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Head of Contracting Activity

Department of Homeland Security
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Management and Administration

Summary

The Head of Contracting Activity is a Senior Executive Service (SES) position within the Office of Acquisition Management, Management and Administration Directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Head of Contracting Activity serves as the principal acquisitions management official in ICE.

Overview

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Open & closing dates
03/11/2026 to 03/25/2026
Salary
$151,661 to - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
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
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
ICESES/26-12882482
Control number
860631300

Duties

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The Office of Acquisition Management (OAQ) operates as a full business partner, collaborating with internal and external organizations to develop and deliver quality acquisition solutions in support of the ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) missions. The Head of Contracting Activity is the Chief Acquisitions Officer for ICE and ensures that OAQ serves as a strategic asset dedicated to the agency's overall business performance.

As the Head of Contracting Activity, you will be responsible for:

  • Leading, supervising, and directing the work of an acquisition management organization in support of critical DHS programs.
  • Serving as a principal partner on all elements of program execution that have a material impact on the development, modification, and execution of ICE acquisition strategies.
  • Partnering with elements of the ICE organization to support the development, implementation, and refinement of the business management process.
  • Providing executive leadership for the development and implementation of ICE procurement policies and procedures to ensure proper implementation of governing directives.
  • Advising various boards and committees as identified by the DHS Chief Procurement Officer.
  • Providing advice and counsel to the Director, Deputy Director, and Executive Associate Directors for Management and Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and Enforcement and Removal Operations, as well as other ICE senior executives, regarding highly complex and sensitive procurement and contracting principles, concepts, regulations, practices, and management issues, including matters related to policies and long-range plans for the organization.
  • Designing and developing the organizational structure for OAQ to accomplish work in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
  • Developing and maintaining metrics through subordinate managers to monitor work status and assess overall effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.
  • Identifying program deficiencies and taking appropriate action to resolve issues, maintaining program operations in support of OAQ, ICE, and DHS missions, goals, and objectives.
  • Overseeing and reviewing the expenditure of funds, ensuring effective use of resources and authorizing cost-saving initiatives to increase efficiency while maintaining high professional standards.
  • Representing ICE and collaborating with other federal agencies regarding procurement and contracting efforts and activities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
  • 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 Public 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.

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 qualifications requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) 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 ECQs or TQs.

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

  • TQ 1: Demonstrated expert knowledge of, and advanced skill in applying, federal procurement laws, rules, regulations, and practices, including proven leadership of an organizational entity responsible for managing high-volume and complex acquisition operations.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the TQs 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.
  • 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 a U.S. Office of Personnel Management (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 or certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification 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 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).

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer 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.

There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents:

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 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 ECQs and TQs listed above. The ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your 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(s) selected must have their executive qualifications certified by the OPM SES QRB before appointment. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, 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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