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

Administrator

Department of Energy
Bonneville Power Administration
Bonneville Power Administration

Summary

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Bonneville Power Administration is looking for a dynamic, innovative, seasoned executive to lead the Bonneville Power Administration. The Administrator for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is the top executive responsible for leading a $4 billion federal power marketing enterprise.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/02/2026 to 03/16/2026
Salary
$199,172 to - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Portland, OR
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - 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
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-BPA-50175-12896551-ES
Control number
859412300

Duties

Help

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Administrator is responsible for providing strategic vision and direction for an organization that markets wholesale electricity from 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant, operates three-fourths of the Pacific Northwest's high-voltage transmission grid, and manages one of the world's largest fish and wildlife restoration programs. The Administrator provides critical leadership in establishing national energy policy and represents the organization before Congress, federal and state agencies, sovereign tribal governments, and industry leaders. The Administrator sets long-term objectives, determines financial and personnel needs, and oversees the management of over $50 billion in federal assets to ensure an adequate, efficient, and reliable power supply for the entire region. The Administrator performs the major duties described below:

  • Serves as the top executive for the BPA, directing all organizational activities. Establishes the strategic vision, long-term objectives, and operational policies for a $4 billion per year enterprise.
  • Directs the development, operation, and integration of power generation, conservation, and transmission systems to ensure an adequate, efficient, and reliable power supply for the Pacific Northwest.
  • Provides leadership in broad policy establishment at the national level with officials of the Department of Energy, other Departments, and Congressional stakeholders.
  • Coordinates with generating agencies, primarily the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, to unlock and optimize hydro capacity within the Federal Columbia River Power System by developing integrated operational plans that balance power generation with environmental stewardship
  • Directs one of the nation's largest fish and wildlife restoration programs to mitigate the environmental impact of the federal hydroelectric system, in collaboration with Federal, State, and Tribal fishery managers.

Requirements

Help

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.
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.

TQ 1: Demonstrated ability to oversee a large electric utility with regional operational responsibility or a Power Marketing Administration. This includes demonstrated executive-level responsibility for electric power generation, transmission, and power marketing activities; compliance with federal statutes and regulatory requirements; financial and operational performance; and coordination with multiple stakeholders, including federal agencies, utilities, Tribes, states, customers, or the public.

TQ 2: Demonstrated ability to provide executive leadership in setting and executing business and operational strategies within the framework of statutes, national and regional energy and environmental policies, and public service responsibilities. This includes implementing strategy across all major functional areas of a large utility or Power Marketing Administration, such as operations, finance, rates, transmission, legal, human capital, public affairs, and customer engagement.


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

If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been 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. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

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 (TQ) 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.