Deputy Assistant Secretary

The Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) will provide executive leadership across OCTAE's program, policy, administrative, and operational functions including career and technical education, adult education and literacy, and related workforce and education initiatives, and will serve as a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary on the administration of federal career and technical education, adult education, community college, correctional and reentry education, and workforce-aligned education programs. Within this operating environment, the DAS, OCTAE:

• Provides executive direction to OCTAE program offices and staff responsible for formula and discretionary grant programs, policy development, technical assistance, monitoring, performance reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
• Ensures that OCTAE maintains strong internal systems for grant administration, risk management, program oversight, grantee communication, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and Department policies.
• Oversees OCTAE's administrative operations, including budget execution, procurement, travel, training, human capital, performance management, awards, records management, internal controls, and office communications.
• Manages OCTAE's salaries and expenses planning, procurement planning, contract support, and administrative resource allocation in coordination with Department offices.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures for core office functions, including grants, contracts, budget, clearance, personnel actions, administrative approvals, and internal reporting.
• Coordinates OCTAE's contributions to Department-wide requirements, including GPRA, audit responses, performance reporting, budget materials, congressional inquiries, data calls, and internal control reviews.
• Ensures that OCTAE retains appropriate federal oversight, policy authority, statutory decision-making, and accountability when program operations involve interagency agreements or shared administrative support.
• Oversees grant lifecycle functions, including planning, application review, award, monitoring, technical assistance, continuation awards, closeout, and audit follow-up.
• Supports evidence-based policy development and practical implementation of Department priorities related to career-connected learning, workforce development, adult education, community colleges, apprenticeships, AI literacy, and education-to-employment pathways.
• Supports coordination across federal education and workforce programs, including alignment with Department of Labor and other federal partners where appropriate.
• Advises senior leadership on program risks, implementation barriers, stakeholder concerns, statutory limitations, and opportunities for improved performance.
• Represents OCTAE in senior-level Department meetings, interagency discussions, grantee meetings, stakeholder engagements, and internal management forums.

Conditions of employment

• One year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation.
• U.S. Citizenship
• Financial disclosure statement, OGE-278.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance.
• Relocation expenses will NOT be paid.
• Registration with the Selective Service (if applicable). Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• All initial appointments to an SES position are contingent on approval from OPM's Qualification Review Board.

Qualifications

The application process used to recruit for this position is resume only. Do not submit separate Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) in lieu of resume.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications related to this position within your resume. Resume should NOT EXCEED 2 PAGES, with the font size no smaller than 10 points. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualifications.

Failure to meet the basic qualification requirement and address all Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) within your resume will result in your application being disqualified.

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

There are five (5) ECQs:
ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding
This core qualification requires a 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
This core qualification involves the 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
This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4: Leading People
This core qualification involves the 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
This core qualification involves the 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 must attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs)

There are two (2) TQs:

TQ 1: Demonstrated ability in leading the development of career-technical education, adult education, community college, or correctional education policy and long-term planning, including assessing needs and opportunities and expanding interagency partnerships to support programmatic activities in order to expand impact.

TQ 2: Demonstrated experience in conducting analyses and evaluation of program data to determine progress towards short and long-term objectives and continuous improvement.

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. Your Application Package will be further reviewed by a panel to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications. ECQs and TQs 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

• Some jobs require additional professional certifications. See the job announcement for details.
• Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.

A complete application consists of all items listed below. Required materials must be submitted by the conclusion of the staffing process. Applications that are incomplete at that time may not be considered.

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants.

1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each), minimum size 10 font, showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs.

2. VACANCY QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy.

3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable:

• CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
• SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification.
• CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES (including current U.S. Department of Education employees): Must also submit: A Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), which demonstrates your eligibility. To verify your eligibility, we will review your SF-50 to determine your tenure (block 24) and position occupied (block 34). Examples of sufficient SF-50s include appointments, promotions, within-grade increases, and pay adjustments. If you currently hold or previously held a federal position at or above the highest grade of this position or you have/had promotion potential at or above the highest grade of this position, you must also submit an SF-50 documenting your highest grade level held or promotion potential. Examples of sufficient SF-50s include appointments and promotions.
  

4. EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: For positions with an education requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected and not already on file. See "Education" for more details.

*PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL - Most recent performance appraisal is strongly recommended.

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