Department: Department of Health and Human Services
Location(s): Bethesda, Maryland
Salary Range: $151661 - $228000 Per Year
Job Summary: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the largest biomedical research funding organization in the world. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs). The Office of the Director (OD), in the NIH, is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Associate Director for Legislative Policy & Analysis (ADLPA). This is a career Federal position in the SES. See "Duties" section for a list of the major responsibilities.
Major Duties:
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 Technical Qualifications (TQ) 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. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the ECQs or TQs. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. TQ 1: Ability to provide executive leadership and lead enterprise-wide legislative policy development, analysis, liaison, and outreach, including managing a legislative policy organization, establishing strategic plans and policies, evaluating programs, developing budgets, and building diverse, high-performing teams. TQ 2: Ability to build coalitions and negotiate on behalf of a multi-tiered organization on legislative policy issues affecting the organization and national biomedical research community, while providing critical strategic advice to senior officials on highly sensitive issues requiring policy reforms and innovative solutions. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the 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 TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. There are five 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 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. Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or TQs. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: The NIH seeks candidates who have a commitment to managerial excellence and the energy, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking necessary to lead within a dynamic organization. All competitive candidates for SES positions with the Federal Government must demonstrate leadership experience indicative of senior executive-level management capability. The ADLPA resides within the OLPA in the Office of the Director, NIH, and reports directly to the NIH Principal Director. Applicants must meet the requirements for the GS-0340 series as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Standards Manual for General Schedule Positions which is available at: OPM Qualifications Standards GS-0340 Website and demonstrate in your two (2) page resume that you possess the Technical Qualifications (TQs) listed above. It is recommended that your resume emphasize levels of responsibility, scope, and complexity of programs managed, and program accomplishments and results. Candidates must possess experience at the senior level (GS-14/15 level or equivalent) in the following job-specific Technical Qualifications (TQs). The TQs measure the technical expertise required by this position and must be addressed within your two-page resume. It is recommended that corresponding TQs be annotated in parenthesis within your two (2) page resume. Political, Schedule C, Non-career SES Appointee*: In the last five years, based on the closing date of this announcement, have you served or are you currently serving as an Executive Branch political, Schedule C, or Non-career SES appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed. (If you have this experience, please state this within your 2-page resume) (Please confirm whether or not you have this experience within your 2-page resume) *A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an Assistant position to a top-level Federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)). A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations. A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director, OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties. NOTE: IF SELECTED, a Structured Interview will be used to certify the candidate by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB). If you are currently serving in a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), you WILL NOT need to participate in a Structured Interview.
How to Apply: Applicants must submit application materials ELECTRONICALLY by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to the following email address: seniorre@od.nih.gov
Application Deadline: 2026-03-23