Associate Assistant Deputy Administrator (AADA) for Material Management and Minimization Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. 26-XA-NNSA-NA-23-ES-7556 Department National Nuclear Security Administration
Salary $199,172.00 to $228,000.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/21/2026 Close Date 10/5/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Washington, DC


Associate Assistant Deputy Administrator (AADA) for Material Management and Minimization

Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Office of Material Management and Minimization (NA-23)

Summary

NNSA - building careers while securing the future through engineering, science, and national security in an environment where your contributions make a difference.

The Office of Material Management and Minimization mission is to achieve permanent threat reduction by managing and minimizing excess weapons-useable nuclear materials and providing nuclear materials for peaceful uses.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Area of Consideration for this position are SES CDP, SES Reinstatement and Civil Service Applicants.

Duties

As the Associate Assistant Deputy Administrator (AADA) for Material Management and Minimization you will have the following duties:

  • Manage the development of policy and direct the implementation of DOE/NNSA decision regarding the management of those weapon-grade nuclear materials declared excess to national security needs.
  • Oversee the preparation of technical, nonproliferation, environmental, safety, budgetary, economic and other policy analyses necessary for the formulation of program decisions.
  • Oversee the removal, consolidation and/or confirm the disposition of U.S.-origin high enriched uranium (HEU), Russian-origin HEU, and other high-risk nuclear material.
  • Oversee the disposition of both HEU and plutonium. Manage the excess weapon useable nuclear material, from both domestic stockpiles and material returned from abroad.
  • Oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive public outreach and communication plan for the program; serve as one of the DOE/NNSA's primary communications channel to the public and stakeholders on matters concerning the management of
    nuclear materials.
  • Keep the Administrator and Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation informed of significant events and issues; represent the Deputy Administrator in meetings, discussions, and decision forums within the NNSA as well as with other agencies, Congress, and the public.
  • Oversee the design, construction, and operation of facilities required to implement DOE's legal obligations to the State of SC and in compliance with the President's Executive Order on Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base. Ensure that all appropriate DOE/NNSA
    management requirements are implemented effectively through the responsible line organizations.
  • Serve as the DOE/NNSA's principal point-of-contact for all matters involving Headquarters and field office management on issues associated with the management and minimization of nuclear materials.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THIS VACANCY: This is a career position in the SES. Unless the selectee is already a member of the SES with career status or are a graduate of an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) certified SES Candidate Development Program, your executive qualifications must be assessed and approved by OPM before you can be hired.

HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE (HSPD-12): A selectee's appointment is contingent upon compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity. May be required to pass a pre-employment drug test, random testing after appointment.


PUBLIC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT (OGE 278): If you are selected for this position, will be required to file this report prior to entry on duty in accordance with the Ethics of Government Act of 1978.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You may be required to complete a one-year SES probationary period. Probationary periods are required for new employees appointed to a Senior Executive Service (SES) position for the first time. Employees serving on probationary period may be terminated at any time during the probationary for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: 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.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance.

DRUG TESTING: Subject to pre-employment/pre-appointment testing for illegal drug use under the U.S. Department of Energy Employee Drug Plan. If you are selected you will be provided information regarding drug testing. Failure to undergo testing or positive findings resulting from the test will eliminate you from further consideration for this position. If selected for and appointed to this position you will be subject to random drug testing while employed.

MOBILITY: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and will be required to abide by NNSA's mobility policy.

E-VERIFY: New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

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 qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) 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.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQs. Only your resume capped at two (2) pages will be accepted and considered. Any additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

There are two MTQs:

1: Demonstrated experience leading nuclear security (e.g., nuclear nonproliferation) programs involving nuclear material security in close coordination with a mix of U.S. Government agencies, with emphasis on specific outcomes and successes.

2: Demonstrated experience leading an organization through the process of coordinating programmatic activities across a variety of Executive Branch agencies, Congress, the U.S. National Laboratories, industry, and academia.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Mandatory Technical Qualification Requirements 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 MTQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

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.

2: Driving Efficiency: Demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

3: Merit and Competence: Demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

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.

5: Achieving Results: 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 an 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, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

There is no education requirement for this position.

Additional information

***A recruitment incentive may be offered for this position.***

Veteran's Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive service (SES).


OF-306: You may be required to complete an OF-306, "Declaration for Federal Employment" form used to (a) determine your suitability for Federal Employment and/or (b) in conducting an investigation to determine your suitability or ability to hold a security clearance.

The U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm

Applications contain information subject to the Privacy Act (PL 93 579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at AdministrativeInvestigations@hq.doe.gov.

The selecting official may need to consult Departmental ethics counsel to determine whether any of your former or current employers, affiliations, or financial holdings conflict with your ability to perform the duties of this position. If necessary, ethics counsel will work with you and the hiring office regarding potential mitigation strategies, if available.

Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

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.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

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 Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) listed above. ECQs and MTQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (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 selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM 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/.

Required Documents

The new SES hiring process requires applicants to submit a two (2)-page resume (only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications), which includes information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the ECQs and required MTQs. If you submit more than two pages, the remainder of the pages will not be reviewed nor considered. Note: Applications must be presented in a font size and font style that is legible, preferably Times New Roman font, no less than 11-point size with no less than half an inch margin all around. Reviewers of your application must be able to read your resume, or your application will be disqualified.

Thoroughly review the following list to determine the documentation you need to submit. If you fail to submit required documentation before the announcement closes, you will be rated "ineligible." Some documents may not apply to all applicants.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. ALL APPLICANTS - Two (2) page ECQ-based Resume including the following:
  • Full name, mailing and email addresses, day & evening telephone numbers
  • Education information including:
    • Name, city, state of colleges/universities attended, major & type of degree received.
    • Report only schools accredited by the accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
  • All work experience (paid and unpaid) including:
    • Job title, duties/accomplishments, employer's name/city and state, start/end dates (include month, day, and year), average hours per week worked, salary
  • Honors, awards, special accomplishments
  • If you are currently serving under a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES (this means you were previously employed as a Career SES employee and you successfully completed a one-year probationary period) or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program and been certified by OPM, your resume must clearly state that you are a current career SES, eligible for reinstatement, or SES CDP certified and year of certification.
We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions.

2. Current or former career SES members must provide a SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.

3. Applicants who have successfully completed an OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program must submit a copy of their certification.

4. Current or former Federal Civilian employees must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) documenting the following: 1) Full position title; 2) appointment type; 3) occupational series; 4) pay plan, grade, and step; 5) tenure code; 6) service computation date (SCD).

5. ALL APPLICANTS - If positive education requirement: you must submit a copy of your transcript(s) or a separate course listing showing the course title, department, hours earned (quarters or semester), and grade. If you have completed any part of your education outside of the U.S., you must submit the evaluation of your foreign education that has been prepared by an accredited organization. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) can provide a list of who can evaluate your foreign education. For additional information, visit Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education.

6. Optional - cover letter (one page maximum).

NOTE:
  • All documents must be uploaded into the system; USAJobs Resume Builder resumes will not be accepted.
  • Pages submitted in excess of the limits described above will not be considered. Substituting pages for other required documents in the application is not acceptable.
  • Do not use borders, provide photos or list a Social Security Number or date of birth on any attachment.
  • If you are selected for this position, you may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your responses.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. Faxed or e-mailed applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. Requests for extensions will not be granted.

All statements made in this application are subject to investigation and any false or dishonest answer to any question may be grounds for disqualification and loss of consideration. If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.

The application process is as follows:

  1. You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: USAJOBS Help Center - How to create a login.gov account
  2. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
  3. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
  4. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: USAJOBS - Login Gov Acknowledgement. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status.

If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center.

If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots, if possible, to aid technical support.

Agency contact information

Takisha Gray McDowell
Email
takisha.gray@nnsa.doe.gov
Address
NNSA - Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
24600 20th St SE
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5507
US

Next steps

You will receive a confirmation notification after you submit your application package. We will continue to update your status and send you additional notifications throughout the recruitment process. You will receive a final disposition notification if you are not selected for the position. To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select My Applications, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

National Nuclear Security Administration

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is a separately organized agency of the Department of Energy. We manage highly visible U.S. National Security Programs, enhance U.S. national security through research, development, production, assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, promote international nuclear non-proliferation and safety, reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction, provide the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion, and oversee national laboratories and other production facilities to maintain U.S. leadership in science and technology.

Please view the following links for additional information:
Explore a world of opportunities at NNSA
Working at NNSA.pdf

Agency contact information

Takisha Gray McDowell
Email
takisha.gray@nnsa.doe.gov
Address
NNSA - Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
24600 20th St SE
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5507
US

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