Deputy Chief, Office of Policy and Strategy

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Policy and Strategy. As the Deputy Chief, you will provide senior-level policy and strategic advice to the USCIS Director and Deputy Director. He/She will ensure alignment with the agency and Administration priorities, support budget execution, and advance USCIS mission objectives.

Duties

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). We lawfully administer immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establish immigration services policies and priorities. The Office of Policy & Strategy (OP&S) develops national immigration policy recommendations; coordinates regulations development; supports the creation and approval of official information collections by USCIS; performs research, evaluation, and analysis on immigration issues; and is a principal liaison on immigration policy and strategic planning issues with DHS headquarters and sister agencies that reflect the goals of the USCIS Director. Major Duties The Deputy Chief of OP&S provides advice and counsel to the Director and Deputy Director on major policies and programs. He/She utilizes in-depth knowledge and awareness of the USCIS vision, strategy, mission and policy, and program objectives in order to review and interpret policy and program issues. The Deputy Chief will exercise executive direction and leadership in advising the Director and carrying out the following duties and responsibilities: Manages the immigration policy drafting and development process to prepare policies for implementation by relevant offices. Obtains information and data from subordinate supervisors, as needed, and evaluates program recommendations submitted in terms of their impact on broad program goals and strategic initiatives, ensuring that they align with agency direction and other USCIS policies. Consults with the Director and Deputy Director of USCIS and other high-level officials on a wide range of policy issues. Actively participates in the budget formulation and execution process for furtherance of USCIS program goals and objectives. Assisting in the development of the Unified Agenda and direct the preparation and review of information and reports required for DHS, Congress, and other authorized agencies. Acts as an ambassador on behalf of USCIS with DHS and other governmental bodies on issues arising from the policy development process, including substantive policy and operational positions and implementation timelines. As a member of the agency's executive team, you will implement the President's Management Agenda within your specific area of responsibility. For an overview of the various responsibilities USCIS carries out within the Government, visit our website at http://www.uscis.gov.

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 qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. For a sample resume, see Appendix 2 of OPM's Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications and the Qualifications Review Board. Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs). The ECQs and TQs should be evident in the 2-page resume. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. TQ 1: Demonstrates executive level experience in citizenship and immigration law or policy, including but not limited to the ability to analyze legislative, Administration, and stakeholder suggested policy proposals. Demonstrates the ability to build and maintain networks while communicating the results of that analysis to a wide range of recipients both inside and outside the federal government, ensuring management goals are met. TQ 2: Demonstrates executive level knowledge in the adjudication of citizenship and adjustment of status applications and petitions. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not effectively demonstrate evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. There are five ECQs: ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a 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 - This core qualification involves the 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 - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the 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 - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete this application and submit any required documents specified in the Required Documents section and submit by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select and upload your résumé and/or other required documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.