Director Office of Financial Assistance
Description
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. APPLICANTS MUST MEET ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION. 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. 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. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume must clearly demonstrate that you possess the following technical qualifications. TQ1: Demonstrated senior-level experience applying comprehensive knowledge of Federal financial assistance laws, regulations, policies, and administrative requirements, including 2 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 200 and 2 C.F.R. Part 910 to lead the planning, award, administration, oversight, and strategic management of complex, high-dollar financial assistance instruments and programs. TQ2: Demonstrated executive leadership experience providing strategic direction and oversight of complex financial assistance programs across Departmental, interagency, and external organizations. Proven ability to implement policies and systems, lead subordinate organizations, and drive organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and continuous improvement. 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 and TQs, 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 - This core qualification requires a 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 - This core qualification involves the 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 - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 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. ECQ 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. Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.
The Director, Office of Financial Assistance, is a senior executive leadership role within the Department of Energy's Office of Management. In this position, the Director oversees DOE's multi-billion-dollar portfolio of grants, cooperative agreements, other transactions, and research awards that fund vital energy, science, and technology projects nationwide. Serving as the primary authority for financial assistance, the Director leads the teams that plan, award, and manage these investments, ensuring they follow federal regulations, serve a public purpose, and deliver real value for taxpayers. The Director also partners with universities, national laboratories, state and tribal governments, and industry leaders to guide complex energy projects, improve oversight through modern data tools, and resolve high-stakes issues. Overall, the Director ensures federal funding is managed efficiently, fairly, and transparently to help DOE achieve its national security and clean energy missions. As the Director, you will, Direct organizational activities and frame strategic plans for the Office of Financial Assistance, providing technical and administrative supervision over subordinate units led by senior executives and senior managers while resolving complex inter-organizational challenges. Serve as the DOE Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) for financial assistance instruments, exercising delegated senior procurement authority under federal grant regulations and Department of Energy financial assistance directives to execute, modify, and oversee multi-billion-dollar awards. Formulate cutting-edge financial assistance strategies, approve comprehensive plans, and make critical business determinations regarding major instrument extensions, competitive selections, and the structuring of program policy factors for large-scale energy and research projects. Provide definitive interpretations of complex federal regulations and DOE guidance, authoritatively resolving high-stakes financial assistance disputes, recipient appeals, and formal claims. Develop and implement department-wide policies, standard operating procedures, internal control standards, and management tools to ensure statutory compliance, optimize taxpayer value, and institutionalize best practices. Drive continuous improvement by spearheading innovative award mechanisms, deploying advanced data analytics for award monitoring, and establishing comprehensive risk management frameworks to address systemic operational challenges. Cultivate strategic partnerships across federal agencies, national laboratories, universities, tribal nations, and industry, while steering the efficient management and recruitment of financial and personnel resources to achieve mission goals.