priorities.
- Developing Others - Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
- Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
Anticipated Question: Where can I look for additional information about Accomplishment Records?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provides the following resources; however, applicants must comply with the instructions in this announcement to be considered:
Anticipated Question: How will I be evaluated on the narratives?
Accomplishment narratives are evaluated by a panel of trained raters using competency-based benchmarks. The competency- based benchmarks provide specific behavioral examples of what constitutes high, medium, and low levels of proficiency. Scoring is typically based on the degree to which the behaviors and outcomes described within the narratives reflect the benchmark levels of proficiency.
Anticipated Question: May I submit the same accomplishment for more than one competency?
Yes, however do not cross-reference other accomplishment narratives. Write each accomplishment in each competency as if the reader is only reading that one accomplishment. Each accomplishment narrative should be self-contained.
Anticipated Question: May I submit more than one accomplishment for each competency?
Yes, however be as complete and detailed as you can for each accomplishment. It may be better to have one very complete and detailed accomplishment example that uses the entire page than three broad accomplishment examples that provide little or no details as to what you did, how you did it, etc.
Anticipated Question: May I include non-paid experience in my narrative?
Yes. You may describe paid or volunteer work experience, educational accomplishments, training or educational pursuits, hobbies, sports, or any other accomplishment reflecting your level of competence. The accomplishment may be specific, such as a challenging assignment, a specific instance of high performance, or a project you successfully completed. Alternately, the accomplishment may be a broader example of sustained high performance in your daily work.
Anticipated Question: Am I required to submit reference information for my Accomplishment Record narratives?
Yes. You must supply the name, daytime telephone number and email address for an individual who can verify your listed accomplishment for each competency. Applicants who do not provide reference information for each competency will be removed from consideration.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provides the following resources; however, applicants must comply with the instructions in this announcement to be considered:
- Writing Accomplishment Record Narratives: Pages 23 - 28 (includes example narratives): https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf
- Assessment & Selection Other Assessment Methods: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/assessment-and-selection/other-assessment-methods/accomplishment-records/
Anticipated Question: How will I be evaluated on the narratives?
Accomplishment narratives are evaluated by a panel of trained raters using competency-based benchmarks. The competency- based benchmarks provide specific behavioral examples of what constitutes high, medium, and low levels of proficiency. Scoring is typically based on the degree to which the behaviors and outcomes described within the narratives reflect the benchmark levels of proficiency.
Anticipated Question: May I submit the same accomplishment for more than one competency?
Yes, however do not cross-reference other accomplishment narratives. Write each accomplishment in each competency as if the reader is only reading that one accomplishment. Each accomplishment narrative should be self-contained.
Anticipated Question: May I submit more than one accomplishment for each competency?
Yes, however be as complete and detailed as you can for each accomplishment. It may be better to have one very complete and detailed accomplishment example that uses the entire page than three broad accomplishment examples that provide little or no details as to what you did, how you did it, etc.
Anticipated Question: May I include non-paid experience in my narrative?
Yes. You may describe paid or volunteer work experience, educational accomplishments, training or educational pursuits, hobbies, sports, or any other accomplishment reflecting your level of competence. The accomplishment may be specific, such as a challenging assignment, a specific instance of high performance, or a project you successfully completed. Alternately, the accomplishment may be a broader example of sustained high performance in your daily work.
Anticipated Question: Am I required to submit reference information for my Accomplishment Record narratives?
Yes. You must supply the name, daytime telephone number and email address for an individual who can verify your listed accomplishment for each competency. Applicants who do not provide reference information for each competency will be removed from consideration.
ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD 1
Financial Management - Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost benefit thinking to set priorities.
Financial Management - Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost benefit thinking to set priorities.
15.
In the text box below, enter your Accomplishment Record for Financial Management in reference to Challenge, Context, Action and Result. (Note: The narrative text box will only accept 3,000 characters of your response, to include spaces. Characters beyond 3,000 will not be reviewed). (Limit 3,000 characters)
(limit 3,000 characters)
16.
Identify the name, daytime telephone number and email address for an individual who can verify your listed accomplishment for the Financial Management competency. Identify the relationship with this person.
17.
Identify the start and end dates of the time period during which the Financial Management activity was performed. Please provide the month and year for the dates (e.g. June 2012 to August 2015).
ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD 2
Developing Others - Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
Developing Others - Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
18.
In the text box below, enter your Accomplishment Record for Developing Others in reference to Challenge, Context, Action and Result. (Note: The narrative text box will only accept 3,000 characters of your response, to include spaces. Characters beyond 3,000 will not be reviewed). (Limit 3,000 characters)
(limit 3,000 characters)
19.
Identify the name, daytime telephone number and email address for an individual who can verify your listed accomplishment for the Developing Others competency. Identify the relationship with this person.
20.
Identify the start and end dates of the time period during which the Developing Others activity was performed. Please provide the month and year for the dates (e.g. June 2012 to August 2015).
ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD 3
Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals. In the text boxes below, enter your Accomplishment Record for Partnering.
Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals. In the text boxes below, enter your Accomplishment Record for Partnering.
21.
In the text boxes below, enter your Accomplishment Record for Partnering in reference to Challenge, Context, Action and Result.(Note: The narrative text box will only accept 3,000 characters of your response, to include spaces. Characters beyond 3,000 will not be reviewed). (Limit 3,000 characters)
(limit 3,000 characters)
22.
Identify the name, daytime telephone number and email address for an individual who can verify your listed accomplishment for the Partnering competency. Identify the relationship with this person.
23.
Identify the start and end dates of the time period during which the Partnering activity was performed. Please provide the month and year for the dates (e.g. June 2012 to August 2015).
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
24.
Do you certify that the information you have provided in all three Accomplishment Records are factual and your own work?