Head of Innovation
What you'd do
The Head of Innovation provides national executive leadership and strategic direction for the modernization and transformation of Social Security Administration (SSA) Field Operations. The Head is responsible for designing and advancing the future state of service delivery across all field offices by integrating technology into workloads and automating existing legacy processes.
Major duties
As a senior member of the Field Operations executive leadership team, the Head of Innovation is accountable for leading enterprise-wide initiatives that improve customer and employee experience, enhance operational efficiency, and enable cross-program integration across SSA's major program areas. The position exercises broad delegated authority to introduce new service delivery models, eliminate policy barriers, and modernize the business processes that underpin field office operations nationwide. The incumbent supports the Chief of Field Operations by providing national executive leadership for innovation, modernization, and end-to-end transformation of Field Operations service delivery. The Head of Innovation ensures the systematic identification and implementation of modernized customer and technician workflows, tightly integrated technology solutions, and streamlined business processes. Develops and maintains mechanisms to understand customer and employee sentiment to inform modernization priorities, service delivery standards, and targeted innovations that improve overall experience. Leads the development, pilot, and nationwide implementation of innovative customer-centric processes and technologies that integrate digital tools, automation, and cross-program capabilities into daily field office operations. Responsible for defining Field Operations' requirements for software, hardware, AI-enabled capabilities, and electronic service delivery, and for driving the enterprise relationship with the CIO organization to shape, align, and implement technology solutions that meet frontline operational needs. Commands and directs a multi-hundred-million-dollar IT modernization portfolio, ensuring resources are effectively prioritized, governed, and deployed from initial concept through full implementation to achieve successful adoption, operational effectiveness, and measurable improvements in Field Operations' service delivery. Oversees enterprise-level modernization initiatives across Enumeration, Retirement and Survivors Insurance (RSHI), Disability, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. Exercises executive authority to ensure processes and technologies function seamlessly across program boundaries through cross-program integration and capability development. Identifies policy barriers to modernization and leads the development of proposals for regulatory and sub-regulatory change. Serves as a senior liaison to external partners, other federal and state agencies, and advocacy organizations to strengthen innovation, enhance service delivery, and model public-sector modernization best practices. Leads enterprise governance and strategic oversight of modernization initiatives through direction of the Portfolio Management Office (PMO). Ensures modernization investments are prioritized, evaluated, and aligned with Field Operations strategic objectives. Provides executive leadership to Innovation's subordinate divisions including Cross-Program Processes, Cross-Program Integration, and PMO. Ensures national alignment of innovation initiatives with SSA's broader modernization strategy and supports senior executives across the agency by providing authoritative guidance on innovation, process improvement, and technology integration.
What you need to qualify
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. The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME BASED. It is important that your resume be complete and thorough, following the requirements outlined below. As a basic requirement, to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, applicants MUST demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications within their 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. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). To be considered minimally qualified for this position, candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (equivalent to the GS-15 in either the General Schedule (GS) or a comparable pay plan). Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet this basic qualification requirement and all executive and technical qualification factors automatically disqualifies an applicant. NOTE: If you are (1) a member of the SES, (2) have been certified through successful participation in an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or (3) have SES reinstatement eligibility, you must attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. 1. Demonstrated senior-level experience leading cross-functional teams in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, to deliver organizational transformation, resulting in the implementation of large-scale modernization initiatives and new service delivery models. 2. Demonstrated senior-level experience integrating technology solutions and leading enterprise-wide collaboration to large-scale IT modernization, using established change management and project management practices. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS (DQs): 1. Demonstrated senior-level experience leading the analysis and redesign of enterprise business processes using modern technologies to deliver measurable improvements. 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 reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs 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 - 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 - 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 - Demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality; ECQ 4: Leading People - 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; and ECQ 5: Achieving Results - Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. **Note for Current and/or Former Political Appointees: OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office within your application package.
Before you apply
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