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Intergovernmental Affairs Director

Department of Energy
Western Area Power Administration
Administrator A7810
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Intergovernmental Affairs Director serves as the primary bridge between WAPA leadership and the DOE Headquarters. This critical, high-visibility role ensures that WAPA's business operations, policies, and programs are strategically positioned to navigate complex national, state, tribal, and regional policy landscapes.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open date: 07/31/2026
Closed date: 07/31/2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—This is an onsite position. Telework eligible ONLY for situational telework at the discretion of management.
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
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
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.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
26-WA-00968-13021641-ICTAP
Control number
878540200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

CTAP/ICTAP ONLY ANNOUNCEMENT - Only displaced federal employees requesting special priority selection consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) may apply.

Duties

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As a Intergovernmental Affairs Director, you will:

  • Evaluate, coordinate, advise upon, and support critical agency policies, programs, budgets, power rates, contracts, marketing plans, financial policy, management services, and engineering decisions.
  • Serve as a key policy developer and decision-maker on the Senior Executive Team for both long- and short-range strategic planning to support the overall agency mission.
  • Manage the resources and staff allocated to the office by assigning and reviewing work, determining training needs, recommending or selecting employees and contractors, administering discipline, and evaluating staff performance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Q level clearance which includes the ability to successfully pass an initial drug test and continuing random drug testing.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidates application and 2-pg resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Specialized experience for this position must include all of the following:

  • Advises the relevant authorizing and appropriations committees and subcommittees (i.e. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Subcommittee on Water and Power; the House Natural Resources Committee and Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries; Senate Committee on Appropriations and Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development; and House Committee on Appropriations and Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development), and the House and Senate Members and their staff.
  • Analyzes budget and appropriations process, as a budget analyst in a federal agency, to develop logical strategies to advance agency and Administration goals.
  • Acts as a policy negotiator and conducts sensitive communications sessions with the Department of Energy, Bureau of Reclamation headquarters, Army Corps of Engineers headquarters, the Office of Management and Budget, and Congressional staff on federal power marketing issues. AND
  • Provides substantive advice and recommendations to management on Washington, D.C. political developments and the formulation and implementation of Administration policy, Executive and Legislative Branch strategies, and Federal budgets, on federal power marketing matters.

Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional GS 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). Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Education

For this position, education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
  • For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov

  • The selectee for this position may be eligible to receive a recruitment or relocation incentive. You will need to sign an employment agreement to be eligible for this incentive.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized.
  • This position may be eligible for creditable service towards annual leave. Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. DOE may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
  • Applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) when applying or competing for a job due to a medical condition or to exercise religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement.
  • 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 reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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. 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 Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
  • Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level.
  • Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.


Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. 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 in the highly qualified category or above based on the competencies listed above; and
  3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

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.

USAHire: To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date ( 07/31/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13021641.

Western Area Power Administration

Join the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Team - Discover Your Next Adventure!

At WAPA, we do more than keep the lights on. As part of the Department of Energy, we are a collective of innovators and problem-solvers dedicated to reliable, cost-based federal hydroelectric power.

Why WAPA?

We market and transmit wholesale electric power generated from 57 federally owned hydroelectric power plants across a 15-state region with over 17,000 miles of transmission lines. As one of the nation's largest transmission providers, WAPA brings wholesale power to market, at cost-based rates, to preference customers such as public utilities and cooperatives, municipalities, national security facilities, and irrigation districts.Our priority is your career growth and development, with comprehensive training and professional opportunities in a supportive environment. Enjoy competitive salaries, a robust retirement plan, health benefits, flexible schedules, and a work-life balance that values your well-being.

Power Your Career with WAPA

Ready to be part of our dynamic team? Apply to our current openings and take the first step towards a rewarding career that empowers both the West and your future.

Your skills. Our legacy. A shared Future. Are you in?

Agency contact information

PMA Careers
Email
PMACareers@wapa.gov
Address
WAPA Headquarters
12155 W. Alameda Pkwy
Lakewood, CO 80228
US

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