Duties

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management is looking for a dynamic, innovative, seasoned executive to lead the Communications Office.
The Communications Office provides leadership for all messaging across EM HQ and sites and develops mission strategies, policy, and guidance to support EM's environmental mission. The office provides guidance for integrated, timely, and responsive internal and external communications across the EM complex and has the overriding responsibility to support field offices by enabling the effective execution of the mission. As the Director for Communications you will:

• Provide day-to-day operational oversight and management of the EM communications office including media relations, public affairs, congressional outreach, communication with state and local elected officials, internal communications, directives review, procedure development, conference management and FOIA to ensure line management accountability.
• Provide communications and congressional affairs support and advice to the EM program and field offices. Play a vital role in managing operations and directly and profoundly influence EM-wide policy and planning related decisions.
• Exercise full managerial authority and seamless integration of all Communication Office policies, practices, and innovative business solutions to complex EM challenges.
• Direct office organizational activities, frame strategic plans based on broad organizational assessments and evaluations of long-term organizational objectives.
• Determine the financial and personnel resources needed to achieve mission objectives and support mission operations.
• Identify the need for major organizational improvements and develop the requisite plans and direct implementing actions.
• Oversee and direct the internal organization, staffing, policies, and personnel authorities required to carry out the responsibilities of the Office, including the recruitment of senior managers and technical experts necessary to ensure the success of the programs.
• Serve as the senior advisor for EM on the planning, preparation and implementation of a communications program and the goals and strategies to reach targeted and broad audiences.
• Advise and inform senior leaders on the needs and perceptions of internal and external audiences as they relate to or are affected by EM programs.
• Participate in the development of EM strategies and policies to ensure transparent, timely and accurate communication with all internal and external stakeholders and interested parties.
• Provide executive leadership of strategic communications for EM including the review, development and implementation of EM policies, requirements, and strategies.
• Oversee the management and coordination of external affairs (including media, Congressional, and stakeholder outreach) and internal communications.
• Serve as the senior EM point of contact on Congressional Affairs. Provide executive leadership of the tracking of Congressional interfaces, preparation of briefing papers, speeches, and associated materials for use by senior DOE and EM officials.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THIS VACANCY: This is a career position in the SES. Unless the selectee is already a member of the SES with career status or has successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program certified by OPM, executive qualifications must be approved by OPM before the appointment can be effected. If you are selected, you will be responsible for working with a DOE Executive Consultant to finalize your ECQ narrative for OPM submission.
CITIZENSHIP: You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE (HSPD-12): A selectee's appointment is contingent upon compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity.
PUBLIC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT (OGE 278): If you are selected for this position, will be required to file this report prior to entry on duty in accordance with the Ethics of Government Act of 1978.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD: An individual's initial SES career appointment becomes final only after the individual successfully completes a one-year probationary period.
SECURITY CLEARANCE: You must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance
DRUG TESTING: As a condition of appointment to this position, you will be subject to pre-employment/pre-appointment testing for illegal drug use under the U.S. Department of Energy Employee Drug Plan. If you are selected you will be provided information regarding drug testing. Failure to undergo testing or positive findings resulting from the test will eliminate you from further consideration for this position. If selected for and appointed to this position you will be subject to random drug testing while employed.
SELECTIVE SERVICE: All males born after December 31, 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
MOBILITY: A mobility agreement may be required based on mission needs.
E-VERIFY: New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Benefits

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  It is important you include and address all ECQs, MTQs, and accomplishments in your resume, MTQ narrative, and optional cover letter. A sample 5-page resume addressing ECQs can be viewed in the Guide to SES Qualifications (indexed at page 29-37).
  Thoroughly review the following list to determine the documentation you need to submit. If you fail to submit required documentation before the announcement closes, you will be rated "ineligible." Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  1. ALL APPLICANTS - Five (5) page ECQ-based Resume including the following:

  • Full name, mailing and email addresses, day & evening telephone numbers
  • Education information including:
    • Name, city, state of colleges/universities attended, major & type of degree received.
    • Report only schools accredited by the accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
  • All work experience (paid and unpaid) including:
    • Job title, duties/accomplishments, employer's name/address, start/end dates (include month, day, and year), average hours per week worked, salary
  • Honors, awards, special accomplishments

  Tips for preparing SES applications. We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions.

  2. ALL APPLICANTS - MTQ Narrative (no more than one page per MTQ, using 1 inch margins and 12 point font size).

  3. Current or former career SES members must provide a SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.

  4. Applicants who have successfully completed an OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program must submit a copy of their certification.

  5. Current or former Federal Civilian employees, must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) documenting the following: 1) Full position title; 2) appointment type; 3) occupational series; 4) pay plan, grade, and step; 5) tenure code; 6) service computation date (SCD).

  6. ALL APPLICANTS - If positive education requirement: you must submit a copy of your transcript(s) or a separate course listing showing the course title, department, hours earned (quarters or semester), and grade. If you have completed any part of your education outside of the U.S., you must submit the evaluation of your foreign education that has been prepared by an accredited organization. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) can provide a list of who can evaluate your foreign education. For additional information, visit Department of Education.

  7. Optional - cover letter (one page maximum).
  NOTE:

  • All documents must be uploaded into the system; USAJobs Resume Builder resumes will not be accepted.
  • Separate written narratives addressing the ECQs will not be considered.
  • Pages submitted in excess of the limits described above will not be considered. Substituting pages for other required documents in the application is not acceptable (e.g., submitting only a four-page resume but adding an additional page to address an MTQ).
  • Do not use borders, provide photos or list a Social Security Number or date of birth on any attachment.
  • If you are selected for this position, you may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your responses.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

  Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. Faxed or e-mailed applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. Requests for extensions will not be granted.
  All statements made in this application are subject to investigation and any false or dishonest answer to any question may be grounds for disqualification and loss of consideration. If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.
  The application process is as follows:

  • You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.

  • To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.

  • Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.

  • You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.

  You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
  To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
  If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/
  If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.

  Agency contact information

  Anjellika Jacobs

  Phone

  240-220-0469

  Email

  anjellika.jacobs@hq.doe.gov

  Address

  Office of Environmental Management - Headquarters
  P.O. Box 5088
  Oak Ridge, TN 37831
  US

  Next steps

  You may check your application status any time after the announcement closes. USAJOBS has added an alert setting to the system to drive status updates notification for applicants. We recommend that you update your USAJOBS profile to receive these status updates via email after the announcement closes. We will continue to update your status on-line as changes are made. Applicants who meet the mandatory ECQs and MTQs will be evaluated by a panel of senior executives.
  Once a candidate has been identified for selection, reference checks may be completed. The Department's appointing official(s) will make a final approval of the selection, and in competitive cases, OPM's Qualifications Review Board (QRB) must certify the ECQs before final appointment can occur. If OPM/QRB certification is required, the candidate identified for selection is required to prepare their ECQ package for OPM/QRB certification. Verification of performance, suitability and security information from reference checks will be taken into consideration when making offers of employment.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Clarification from the agency

Open to All U.S. Citizens