Director, Small Business Advocacy & Engagement Job

Vacancy No. EC-2026-0001 Department Office of Small Business Utilization
Salary $150,359.00 to $197,200.00 Grade 15 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/14/2026 Close Date 1/28/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Lakewood, COWashington, DCKansas City, MORaleigh, NC
Fort Worth, TXTacoma, WA


Summary

The incumbent will serve as the Small Business Advocacy & Engagement Director and act on behalf of the Associate Administrator for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

Location of position: GSA, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX; Denver/Lakewood, CO; Kansas City, MO; Raleigh, NC; Tacoma, WA; Washington, DC.

We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

This job is open to

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

Your application will be considered if you are a: • GSA employee • GSA surplus or displaced employees in the local commuting area who qualify for the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) You must be serving on a career or career-conditional appointment, or under a noncompetitive Special Appointing Authority which provides for conversion to a permanent position in the Competitive Service.

Duties

As a Director of Small Business Advocacy & Engagement you will perform the following duties:

  • Advises and assists the Associate Administrator, Deputy Associate Administrator, Chief of Staff and other GSA executive staff on matters within the scope of the program's responsibility. Manages and directs small business programs and outreach activities.
  • Creates an environment which is conducive to employees thinking and resolving problems creatively. Provides candid and timely feedback to associates on how their actions contribute to the achievement of organizational goals and objectives
  • Creates, manages, and executes the annual budget performance cycle for the Small Business Advocacy & Engagement Division. Monitors travel and training budget allocations, expenditures and fund balances for the purpose of ensuring that allocations are accurate, revenues are recorded, expenses are within budget limits and/or fiscal practices are followed.
  • Serves as the spokesperson and focal point for activities and issues within the scope of program responsibility. Brings the voice of customers, stakeholders, and partners into the organization.
  • Works collaboratively with internal and external customers to include Federal, State and local workforce partners to create a comprehensive and integrated workforce investment system that results in excellent outcomes and highly satisfied customers. Works as a partner with other programs and offices to facilitate the achievement of goals.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
  • Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable
  • Register with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
  • Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level).
  • Serve a one year supervisory or managerial probationary period, if required

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

  • the exact dates you held  each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

The GS-1101-15 salary range starts at $150,359 per year.  Locality pay will be determined upon selection.

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level or higher in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is experience managing small and disadvantaged business programs or similar programs, advising senior leadership on program operations, strategic planning, and performance accountability; leading staff and overseeing budgets and resources; directing outreach, training, and advocacy initiatives; evaluating program effectiveness; and building relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support small business participation and compliance. 

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.

If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage.

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.

Travel expenses associated with interviews may be approved. Determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed, through other means, or not at all.

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.

You will have access to many benefits including:

  • Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
  • Life insurance coverage with several options
  • Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
  • Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
  • Flexible work schedules
  • Transit and child care subsidies
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Long-term care insurance
  • Training and development

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.

A panel of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review the resumes of qualified candidates and assign a score for each of the five required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) based on the experience documented in the resume and narrative responses.

  1. Knowledge of small business utilization to oversee, manage and direct the Small Business Advocacy and Engagement program or similar program and to provide services which directly and significantly impact other functions and activities throughout the agency and/or other areas of responsibility.
  2. Skill in communicating orally and in writing to ensure effective messaging, negotiable issues, resolve conflicts and present information to persons with various levels of experience and understanding.
  3. Skill in creating, managing, and executing the annual budget performance cycle and collaborating with senior leadership to make critical financial decisions within organizational fiscal constraints.
  4. Skill in serving as a nationwide advocate for small businesses and providing high level, authoritative advice and guidance regarding nationwide acquisition and procurement opportunities.
  5. Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with internal and external customers to include Federal, State and local workforce partners to create a comprehensive and integrated workforce investment system that results in excellent outcomes and highly satisfied customers.

Demonstration of these KSAs must be supported by your resume. Applicants should also make note of each KSA, as you will be asked to address them later in the application process.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration during the selection process.  If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If you are eligible for GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), your resume must clearly demonstrate experience in at least 3 of the 5 required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) to receive priority consideration.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.

Resume: Your resume should not exceed 2 pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. Resumes exceeding two pages will not be accepted by USAJOBS and will prevent your application from moving forward in the hiring process.  Your resume must contain the following information:

  • Name, address, telephone number, email address;
  • Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);
  • Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement.
  • Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.

Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic, general, or specialized experience requirements for each grade level you are applying. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.

If you are CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.

How to Apply

Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application.  For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job.

If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application.

To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.

  • Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application.
  • Resumes exceeding two pages will not be accepted by USAJOBS and will prevent your application from moving forward in the hiring process. Please see Required Documents for additional details.
  • Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.
  • Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete.  If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
  • Note:  Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process). 

Need Assistance? 

  • Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact mgshelp@monster.com or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays
  • Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline

You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions.

Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.

Agency contact information

Patrice Davis
Phone
202-704-2340
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
Patrice.Davis@gsa.gov
Address
GSA, Office of Small Business Utilization
Servicing HR Office: Staff Office Branch D
GSA, Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM)
1800 F Street, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20405
United States

Next steps

After the closing date/deadline:

  1. ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements.
  2. REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview.  
  3. SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process.
  4. FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically 40 days after the announcement closes.
  5. FINAL COMMUNICATION:  Once the position is filled, we will notify you of your status. You may also check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and clicking “Track this Application” on the Applicant Dashboard.

Thank you for your interest in working for the U.S. General Services Administration! 

Additional locations

Fort Worth, TX
1 vacancy
Tacoma, WA
1 vacancy

Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.