Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Acquisitions

Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of the Secretary (OS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR), Office of Acquisition (OA). ASFR advises the Secretary on all aspects of budget, grants, financial management, and acquisition management, and directs implementation of these activities across the Department.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/29/2025 to 10/20/2025
Salary
$150,160 to - $225,700 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Confidential
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
HHS-ASFR-ES-25-12801905
Control number
846545800

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

Open to all groups of qualified individuals. SES reinstatement eligibles and SESCDP graduates may also apply for noncompetitive consideration.

Duties

Help

ABOUT THE POSITION

As the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, serves with full authority for the day-to-day operations of the OA and as the DHHS Senior Procurement Executive (SPE). Through subordinate supervisors and managers, the incumbent is responsible for the activities of four subordinate staff offices:1) Acquisition Policy, Legislative Oversight & Workforce (APLOW) Division. 2) Strategic Programs & Business Systems (SPBS) Division: 3) the Office of Recipient Integrity Coordination (ORIC); and, 4) the OA provides administrative support to the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU).

Provides functional management oversight over the DHHS acquisition programs, Heads of Contracting Activity, and acquisition/contracting offices. Uses cost effective techniques to maximize DHHS' flexibility to achieve quality, timeliness and economies of scale through its acquisition programs.

The OA provides leadership, policy, guidance, and supervision as well as coordination of the Department's long- and short-range planning efforts to constituent organizations. The Office supports the government-wide acquisition initiatives, including the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), Category Management, the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE), Acquisition Innovation and interfaces with OMB, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress, and DHHS leadership on acquisition policies and initiatives. The Office also provides technical assistance to the Department's Operating and Staff Divisions (Divisions), and evaluates effectiveness of their acquisition programs, including the development and measurement of performance standards.

Provides leadership to a multi-disciplined staff of professional, administrative and support personnel. The incumbent inspires, motivates and guides subordinates toward goal accomplishments, adapting a leadership style to a variety of situations and activities. Monitors and evaluates management support programs in light of changing needs, including procedural and technological innovations and improvements. Integrates policies/priorities and new technology to develop strategies that provide the most efficient and cost-effective programs delivering high-quality results and meaningful impact to meet the needs of the DHHS programs served.

The incumbent exercises leadership to ensure that all programs under their direction reflect merit-based principles in their management of recruitment and staffing, employee development, staff assignments, accountability and communications.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • This employer participates in the E-Verify Program
  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
  • This is a career position in the SES. Unless the selectee is already a member of the SES with career status or has successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program certified by OPM.
  • Executive qualifications must be approved by OPM before appointment. If selected and you do not already have OPM QRB certification, you must complete a structured ECQ interview with OPM before being appointed to the position.
  • You must meet the qualification requirements of this position no later than the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.

Qualifications

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. 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).

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

TQ 1: Expertise in the interpretation and application of current Federal acquisition regulations, laws, rules, practices, procedures, and techniques to guide, inspire, and motivate the contracting workforce of a federal agency to achieve efficient and effective outcomes in procurement operations and programs.

TQ 2: Demonstrated experience in identifying and articulating mission-critical acquisition management needs, integrating and prioritizing those needs, and providing advice and counsel to agency executives, including political appointees, peers, and subordinate senior executives on how to achieve successful outcomes.

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.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQs.











Education

Basic Requirements: Applicants must meet the basic requirement for this position.

A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher level contracting positions, including at least 4-years experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

AND

B. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

NOTE: To validate that you meet the educational requirement for this job series, please submit a copy of your transcript. Failure to submit your transcript will make you ineligible for this position.

C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D.

D. Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a credential evaluation service that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, click here.



Additional information

HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, research emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.

Mobility:

Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Preferred Experience:

Prior supervisory experience required; Prior experience with HHS programs preferred.

Salary:

Salary for Senior Executive Service positions varies depending on qualifications. The annual salary range may be found at the top of this announcement. This position may be eligible for performance bonuses and performance-based pay adjustments.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure

HHS inspires public confidence by maintaining high ethical principles, and all Federal Government employees are subject to the conflict-of-interest statutes and regulations, including the Standards of Ethical Conduct, that govern activities with outside organizations and reporting financial holdings. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521 also requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually, and upon termination of employment.


Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement:
http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center:
https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

If applying online poses a hardship to you, you may submit your application by contacting. BreAnna Stewart in the agency contact section.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the POC in the agency contact section. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Veteran's Preference

Veteran's Preference does not apply to the SES.

Selective Service

Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered or exempt from selective service see: https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

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.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education (if applicable). Your application will be rated and ranked by an Executive Resources Board (ERB) Panel, comprised of at least three SES members, using only the information required within the application package. Applicants who do not demonstrate in their application sufficient possession of the ECQs and TQs will be determined ineligible for further consideration.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (MTQ) listed above. 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.

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 (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.