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Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer

Department of Energy
Western Area Power Administration

Summary

The Department of Energy's (DOE) WAPA Headquarters is looking for a dynamic, innovative, seasoned executive to provide executive leadership and direction in overseeing management for WAPA-wide operational areas including electric reliability compliance, transmission asset management and planning, transmission infrastructure, engineering and design, safety and occupational health, security, and aviation management.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/27/2026 to 02/10/2026
Salary
$199,172 to - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Phoenix, AZ
Folsom, CA
Lakewood, CO
Billings, MT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-PMA-0000143-12871796-SES
Control number
855671200

Duties

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As the Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer, you will:

  • Serves as first assistant to the WAPA Administrator and acts as WAPA Administrator in the absences or disability of the WAPA Administrator.
  • Serve as the principal advisor to the Administrator on all matters relating to assigned functions and programs, including the establishment and implementation of WAPA-wide operating policies.
  • Articulate the vision and clear strategic direction for WAPA-wide engineering programs functionally critical to WAPA's mission.
  • Ensure internal and external communication processes and systems are open, efficient, and accurately portray and actively promote WAPA's policies and objectives, serving the diverse needs of internal and external customers in a dynamic electric utility industry.
  • Provide executive leadership and direction in overseeing management for WAPA-wide operational areas, including electric reliability compliance, transmission asset management and planning, and engineering and design.
  • Direct assigned organizational activities and frame strategic plans based on broad organizational assessments and evaluations of long-term organizational objectives; set internal control standards for effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity; and assess organizational policy, program, and project viability.
  • Ensure all engineering programs, functions, and activities are accomplished in a cost-effective manner and performed within a quality-focused work environment, sensitive to the needs of customers and stakeholders.
  • Contribute to developing WAPA's overall long-range direction, goals, and strategies; leading high-performing teams; employing excellent business principles; fostering commitment to power system stewardship; and directing the formulation and implementation of broad engineering programs and policies.
  • Represent WAPA in meetings with various Federal, State, municipal, private, and public interest groups, utility officials, delegations, committees, and employee labor unions on issues dealing with assigned programs and establish working and consultative relationships to ensure widespread input into decision-making processes.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • 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.
  • May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • You may 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.
  • This position is full-time in the office. In rare instances, situational telework may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents:

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.

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

TQ1: Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of the electric utility industry, with specific focus on high-voltage transmission and/or serving as a wholesale power providers to distribution utilities. This includes extensive experience overseeing critical operational areas such as safety; electric reliability compliance; transmission maintenance/asset management and planning; and engineering and design. This qualification also encompasses proven ability to provide executive leadership, direction, and guidance in the development of long-term business strategies for a large utility operating in a complex legislative, regulatory, and stakeholder/shareholder environment.

TQ2: Demonstrated ability to lead cross functional teams and build coalitions to creatively address complex issues, with competing interests and priorities, delivering positive results, in an energy or electric utility environment. This involves a track record of providing executive leadership, direction, and guidance in navigating intricate challenges within a large utility, grounded in significant experience within the energy or electric utility sector, illustrating adeptness at strategic planning and operational oversight.

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.

Education

This position does not have a positive education requirement.

Additional information

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

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.

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

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

Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx)

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.

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/.

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