Legislative Counsel

Closing Date: 8th May, 2024

Description:

Summary:
Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position.

Duties:
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 Legislative Counsel is located in the Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs (OCL) at the Department of the Interior (Department) and reports to the Director. The OCL is responsible for liaising with Congressional Committees and individual Members of Congress; coordinating the Department's presentation of views on all legislative matters and resolves inter- and intra-Departmental disagreements on policy and issues related to those views; and serving as the Secretary's focal point for Congressional oversight, Congressional correspondence, and Congressional requests for documents.

Specific Duties:
The incumbent carries out the following specific responsibilities:

• Oversees the preparation and coordination of the Department's views on all legislative matters to include proposed legislation, testimony, legislative reports, correspondence on legislation, and any other written statement expressing views on a legislative matter.
• Coordinates and engages in the establishment of legislative guidance and strategy, taking into account Administration and Departmental policies, fiscal constraints, and the need for a legislative program that reflects the needs of the diverse components and mandates of the Department.
• Advises the Secretary, the Assistant Secretaries, the Director of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, and the bureau and office directors on legislative and oversight matters using a thorough and detailed knowledge of legal concepts, principles, and practices.
• Directs the development and review of all Departmental testimony presented to authorizing committees of the U.S. Congress including who should represent the Department before Congress and directs and participates in the coordination of all testimony.
• Faciliates with the Director to assist the Department's nominees for Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed positions to finalize nominations and prepare for Senate confirmation activities.
• Represents the department with Office of Management and Budget, other executive Departments, and the White House at high level policy meetings in which those views are considered.

Applicants who meet the mandatory executive and technical qualifications will be evaluated by a panel of SES members to determine the degree to which they possess each of the listed qualifications. This evaluation will determine which applicants are best qualified. Each candidate's background including experience, education, awards, self-development, and training will be reviewed. This information will be obtained from the application package, including the required narrative statements for the technical and Executive Core Qualifications described in this vacancy.

Additionally, 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.

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.

Qualifications:
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ's)- *Required Documentation*

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.
Leadership Competencies: Creativity & Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision

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.
Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility

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.

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

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs)- *Required Documentation*

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.

• Broad knowledge of law and in-depth knowledge of multiple specialties (e.g., environmental law, land law, trust law, and financial management law).
• Extensive, specialized knowledge of and experience with the legislative process, and demonstrated experience in managing the legislative coordination and representation of an organization.

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.