Associate Director for Visitor Experience

More than 20,000 employees work in a wide variety of disciplines and organizations, from parks to regions to national programs, throughout the National Park Service. They are led by the NPS Director, who is supported by senior executives who manage national programs, policy, and budget in the Washington, DC, headquarters, (WASO) and seven regional directors responsible for national park management and program implementation.

Qualifications:

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualifications, you must submit a two-page resume (max) that shows you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and two Technical Qualifications (TQs). To be considered, only the first 2 pages of your resume will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Technical Qualifications (TQs) are designed to assess an applicant's experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience and accomplishments related to the TQs below:

1. Demonstrated ability to manage a complex program which includes at least 3 of these areas: visitor experience, visitation data analytics, recreation and lands management, concessions management, interpretation and education programs and media development, and promotion of engagement opportunities.
2. Demonstrated ability to manage personnel and budget-related issues that affect a major organization.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): Your two-page resume should also show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications listed below. By statute, the Office of Personnel Management prescribes Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for the appointment of career SES members. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and not technical expertise.

ECQ 1-Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: Demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency: Demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence: Demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 - Leading People: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5 - Achieving Results: Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Qualifications will be evaluated based on how clearly and concisely you emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of your programs; services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of your actions taken. Typically experience will have been gained at the GS-15 or equivalent in the private sector or non-governmental organizations. Executive Core Qualifications

Already SES Certified? If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the Senior Executive Service, or have completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SES CDP) approved by OPM, please submit a two-page resume and personnel action showing you have held a career SES position. SES CDP graduates must submit a two-page resume and a copy of their CDP program certification with their package.

Responsibilities:

The Associate Director for Visitor Experience provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and policy oversight for Service-wide visitor experience programs that define how the public engages with, understands, and values the National Park System. Responsibilities include:

• Serves as the focal point within NPS for providing advice and guidance in reaching decisions on a range of management and policy issues relating to the programmatic areas, which include the following activities: engagement programs designed to foster meaningful connections between people and national parks; visitor experience operations that directly support public use, learning, and enjoyment of national parks; national interpretive and educational media development ensuring the design, production, and delivery of high-quality, accessible, and innovative interpretive media that support visitors' understanding and learning outcomes.
• Evaluates program performance against organizational objectives, endorsing key plans and changes in directives, and analyzing structural and resource needs to enhance operational effectiveness.
• Serves as a member of the NPS leadership team. Collaborates with the Director and other leaders to set overall policy, establish priorities, define the strategic direction of the Service, and determine legislative goals and strategies at a national level.

Salary : $186,207