Director for Grants Policy Office

About the role

The Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD) focuses on all matters relating to policy development, implementation, and review. We coordinate with offices across the Department to ensure that policy development and implementation are in line with the Secretary's priorities and guidance. The incumbent will oversee the Grants Policy Office in OPEPD.

This position may be detailed to another Federal agency.

What you will do

• The Director of the Grants Policy Office is responsible for providing executive leadership and direction for the Department's grants policy functions and for ensuring effective coordination of grants policy across the Department.
• Provides executive leadership for the development, interpretation, implementation, and continuous improvement of Department-wide grants policies, regulations, procedures, and related initiatives governing formula, discretionary, and directed grant programs.
• Establishes the vision, strategic direction, and priorities of the Grants Policy Office and identifies opportunities to strengthen the Department's grants policies and processes to advance the Secretary's priorities, improve program implementation and outcomes, promote accountability, and support effective stewardship of Federal funds.
• Serves as a principal Departmental authority on grants policy and advises senior Department leadership and grant-making offices on significant, complex, sensitive, or precedent-setting grants policy and implementation matters.
• Develops policy options and recommendations for Department leadership concerning grants policy, program implementation, oversight, monitoring, continuation decisions, risk management, evidence, and other cross-cutting matters affecting the Department's grant portfolio.
• Provides Department-wide leadership to strengthen the connection between the Secretary's policy priorities and the implementation of the Department's grant programs from program design through award, monitoring, continuation, and evaluation.
• Works with grant-making offices to translate Departmental policy objectives into grant priorities, requirements, selection criteria, performance measures, monitoring approaches, award conditions, and other appropriate grant mechanisms.
• Identifies and resolves cross-cutting policy issues affecting multiple grant-making offices and develops consistent Department-wide approaches where appropriate.
• Provides leadership and strategic direction to grant-making offices in the design and implementation of discretionary grant competitions to promote timely and effective awards, improve the applicant experience, and align grant implementation with Department policy and program objectives.
• Identifies and implements Department-wide improvements to grant competition and award processes, including approaches to streamline internal review, improve the timing of awards, and strengthen the consistency and effectiveness of grant-making practices.
• Advises grant-making offices on approaches to incorporate evidence-based practices into grant programs and identifies opportunities for the Department and the field to strengthen the development, understanding, dissemination, and use of evidence.
• Works with relevant Department components to develop policy approaches, performance measures, and evaluation strategies that support effective grant implementation and continuous program improvement.

Requirements

• -One year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation. -U.S. Citizenship -Financial disclosure statement, OGE-278. -Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance. - Relocation expenses will NOT be paid. -Registration with the Selective Service (if applicable).
• Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. -All initial appointments to an SES position are contingent on approval from OPM's Qualification Review Board.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

How you will be evaluated

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. Your Application Package will be further reviewed by a panel to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume.

Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Documents you must provide

• - Some jobs require additional professional certifications.
• See the job announcement for details. -Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information.
• For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.
• A complete application consists of all items listed below.
• Required materials must be submitted by the conclusion of the staffing process.
• Applications that are incomplete at that time may not be considered.
• Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit.
• Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
• RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each), minimum size 10 font, showing all relevant experience.
• Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs.
• VACANCY QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy.
• ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
• SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification.
• CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES (including current U.S. Department of Education employees): must also submit: A Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), which demonstrates your eligibility.
• To verify your eligibility, we will review your SF-50 to determine your tenure (block 24) and position occupied (block 34).
• Examples of sufficient SF-50s include appointments, promotions, within-grade increases, and pay adjustments.
• If you currently hold or previously held a federal position at or above the highest grade of this position or you have/had promotion potential at or above the highest grade of this position, you must also submit an SF-50 documenting your highest grade level held or promotion potential.
• Examples of sufficient SF-50s include appointments and promotions.
• PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL - Most recent performance appraisal is strongly recommended.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits: ***

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

What to expect next

After all application packages have been received, we will review your application to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications based on the information provided and may interview the highly qualified applicants.

After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability and/or security background investigation.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board before appointment to this position.

You should expect to hear back on the outcome of your application within 80 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Additional information

VETERANS' PREFERENCE - Veterans' Preference does not apply to the SES. SELECTIVE SERVICE - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify at the time of appointment that you have registered with the Selective Service or are exempt from having to do so under Selective Service law.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION -This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the hiring agency directly. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) POLICY - *** OPM must authorize any employment offers made 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 Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.