Aptitude | Description | Criteria |
Budget Formulation and Passback | · Budgeting for the Federal Government is an enormously complex process. · The Division of Budget provides support to all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) programs each step of the way in the budgetary process. · Preparation of the President’s budget typically begins in the spring each year, at least 9 months before the budget is submitted to Congress, about 17 months before the start of the fiscal year to which it pertains, and about 29 months before the close of that fiscal year. · The Division of Budget directs and manages the budget formulation process by prescribing policies, procedures, and controls while ensuring compliance with the administration's objectives and conformance to statutory authority. The division also reviews proposed changes in appropriation structure structure Competencies: Political Savvy Vision Influencing/Negotiation | Criteria: · Has a working knowledge of how the Service develops and proposes a budget. · Participated in the preparation of the President’s Green Book. · Had a budget-specific detail or special assignment in one of the following: o a program budget and planning office o the Office of Budget, Planning and Human Capital o the Department of the Interior o the Office of Management and Budget · Responsible for program-level budget administration. · Participated in the development of performance reports for expenditures. · Participated in budget allocation to the Regions. Other: |
Congressional Briefings | · Congressional briefings are meetings with Members of Congress or their staff to discuss Service programs, issues, or activities. These meetings may take place in Washington, D.C., congressional offices located in a state or district, or at other sites. · Service Manual chapter 101 FW 2 provides guidance for Service employees in preparing for meetings and briefings with congressional Members and staff. · Researching and preparing to deliver testimony before Congress is a process that takes quite a bit of time and groundwork. · There are many elements that can assist you in the process, including preparing a briefing book. This book commonly comprises research, documents, and other materials to assist you during the hearing. Competencies: Political Savvy | Criteria: · Completed the Congressional Operations Seminar Training. · Participated in a congressional briefing. · Provided documents or other materials to assist during a hearing. · Wrote or assisted in writing testimony. · Participated in providing responses to Questions for the Record. · Completed a detail in the Division of Congressional and Legislative Affairs. Other: ________________________ |
Directorate and Departmental Briefings | · Briefings, whether in the form of briefing notes, longer briefing papers, or oral briefings, are used to keep decision makers informed about the issues they are responsible for. · In Government, briefings are the principal means of communication between Government managers and their senior officials. Competencies: Decisiveness Strategic Thinking | Criteria: · Prepared briefing papers for: o Assistant Director(s) o Director o Department o OMB · Participated in briefings with: o Assistant Director(s) o Director o Department o OMB Other: |
Regulation and Policy Development | · Regulation and policy development is critical for communicating requirements for, and directing the implementation of, Service authorities and activities. · The program that originates the regulation or policy is responsible for: o Consulting with the Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs (PPM) before developing, revising, or amending a regulation or a policy chapter. o Consulting with other divisions or offices affected by the regulation or policy. o Writing, revising, or amending the regulation or policy. o Seeking Directorate comments on new and revised policies that have Service-wide impacts. o Ensuring that OMB has an opportunity to review significant regulations and policies and determining whether to seek comment from the public. o Determining what impacted offices should surname a final policy. Competencies: Influencing/Negotiations Strategic Thinking | Criteria: · Participated in the development of a proposed regulation or policy. · Familiar with the PPM processes. · Provided information for the Unified Agenda or 90-Day Report. · Familiar with the Service’s surname process. · Experienced in public engagement activities associated with the Federal Rulemaking process. · Briefed OMB on a proposed regulation or policy. · Participated in an interagency review process for a proposed/final policy. Other: |
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) | · FACA was enacted in 1972 to control the growth and operation of the “numerous committees, boards, commissions, councils, and similar groups which have been established to advise officers and agencies in the executive branch of the Federal Government.” · There are 108 FACA Councils at the Department of the Interior. · There is a Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for each advisory committee. Competencies: · Accountability · Political Savvy | Criteria: · Briefed a FACA council. · Has a formal relationship with a FACA liaison. · Understanding of and participation in the Federal advisory committee process. · Worked with Solicitor about what constitutes a FACA or a FACA review. Other: |
National Partner-ships | · Working with partners is critical to success at all levels of the organization. · Partnering helps pool scarce resources; avoid duplication of effort; and promote coordinated, focused, and consistent communications and mutual efforts that support many missions. · Examples of national partners: o Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies o Tribes o CARE-Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (a national coalition of 22 wildlife, sporting, conservation, and scientific organizations) o Other national-level non-government organizations or groups that support the Service and act as liaisons o Interagency teams (e.g., Department of Defense, Department of Transportation) Competencies: Accountability Political Savvy External Awareness | Criteria: · Understands the role of working with partners at a national level. · Participated in meetings with national partners. · Participated in collaborative planning or policy development with national partners. · Served as a Service point of contact for a national partner or a partner-based conservation effort. Other: |
Coaching or Mentoring at the Executive Level | · A key aspect of leadership within the Service is developing future leaders. · In doing so, Service leaders need to be able to clearly articulate and communicate a Service-wide, as well as programmatic, Regional, or office vision for conservation and the strategies and considerations (e.g., sociopolitical, economic, etc.) associated with making decisions and implementing actions at all levels of the organization. · Developing others via coaching and mentoring can be achieved in many ways outside of holding a supervisory position and goes beyond the basic requirements of formal employee supervision. Competencies: Developing Others Influence and Negotiation Accountability | Criteria: · Served as lead or project manager for a Regional or national team. · Participated in a job shadow to assist in developing staff. · Helped coach/train a detailee, Pathways student, or summer intern. · Taught a course via NCTC. · Served as a mentor in a formal mentoring program. · Served in a supervisory capacity as part of a detail or a permanent position. Other: |