Executive Consultant USDA

SMART1 MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS•Upper Marlboro, MD

2d•Remote

About The Position

This opportunity is to support the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) United States Forest Service (USFS) Washington Office (WO) Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) Staff as a full-time, Executive Consultant. This is a teleworking position. The role involves conducting regular strategy sessions, providing real-time policy guidance, and developing actionable plans that align with leadership priorities and operational objectives. The consultant will engage established stakeholder networks, collect and analyze varying viewpoints, and present balanced assessments with clear implications for decision-making. Responsibilities include reviewing current performance measures to identify gaps, designing process improvements, and implementing metrics to track progress toward strategic goals. The role also entails drafting step-by-step workflows, preparing USFS standard policy guides, and developing communication tools for effective implementation. Additionally, the consultant will prepare executive talking points, policy briefs, and stakeholder messaging aligned with agency objectives and interagency communications, integrating quantitative data with operational insight to produce evidence-supported recommendations aligned with leadership priorities.

Requirements

Must be able to detail experience in Congressional Reporting, Interagency Standardization, Workforce Planning, Retention Analysis, Regulatory Extensions, and Federal Policy Advocacy.
Must be proficient in reporting congressional documents internal and external at all levels of management and stakeholders.
Must be proficient in standardized agency documents.
Must demonstrate the ability to conduct succession planning.
Must be proficient in agency policies, procedures, and regulations.
Must be skilled in working with cross-functional teams.
Must be efficient in supporting and communicating orally and in writing agency projects.

Responsibilities

Conduct regular strategy sessions, provide real-time policy guidance, and develop actionable plans that align with leadership priorities and operational objectives.
Engage established stakeholder networks, collect and analyze varying viewpoints, and present balanced assessments with clear implications for decision-making.
Review current performance measures to identify gaps, design process improvements, and implement metrics to track progress toward strategic goals.
Draft step-by-step workflows, prepare USFS standard policy guides, and develop communication tools to ensure effective implementation.
Prepare executive talking points, policy briefs, and stakeholder messaging aligned with agency objectives and interagency communications.
Integrate quantitative data with operational insight to produce recommendations supported by evidence and aligned with leadership priorities.
Work closely with upper management and staff, providing advice and administrative support regarding priorities and engaging stakeholders on critical policy issues.
Develop strategies for maintaining appropriate performance levels for the organization in support of management initiatives.
Develop processes and communication materials for new directives.
Coordinate with senior team members on communication strategy and planning, produce information and talking points for leadership on operational and policy matters, and coordinate these products with key stakeholders, including primary and interagency partners.
Conduct in-depth analysis and provide data-driven recommendations concerning management priorities.
Ensure management has wide-ranging perspectives and appropriate information needed to make determinations by conducting independent research, engaging with internal and external stakeholders, and verifying information with program officials.
Prepare products to articulate, interpret, delineate, and explain/defend highly complex, potentially controversial agency policies, programs, and activities.