Intergovernmental Affairs Director

Clarification from the agency

The Public, Military Spouses, and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) eligibles.

Lead at the Forefront of Clean Energy and Regional Collaboration: Serve as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at Bonneville Power Administration

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) plays an essential role in powering the Pacific Northwest, delivering reliable, carbon-free hydropower and operating a high-voltage transmission grid vital to the region's economy and environmental vitality. At the center of this mission is the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs-an executive role serving directly alongside the Administrator/CEO on BPA's Executive Leadership Team and Enterprise Board.

In this high-visibility position, you will be the bridge between BPA's operational priorities and our most critical external partners across the Pacific Northwest and Washington, D.C. If you are a collaborative executive leader skilled at building strong coalitions, navigating complex multi-party environments, and guiding high-performing teams, this role offers an exceptional platform to champion infrastructure resilience and public service on a grand scale.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

1. Serve as a Principal Executive Advisor: Collaborate directly with the BPA Administrator/CEO and serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and Enterprise Board, providing strategic counsel on external stakeholder dynamics, intergovernmental affairs, and organizational initiatives that influence BPA's operations.

2. Lead National Relations and Congressional Engagement: Oversee the agency's engagement with the U.S. Congress, key legislative committees, the Pacific Northwest Congressional delegation, and executive leadership at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to clearly communicate agency priorities and infrastructure milestones.

3. Strengthen Nation-to-Nation Tribal Partnerships: Guide executive-level tribal relations, fostering enduring, respectful relationships with federally recognized tribal governments and leading meaningful government-to-government consultations on vital energy and natural resource initiatives.

4. Foster Broad Regional Coalitions: Cultivate productive, collaborative partnerships with Pacific Northwest governors, state agencies, state legislators, regulatory commissions, and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council to align regional operational and infrastructure goals.

5. Advance National Grid and Energy Initiatives: Coordinate across the Department of Energy complex and partner alongside fellow Power Marketing Administrations to align shared interests in grid reliability, transmission modernization, and energy resilience.

6. Inspire and Direct High-Performing Teams: Provide strategic leadership, mentorship, and direction to three dedicated program areas-National Relations, Regional Relations, and Tribal Affairs. Supervise team managers, foster career development, and champion an equitable, results-oriented workplace culture.

7. Represent BPA in High-Stakes Public Forums: Serve as an executive representative for the agency in formal and informal negotiations, public hearings, interagency task forces, and national conferences, finding shared solutions on complex and sensitive regional topics.

8. Optimize Enterprise Strategy and Resources: Exercise managerial authority over team operations, allocating financial and personnel resources effectively to ensure all intergovernmental engagement directly supports BPA's broader business and infrastructure commitments.

Conditions of employment

In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration

When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.

Key Requirements:

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.

• Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.
• First time supervisors will be required to serve a 1 year probationary period.
• This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
• This position has been designated as High Risk and requires a security clearance at the DOE "Q" level; the incumbent will be required to access, process, use, and safeguard classified information. The incumbent is required to obtain and maintain this clearance level; failure to do so may result in separation from federal service.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-14) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as: experience 1) Leading or coordinating programs/projects focused on complex national, legislative, or intergovernmental policy issues involving the Northwest Power Act; 2) Formulating strategic policy recommendations, legislative analyses, or executive briefing packages to guide senior or executive leadership on complex federal, statutory, or energy policy decisions; and 3) Advocating, negotiating, or building consensus on contentious policy or operational matters with external governing bodies (e.g., Congressional staff/committees, federal executive agencies, sovereign tribal governments, or regulatory entities).

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Category Rating Procedure: You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Once the application process is complete, your resume, supporting documentation, and questionnaire/assessment responses will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the SME Interview rating assessment(s) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three predefined quality categories. These categories are Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified.

Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. Preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or above (or equivalent).

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 scoring 85.0 or higher.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (10/10/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13078508

Structured Interview Review: After it has been determined that you meet the minimum qualifications, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will contact you to schedule an interview. During the interview, all candidates will be asked the same pre-determined questions, which are designed to evaluate the competencies needed for the role. Your responses will be scored on a rating scale based on these competencies. After the interview, scores from all interviewers will be compiled and factored into the overall evaluation. Your final score will reflect how well your qualifications and skills align with the position requirements. Participation in this interview is required for your application to be considered complete. If you do not complete the interview, you will be removed from further consideration for the position.

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

• Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
  • Information on how to create a federal resume https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/documents/resume
• Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
• Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement.Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
• Veterans' Preference documentation,if applicable, DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable(e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

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