Summary The Department of the Interior invites qualified individuals to apply to its prestigious Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), expected to begin in December 2024. Qualified individuals are those who have demonstrated through their performance and experience the potential to assume executive-level positions within the Federal Government. Responsibilities The Department of the Interior invites qualified individuals to apply to its prestigious Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), expected to begin in December 2024. Qualified individuals are those who have demonstrated through their performance and experience the potential to assume executive-level positions within the Federal Government. The Department of the Interior's SESCDP is designed to provide a series of developmental experiences which include formal courses and seminars, developmental work assignments, and individual mentoring from current SES members. Participation in this year-long SESCDP will require approximately 5 months away from the candidate's position of record for formal SESCDP activities. NOTE: Additional selections may be made for a second multi-agency SESCDP class. Key Program Features: A 12-month program, requiring extensive time away from the position of record A Senior Executive Assessment Center An Executive Development Plan Program orientation Formal mentoring program with assigned mentors A developmental assignment of at least 120 days, outside the participant's organization At least 80 hours of executive education Developmental activities that may include events and site visits that further develop a candidate's understanding of the Department of the Interior's mission, programs and challenges. Upon completion of the SESCDP and approval by the Executive Resources Board (ERB), the candidate's Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) will be reviewed by an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) for certification. QRB certification allows for non-competitive placement into SES positions. NOTE: Participation in the program does not guarantee placement in a SES position. The SESCDP is designed to provide a series of developmental experiences for high potential individuals to prepare them to occupy positions in the SES. These developmental experiences include formal training and seminars, a four-month assignment outside of the participant's home organization/bureau, core learning sessions that focus on the competencies for successful SES-level performance, and working with an executive mentor. All program selectees will participate in a Senior Executive Assessment Program, resulting in a tailored Executive Development Plan that will guide program development experiences. The SESCDP is a rigorous program, and the curriculum must be completed while balancing current day-to-day job assignments. You must submit all required application documents by 11:59 pm EDT on the closing date of the announcement. Participants may be required to accept developmental assignments away from their current duty station. Geographic mobility is required as a condition of the Department of Interior SESCDP. Participants are expected to accept developmental activities that may require functional, organizational and geographical mobility. One year of the supervisory experience at the GS-14 level or above (or equivalent level experience in the private sector) is required. Cost: The selectee's home bureau/office/organization is responsible for tuition, travel costs and additional expenses for training, developmental assignments, and other program requirements. Upon selection, the selectee and their supervisor will be required to sign an agreement accepting the responsibility of the cost of program tuition, travel and other expenses for the program. The Following Applicants will NOT be considered for the program: Current or former Career SES members or equivalents Former SES CDP graduates from any agency Current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the Executive Branch Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications The Department of the Interior SESCDP requires that all qualified individuals within the civil service have at least one full year of supervisory experience at the GS-14 level or above (or equivalent level experience in the private sector) and have demonstrated exceptional executive leadership potential. Supervisory experience includes planning, assigning, and evaluating the work of subordinate employees. (Note: Your resume must explicitly demonstrate one full year of supervisory experience in order to be considered. Team lead and other non-supervisory leadership experience does not meet this requirement). Candidates must demonstrate competence and potential for executive development in the five SES ECQs, which are the leadership criteria defined by OPM to certify candidates for SES positions. An OPM-administered QRB will certify candidates on their demonstrated mastery of the ECQ's. OPM's Guide to the SES Qualifications provides detailed information on the ECQs. You can access OPM's Guide to SES Qualifications here https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: 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. ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: 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. ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: 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. ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: The ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: 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. Education Additional Information Selection for this program will be based solely on merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical disability, political affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, or membership in an employee organization. The Department of the Interior provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application, evaluations, and/or hiring process, please notify the announcement point of contact at the bottom of this announcement. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.