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Chief Innovation Officer

Development Finance Corporation
Office of Performance & Innovation

Summary

This position is part of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Office of Performance & Innovation. The Chief Innovation Officer is a champion of innovation culture and leads DFC's portfolio for improving agency operations through incubation, innovation/reengineering, internal customer liaison, and coordination of overseas and relocation support.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 07/13/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 13, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$169,279 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Promotion potential
15
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
26-OPI-ST-12992245-MB
Control number
874280500

Duties

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The Chief Innovation Officer is a champion of innovation culture and leads DFC's portfolio for improving agency operations through incubation, innovation/reengineering, internal customer liaison, and coordination of overseas and relocation support. The incumbent serves as DFC's senior subject-matter expert on innovation-driven operational improvement, leveraging the latest innovation models and associated best practices.

The work includes identifying operational pain points; incubating and piloting new capabilities; redesigning services, processes, and operating models; leading change implementation; and building the relationships, consensus, and buy-in needed to advance practical, customer-centered solutions across DFC. The role also requires use of business process improvement, KPI-based monitoring, customer feedback, and continuous improvement methods aligned with ISO 9001, Lean Six Sigma, and related quality and process improvement approaches in order to make the Corporation effective and efficient in accomplishing its mission.

The incumbent provides expert policy advice, analysis, and recommendations to senior leadership and drives cross-organizational action to improve efficiency, effectiveness, service quality, accountability, and operational performance.

As DFC's Chief Innovation Officer, you will:

- Lead DFC's center of excellence for process improvement and innovation, including identifying operational pain points, service gaps, and emerging business requirements and translating them into actionable pilot concepts, improvement projects, or new capabilities.

- Incubate and implement new operational and mission-support initiatives by establishing concepts, governance structures, operating models, milestones, success measures, workplans, roles and responsibilities, and feedback mechanisms.

- Lead innovation, reengineering, pilots, and change implementation for existing programs, services, and business processes to improve efficiency, effectiveness, internal customer experience, and alignment with agency priorities.

- Serve as the internal agency customer liaison and relationship manager by gathering customer feedback, diagnosing service delivery challenges, coordinating solutions across mission and mission-support stakeholders, and providing executive briefings and decision-ready recommendations.

- Coordinate overseas operations support and corporate relocation support, including improving processes, reducing friction, clarifying requirements, strengthening compliance, and standardizing support approaches where feasible.

- Track continuous improvement and advise senior leadership by developing reports, implementation trackers, and analytical products; and recommending actions to improve operations and support executive decision-making.

- Supervise, support, and sponsor staff, including setting priorities, assigning and reviewing work, evaluating performance, supporting employee development, approving leave, resolving complaints, and addressing conduct or performance issues; develop followership.

Please Note: This is not a Bargaining unit position.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Must submit resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Selection may require completion of a one-year supervisory or managerial probationary period unless met during prior Federal service

Qualifications

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level). Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements no later than the closing date of this announcement.

TIME-IN-GRADE
: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

You may qualify at the GS-15 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirements:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability in all of the following:

(1) Lead enterprise-level innovation, business process improvement, and operational transformation initiatives that improve organizational efficiency, effectiveness, service quality, or customer experience;
(2) Design, implement, and evaluate pilots, proof-of-concept efforts, process redesigns, and/or new operating models - using performance measures, customer feedback, risk analysis, and continuous improvement methods;
(3) Advise senior leaders on innovation strategy, change management, governance, implementation planning, and cross-organizational operational improvements;
(4) Build consensus and negotiate solutions across senior-level stakeholders, mission offices, and mission-support functions to implement complex organizational changes; and
(5) Supervise and lead teams by setting priorities, assigning work, evaluating performance, and supporting employee development.

Note: Education is not substitutional at this grade level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

This position is being advertised concurrently with vacancy announcement 26-OPI-DE-12992244-MB using Delegated Examining (DE) procedures. If interested, refer to that announcement to determine if you meet DE requirements and can apply to that announcement. NOTE: You must apply separately to each announcement in order to be considered under both.

This announcement may be used to fill similar positions, if additional vacancies occur.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:
1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and
3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp).

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/verify/).

Telework Suitability: The duties of this position is suitable for telework. The selectee may be allowed episodic or emergency telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.

Stipulations of Employment: Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period.

Work Schedule: This position allows for a flexible work schedule.

Miscellaneous: DFC uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Recruitment and relocation incentives may be authorized for this position.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit https://www.dfc.gov/who-we-are/careers/fairchanceact for more information.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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 based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Accountability
  • Customer Service
  • Decisiveness
  • Flexibility
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Resilience

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.


You may preview the Application Questionnaire at: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12992245

Development Finance Corporation

Become part of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation! The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), established in 2019 with bipartisan support under President Trump, is America's development finance institution. DFC partners with the private sector to advance U.S. foreign policy and strengthen national security by mobilizing private capital around the world. DFC invests across strategic sectors including critical minerals, modern infrastructure, and advanced technology - fostering economic development, supporting U.S. interests, and delivering returns to American taxpayers.

Agency contact information

Megan Beck
Email
megan.beck@dfc.gov
Address
International Development Finance Corporation
1100 New York Ave NW
Washington, DC 20527
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Development Finance Corporation, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.dfc.gov/who-we-are/careers

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