Director for Grants Policy Office

Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development • Washington, DC

13h

About The Position

The Director of the Grants Policy Office in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD) provides executive leadership and direction for the Department’s grants policy functions and ensures effective coordination of grants policy across the Department. OPEPD focuses on policy development, implementation, and review, coordinating with offices throughout the Department to align policy with the Secretary’s priorities and guidance. The position may be detailed to another Federal agency.

The Director leads the development, interpretation, implementation, and continuous improvement of Department-wide grants policies, regulations, procedures, and related initiatives covering formula, discretionary, and directed grant programs. The role establishes the Grants Policy Office’s vision and strategic priorities, advises senior Department leadership and grant-making offices on significant grants policy matters, and develops policy options and recommendations concerning program implementation, oversight, monitoring, continuation decisions, risk management, evidence, and other issues affecting the Department’s grant portfolio.

The Director connects the Secretary’s policy priorities to grant-program implementation across the lifecycle, from program design and award through monitoring, continuation, and evaluation. In collaboration with grant-making offices and other Department components, the role develops grant priorities, requirements, selection criteria, performance measures, monitoring approaches, award conditions, evaluation strategies, and consistent Department-wide approaches to cross-cutting policy issues. The Director also leads improvements to discretionary grant competitions and award processes to support timely and effective awards, improve the applicant experience, and strengthen consistent grant-making practices. The position advises on incorporating evidence-based practices and on strengthening the development, understanding, dissemination, and use of evidence.

Requirements

• Demonstrated executive leadership experience advising senior agency officials on policy development and execution of agency strategic priorities.
• Experience leading complex policy initiatives across multiple offices.
• Experience overseeing analytical teams.
• Experience directing the development and implementation of grants policies, guidance, and operational strategies to advance agency objectives.
• Demonstrated evidence of the five Executive Core Qualifications: commitment to the rule of law and principles of the American founding; driving efficiency; merit and competence; leading people; and achieving results.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance.
• Must submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278.
• Registration with the Selective Service is required if applicable; males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt.
• Initial appointments to an SES position are contingent on approval from OPM’s Qualification Review Board.
• Application must be a resume of no more than two pages, with font size no smaller than 10 points, and must address the applicable ECQs and TQ.
• A one-year probationary period applies unless excepted by regulation.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and direction for Department grants policy functions and coordinate grants policy across the Department.
• Lead development, interpretation, implementation, and continuous improvement of Department-wide grants policies, regulations, procedures, and related initiatives for formula, discretionary, and directed grant programs.
• Establish the Grants Policy Office’s vision, strategic direction, and priorities, and identify opportunities to strengthen policy and processes in support of Department priorities, program outcomes, accountability, and stewardship of Federal funds.
• Serve as a principal Departmental authority on grants policy and advise senior Department leadership and grant-making offices on significant, complex, sensitive, or precedent-setting policy and implementation matters.
• Develop policy options and recommendations concerning grants policy, program implementation, oversight, monitoring, continuation decisions, risk management, evidence, and other cross-cutting matters.
• Strengthen the connection between the Secretary’s policy priorities and grant-program implementation from program design through award, monitoring, continuation, and evaluation.
• Work with grant-making offices to translate Department policy objectives into grant priorities, requirements, selection criteria, performance measures, monitoring approaches, award conditions, and other grant mechanisms.
• Identify and resolve cross-cutting policy issues affecting multiple grant-making offices and develop consistent Department-wide approaches where appropriate.
• Provide leadership to grant-making offices in designing and implementing discretionary grant competitions that support timely and effective awards, improve the applicant experience, and align implementation with Department policy and program objectives.
• Identify and implement Department-wide improvements to grant competition and award processes, including streamlining internal review, improving award timing, and strengthening consistent and effective grant-making practices.
• Advise grant-making offices on incorporating evidence-based practices into grant programs and identify opportunities to strengthen the development, understanding, dissemination, and use of evidence.
• Work with relevant Department components to develop policy approaches, performance measures, and evaluation strategies that support effective implementation and continuous program improvement.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families; specific benefits eligibility depends on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed