Summary

The Executive Secretary performs a variety of high level, sensitive, and complex duties requiring involvement in substantive matters and in policy, program, and operational areas. This work covers the full range of Social Security programs.

Duties

The Executive Secretary provides executive leadership, direction, and coordination of the daily operation and activities of the Agency. This includes responsibility for generally overseeing the integration of component activities to ensure that an efficient, cooperative effort is made to carry out the Commissioner's directives and to achieve long- or short-term Agency goals. The incumbent shares responsibility and accountability with other members of the Executive Staff to address major problems, issues, or initiatives. Additionally, the Executive Secretary: Directs the review of documents for the attention and approval of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Chief of Staff, and Chief Operating Officer ensuring that the documents meet their standards. Acts as an advisor to the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Chief of Staff, or Chief Operating Officer on specific issues on an ad-hoc or ongoing basis. Brings to the Commissioner's attention a wide variety of issues for the decision on Agency policy and operations. The incumbent will typically present an analysis of the issues involved including appropriate alternatives. Participates in the development and implementation of systems and controls of critical issue/policy documents involving decision memoranda, congressional and White House correspondence, etc., which may require the Commissioner's, Deputy Commissioner's, Chief of Staff's, or Chief Operating Officer's attention. The incumbent is responsible for handling or directing staff to handle, on behalf of the Commissioner, contacts and negotiations with key officials of the Agency to obtain clearances, significant comments, value judgments and identification of possible causes of action for the Commissioner on official program/policy matters.

Requiremennts

U.S. Citizenship is required. In order to be considered minimally qualified for this position, candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (equivalent to the GS-15 in either the General Schedule (GS) or a comparable pay plan).

Qualifications

As a basic requirement, applicants MUST demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet this basic qualification requirement and all executive and technical qualification factors automatically disqualifies an applicant. You must clearly show that you possess the experience and leadership competencies to perform the duties of an executive. To be considered for this position, all applicants must address each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) listed below in the application documents you submit. Unless you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the Senior Executive Service, or have successfully completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program approved by OPM and been certified by OPM, you must submit a narrative statement covering each of the Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Your examples should be clear and concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives, and level of contacts. Each ECQ must be addressed separately and submitted with your application. Please refer to the OPM Guide to SES Executive Core Qualifications (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf) for guidance on how to describe your executive qualifications. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS: Narrative Statements for the ECQs must not exceed 10 pages; additional pages will not be considered. This document MUST be submitted using the "Executive Core Qualifications" document type. 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 resource 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. Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating 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, and Public Service Motivation. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION (DQ): An optional statement addressing the Desirable Qualification (DQ) is strongly recommended. No more than one (1) page per DQ is allowed; additional information will not be considered. This document should be submitted using the "Desirable Qualification" document type. Senior Level experience managing internal and external business correspondence on behalf of an organization/agency-head, to include reviewing high-level documents such as congressional responses, congressional testimonies, decision memoranda, and other executive level briefings on agency/organization wide sensitive policy and operational issues. **Note for Current and/or Former Political Appointees: Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office within your application package.

Additional Information

• The selectee for this position will be subject to an appropriate security investigation, including fingerprinting, periodic future reinvestigation(s), and security clearance requirements (if required). (2) Veteran's preference is not applicable to the SES. (3) This position is covered under the post-employment restrictions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (PL 95-521). This law also requires the selectee to file an Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (Standard Form 278) within 30 days of appointment. (4) Selectee must serve a one-year probationary period unless s/he previously completed one in the Senior Executive Service. (5) Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service System before they can be employed by an executive agency of the Federal government. This requirement does not apply to Agency employees appointed before November 8, 1985. (6) This position may be a Testing Designated Position. The selectee will be notified if they are required to submit to a pre-employment urinalysis drug screening within 48 hours of notification. After appointment, the selectee will then be subject to future random drug screening. All application materials are subject to the provisions of the privacy act and become property of SSA. The Social Security Administration provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be granted on a case-by-case basis. The Social Security Administration provides equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, disability, or conduct not adversely affecting employee performance.

The employees of the Social Security Administration are the stewards of the Federal Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance programs, as well as Supplemental Security Income for the aged, blind, and disabled.