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Regional Director - California Great Basin

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation

Summary

The Department of the Interior is currently seeking qualified candidates for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Regional Director, California Great Basin located in Sacramento, CA. The Department structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. This is a Category 2 position. The minimum pay for this position is $197,200.00. Pay is set based on consideration of the selectee's current salary and other factors.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 07/20/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 20, 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
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Salary
$197,200 - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Promotion potential
None
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 Senior Executive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
BOR-26-JW-003-DE (SES)
Control number
874714600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to all groups of individuals within the civil service currently occupying a position within the Executive (including competitive and excepted service), Judicial, and Legislative branches, EXCEPT for positions in the uniformed services. Current SES, SES reinstatement eligibles internal or external to the civil service, and SESCDP graduates with noncompetitive eligibility may apply for noncompetitive consideration for this position.

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Duties

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The incumbent carries out the following specific responsibilities:

  1. Provide executive-level leadership for assuring Reclamation's core mission - the delivery of water and the generation of power -- is achieved through the operation and maintenance of the Reclamation water resources projects in the region.
  2. Responsible for ensuring the proper management of the lands associated with such projects and the use and conservation of the resources located on those lands.
  3. Responsible for all projects and programs in the region being in compliance with the applicable regulatory statutes and regulations.
  4. Responsible for ensuring the formulation and execution of budgets, planning and development of work plans, operation, maintenance, and replacement of projects, construction of new infrastructure projects, timely and efficient execution of all programs, the setting of program and resource priorities, the allocation of staff and budgetary resources, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
  5. Responsible for operating and maintaining projects in a safe and reliable manner; protecting the health and safety of the public and Reclamation employees; ensuring continued delivery of water and power benefits consistent with environmental and other requirements; honoring state water rights, interstate compacts, and contracts to Reclamation users; playing an important role in meeting increasing demands for finite water resources; and enhancing the effectiveness in addressing complex water management issues in the West.
  6. Responsible for resource management, including assessment of projected water needs for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and other uses; generation and distribution of hydroelectric power to meet energy needs, including the negotiation and administration of contracts covering sales; protection of life and physical environment from damages of uncontrolled floods; development of public recreational facilities for camping, water sports, and fishing; control of pollution, sedimentation and salination.
  7. Serve as the Commissioner's representative in maintaining cooperative working relationships with other Federal, State, and local Government agencies, water users' associations, and other public and private groups in order to promote mutual understanding, assistance, and the development of required contractual relations.
  8. Responsible for overseeing several high-level projects and programs in California, Nevada, and Oregon that have a nationwide impact, both economically and environmentally.
  9. Plans and carries out programs for electric power generation.
  10. Evaluate organizational and staffing needs, assure the development of proper organizational patterns, assure full employee utilization by appropriate job design and employee development, and delegate sufficient authority to line and staff personnel.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required)
  • This position may require pre and post-employment drug screening.
  • Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirements. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  • Selections are subject to Department approval. Initial appointments to the SES must have to undergo an ECQ based structured interview with Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
  • Required to serve a one-year Senior Executive Service probationary period.
  • Individuals selected for an SES position are subject to reassignment
  • Agencies must request OPM approval to appoint current or former (within 5 years) Executive Branch political appointees to permanent competitive service, non-political excepted service, or career SES position.
  • You must be able to obtain/maintain a Tier 5 background investigation. This position sensitivity is Critical Sensitive, Top-Secret.

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, you must submit a two-page resume (max) that shows you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and two Technical Qualifications (TQs). To be considered, only the first 2 pages of your resume will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Technical Qualifications (TQs) are designed to assess an applicant's experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience and accomplishments related to the two TQs below:

  1. TQ1 - Hydropower Operations & Energy Resource Management - Extensive knowledge of hydroelectric power generation, transmission, and associated contractual and financial frameworks, including rate-setting, power marketing, and integration of energy operations within multi-purpose water projects.
  2. TQ2 - Water Resource Systems & Infrastructure Management - Demonstrated expert knowledge of large-scale, multi-purpose water resource systems, including the planning, operation, maintenance, and modernization of dams, reservoirs, conveyance systems, and hydroelectric facilities to ensure reliable water delivery, power generation, and public safety.

Your two-page resume should also show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications listed below: By statute, the Office of Personnel Management prescribes Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for the appointment of career SES members. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and not technical expertise.

ECQ 1-Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: 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: 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: Demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 - Leading People: 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: Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors

Qualifications will be evaluated based on how clearly and concisely you emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of your programs; services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of your actions taken. Typically experience will have been gained at the GS-15 or equivalent in the private sector or non-governmental organizations.

Already SES Certified? If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the Senior Executive Service, or have completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SES CDP) approved by OPM, you only need to submit a two-page resume and personnel action showing you have held a career SES position. SES CDP graduates must submit a two-page resume and a copy of their CDP program certification with their package.

Education

There is no positive educational requirement for this position.

Additional information

Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.The Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. Pay is set based on consideration of the selectee's current salary and other factors. Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch.

lf you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

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.

A panel of SES members will evaluate your two-page resume and determine the degree to which you possess each of the listed qualifications. If the selectee does not have Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), he/she will be required to undergo an ECQ based structured interview with OPM.

Bureau of Reclamation

Agency contact information

Erica Waggoner

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https://www.doi.gov/about

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