Technical Director

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership that is indicative of senior executive level management capability. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. 

Failure to address all Mandatory Technical and Executive Core Qualification factors will result in determining your application to be "not qualified."  

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Applicants must submit a written narrative to address the five (5) ECQs. Your narrative must address each ECQ separately and should contain at least two examples per ECQ describing your experience and accomplishments/results. The narrative should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibility, the scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken, and the results of your actions. Applicants should not enter "Refer to Resume" as a written narrative.  The narrative must not exceed 10 pages. 

NOTE: Current career SES members, former career SES members with reinstatement eligibility, and SES Candidate Development Program graduates who have been certified by OPM do NOT need to address the ECQs.

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. 

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 an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. 

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. 

4. Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. 

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. 

Additional information about the SES and Executive Core Qualifications can be found on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) SES Website. You are strongly encouraged to review OPM's Guide to SES Qualifications for specific examples and guidance on writing effective ECQ narrative statements. Applicants are encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action, and Result (C-C-A-R) model outlined in the guide.

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs)

Applicants are required to submit a narrative statement for each MTQ.  MTQs are designed to assess an applicant’s experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Each MTQ narrative statement must 1) not exceed two pages; 2) include specific examples of your experience, education, and/or accomplishments; and 3) address specific challenges, contexts, actions, and results.

MTQ1 – Demonstrated experience and skill in the technical management and leadership of multidisciplinary senior technical and professional personnel in planning and executing complex technical programs.

MTQ2 – Demonstrated experience and ability in reviewing and evaluating engineering issues of significantly complex scope and effect as they relate to (a) the safety of processes and systems at nuclear facilities and (b) nuclear facility safety management programs.

MTQ3 – Demonstrated experience and ability to balance and mediate competing technical demands, expectations, and perspectives among senior officials, multidisciplinary technical and professional personnel, and external entities.