KEY REQUIREMENTS



• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must meet specialized experience
• One year probationary period may be required
• Travel is required for this position
• A background investigation is required
• Must meeet mandatory technical and executive core qualifications.

* Initiates and leads the evaluation and analysis of existing energy policies and regulations and proposes new policies and regulations to address current and emerging energy issues. Efforts result in recommendations to the Commission which may lead to development of policy statements, rulemakings, or other orders. Scope of jurisdictional matters include those arising under Part II of the Federal Power Act, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, the Public Utility Holding Company Act, the Natural Gas Act, the Natural Gas Policy Act, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

*Actively engages in a process of continuous learning through formal and informal industry outreach, executive level training and leadership opportunities,  attendance and speaking at and on a broad range of events and topics for the purpose of ensuring the Commission’s policies remain effective given changes in industry, technology, environment and customer needs.

* Promotes effective communication and coordination with all internal stakeholders and external stakeholders consistent with the Commission’s rules and regulations.  Participates in the Office's interactions with Congress by: overseeing the substantive development and completion of Congressionally-mandated reports such as those required under the Energy Policy Act of 2005; contributing to the analysis of proposed legislation; composing Congressional testimony; and representing the Commission in Congressional committee meetings and in meetings with other agencies and affected interest groups for the purpose of explaining the Commission's policies and decisions.

* Mentors office staff by: providing regularly scheduled Division-wide meetings to discuss emerging issues; identifying and arranging for basic engineering, ratemaking, writing, and economic training; and meeting one-on-one with staff as needed.

* Ensures the timely completion of all administrative and business
 requirements, including the business plan, strategic plan, contract requirements, computer and other IT needs.

To qualify for this position, you must address the following Mandatory Technical Qualifications.

Mandatory Technical Qualifications:

1. Demonstrate your expert understanding of enabling statutes associated with FERC-jurisdictional electric and natural gas markets (e.g., the Federal Power Act, the Natural Gas Act, Energy Policy Act of 2005) and your ability to apply this knowledge to matters that come before the FERC.

2. Demonstrate, through specific and detailed examples, how you have applied your expert legal, economic, and technical knowledge of FERC-jurisdictional markets and FERC orders, rules, regulations, policies, precedents, and decisions (e.g., Order Nos. 1000, 890, 719, 636, 888) to develop original policy positions, new rational for policy positions, or novel critiques of policy positions.

3.Demonstrate your level of expert understanding of the Commission’s major regulations in areas of open access electric transmission and natural gas transportation; generator interconnection standards; cost-of-service and market-based rate regulation; qualifying facilities; reliability standards; and organized energy markets.

4. Demonstrate your ability to concisely frame policy and legal arguments in a coherent, logical, and legally-supportable manner.

You must have at least one year of specialized experience at a level close to the work of this job that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform. Typically we would find this experience in work within this field or a field that is closely related. You must demonstrate possession of specialized experience in the described duties. This level of experience must be gained at or above the GS-15 level or its equivalent and demonstrates progressive responsible experience in the leadership/executive and technical areas. Applicants for an initial SES career appointment must clearly demonstrate that they possess the broad executive core qualifications needed to succeed in the SES. A summary of the key characteristics for the Executive Core Qualifications can be found at this link: http://opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: If selected for this position, you will be required to: complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment; have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer; and go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated on the Executive Core Qualifications in addition to the Mandatory Technical Qualifications. When describing your technical qualifications, please give examples and explain how often you used your skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possessed, the level of people you interacted with, the sensitivity of the issues you handled, etc.

Applicants will be evaluated on their resume, Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications to determine the best qualified candidates. In order to properly review your qualifications, please ensure that your resume clearly indicates evidence that you qualify for the Senior Executive Service position and that you possess the Mandatory Technical Qualifications.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): In order to be considered for the position, applicants must submit a narrative statement separately addressing each of the five ECQ's. Each statement should contain at least two examples describing experiences and accomplishments/results specific to that ECQ. As a guideline, 1-2 pages per ECQ is sufficient. Applicants for an initial SES career appointment must clearly demonstrate that they possess the broad executive core qualifications needed to succeed in the SES. A guide to assist with writing the ECQ narratives can be found at this link: http://opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp

You will be evaluated on the following Executive Core Qualifications:

ECQ 1: LEADING CHANGE. This core qualification involves the 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:

1. Creativity and Innovation Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.

2. External Awareness Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shapes stakeholder's views; is aware of the organizational impact on the external environment.

3. Flexibility Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.

 4. Resilience Deals effectively with pressure, remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.

5. Strategic Thinking Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risk.

6. Vision Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.

ECQ 2: LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide and inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

Leadership Competencies:

1. Conflict Management Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.

2. Leveraging and Diversity Fosters and inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.

3. Developing Others Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.

4. Team Building Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.

ECQ 3: RESULTS DRIVEN. This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer service expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is 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:

1. Accountability Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.

2. Customer Service Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.

3. Decisiveness Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, when data is limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.

4. Entrepreneurship Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.

5. Problem Solving Identifies and analyzes problems; weights relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.

6. Technical Credibility Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations and policies related to specialized expertise.

ECQ 4: BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

 Leadership Competencies:

1. Financial Management Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.

2. Human Capital Management Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations.

3. Technology Management Keeps up-to-date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.

ECQ 5: BUILDING COALITIONS. This core qualification 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:

1. Partnering Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.

2. Political Savvy Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.

3. Influencing/Negotiating Persuades others, builds consensus through give and take, gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.

Fundamental Competencies: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications.

Competencies:

1. Interpersonal Skills Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feeling of different people in different situations.

2. Oral Communication Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.

3. Integrity/Honesty Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.

4. Written Communication Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

5. Continual Learning Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.

6. Public Service Motivation Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs; aligns organizational objectives and practices with public interests.

We offer a workplace that is respectful, fair, and values diversity. Our comprehensive benefits are very generous - helping you to reach your personal goals by supporting your professional growth, health, well-being, and your family needs. Our benefits package includes: Challenging work, opportunities for advancement, competitive salaries, bonuses and incentive awards; Ten paid holidays, 13 days of sick leave, and 26 days of vacation time each year; Access to insurance programs that may be continued after you retire; A wide choice of health insurance plans, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and no waiting periods. We pay a substantial amount (up to 75%) of the health insurance premiums; Flexible spending accounts for health care and for dependent care, employee assistance programs, flexible work schedules, and health and fitness programs. Learn more about Federal benefits programs by clicking here.

OTHER INFORMATION:

You must submit all required information by the closing date. The materials you send with your resume will not be returned. Before entering on duty, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, SF-278. You will need to provide the information annually. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET three business days before announcement's closing date. FERC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process. Step 1 - Create or Upload a resume with USAJOBS - We suggest you go to the end of the Qualifications & Evaluation section of the job announcement to preview the online questions that you will answer in Step 3. You may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. - You may create a resume in USAJOBS or upload one of your own choosing. Although you must enter your Social Security Number (SSN) for USAJOBS, it will not be sent to Smart Hire. Step 2 - Apply Online. Click the "Apply Online" button on this announcement and then select the resume you wish to submit with your application. You will be redirected to FERC's Smart Hire website to complete the application process. Step 3 - Answer the Online Questions and Submit Your Online Application. If this is your first time on FERC's Smart Hire website, you will be prompted to register by answering questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. The system will save these responses and take you back to the main screen so that you can answer the job-specific questions. Click on the "Continue" button to answer the job-specific questions. You must answer all the questions and click the "Finish" button. Step 4 - Review and Confirm Your Submission. You will now have the option to upload a document or print fax cover-sheets for your required documents (see step 5 for details). Once you click "Done," you will see a summary of your application for your review. You may also generate a PDF version to print or save for your records. When you click "Finish" at the bottom of the page, you will then be directed back to USAJOBS where you can confirm that your application has been submitted and track your application status. Step 5 - Submit Required Documents. You can submit any required documents (discussed below) by document upload or fax. Whichever method you choose, please include the job announcement number with your documents. To protect your privacy, we encourage you to remove your SSN from any documents that you submit. Document Upload: You may upload supporting documents in one of two ways: 1. Once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement, you will be prompted to upload your document(s) to your application. You will be given the choice to either upload the document as part of the application process or you can select a document that you've already loaded on USAJOBS. or 2. You can upload a document to an existing application by logging into your USAJOBS account profile. Click on "My Applications" and search for the vacancy. Once you've located the vacancy, click on the vacancy and select "Apply Online." Move through your existing application to the Documents page and select Upload in order to add a document to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation that the document uploaded. In the Application Review section, you may verify acceptance of your documents in Smart Hire if you see them listed on the "Vacancy Documents" screen. Then, click on "Finish" to be returned to USAJOBS. Fax: Create a fax cover-sheet in Smart Hire by following the "Faxing Supporting Documentation" instructions. The fax number is provided on the cover-sheet.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

You are required to upload a separate document that is a narrative statement addressing the five Executive Core Qualifications listed in the announcement. Please note that if you do not provide all required information by the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement, you will not be considered for this position.

Current and former Federal employees must submit their most recent SF-50.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your application up to four times throughout the application process. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status." We also recommend you opt to receive status change emails through USAJOBS by logging into "Notification Settings." Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate, or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect consideration for this position.