Director Human Resources

Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (12 current openings) Minneapolis, Minnesota Full-time Security Clearance: Secret
Application Deadline:
2026-08-28
Posted:
2026-08-14

About 2 weeks left

Salary: $192,332 – $204,121 per year (ES-00)

Salary context

Based on 34 annual-salary jobs in the same occupational series. This role pays above most similar positions.

Job Details

Qualifications & Requirements

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-ONLY. DO NOT submit separate Executive Core Qualifications/Technical Qualifications in lieu of a resume. 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. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES using 0.8-inch margins and 11-point font. 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) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs). EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential, not technical expertise. They measure whether an individual has the broad executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions. All applicants must address the ECQs. Your resume must address each ECQ and should describe your experiences and accomplishments/results. Your resume should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken and the results of your actions. 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. Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: This core qualification involves the 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. (Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, Civic-Mindedness) 2. Driving Efficiency: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and sufficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. (Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology) 3. Merit and Competence: This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. (Competencies: Technical Skills, Problem Solving, Agility and Resilience) 4. Leading People: This core qualification involves the 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. (Competencies: Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgement) 5. Achieving Results: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. (Competencies: Operation Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking) For more information regarding the SES and ECQs, please visit SES Executive Core Qualifications. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (TQ): In addition to the ECQs, applicants must clearly demonstrate in their resume that they meet the following technical qualification(s). 1. Demonstrated ability to lead organization-wide transformation initiatives, including the development and implementation of process improvements and modernization strategies that enhance operational effectiveness. 2. Demonstrated ability to build trusted cross-organizational partnerships to provide solutions to challenging recruitment, training and retention issues.

Position Overview

This position is designated as SES, Career-Reserved. USDA structures its SES positions into position levels. This is a position level 1 with a salary range of $192,332 - $204,121 per year. Exceptions to the salary cap may be considered in certain circumstances. SES employees are also eligible to receive bonuses and performance-based awards. Visit http://www.opm.gov/ses/ for additional information and benefits for SES employees.

Duties

  • This position is in the Human Resources Division (HRD), Marketing and Regulatory Programs-Business Services (MRP-BS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) mission area, USDA.
  • In addition to MRP agencies APHIS and Agricultural Marketing Service, HRD provides HR operational support to the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) and the Foreign Agriculture Services (FAS).
  • Provides leadership to formulate and execute policies and programs designed to provide an effective HR program for MRP agencies and other serviced organizations.
  • Oversees the development of systems to meet current and long- range HR needs of diverse and complex organizations and assures communication of Federal Insurance and Retirement (FIR) policies and programs to employees at all levels.
  • Directly responsible and accountable for MRP's Succession Planning and Leadership Development; provides senior level succession planning leadership across unit lines and ensures coordination with all programs.
  • Responsible for coordinating and implementing Human Capital Management initiatives imposed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), USDA and the MRP agencies.
  • Directs recruitment and employment, labor and employee relations, employee misconduct investigations, classification and compensation policy, performance management, personnel security, and human capital planning.
  • Responsible through subordinate supervisors for HR operations in Washington, DC; Beltsvile, MD; Minneapolis, MN; and other locations throughout the United States.
  • Works on largely undefined issues, problems, and conditions of critical and highly sensitive nature requiring extensive probing and analysis to determine the nature and scope of the problems and issues.
  • Responsible for achieving results prescribed by the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, senior management, and oversight agencies pertaining to the President's management initiatives intended to improve agency effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Responsible for ensuring that MRP mission area achieves results that support USDA's Strategic and Management Initiatives.