Office Director

Summary

The Office Director for the Office of Consular Applications (CA) is located in Washington, DC, reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) for Enterprise Applications. CA leads and executes the Department's global consular applications program, supporting visa, passport, and overseas citizens services operations. CA is also responsible for ensuring the security, interoperability, and worldwide implementation of consular technology systems.

Duties

• The Office of Consular Applications (CA) is responsible for the design, development, testing, maintenance, training, security, and worldwide implementation of the Department's consular applications, supporting visa, passport, and overseas citizens services operations across more than 240 overseas posts and 30 domestic centers and agencies. The incumbent manages an office with an annual budget exceeding $820 million, a direct-hire staff of over 160 employees, and a contractor workforce of more than 1,400, overseeing approximately 47% of the Department of State's IT footprint, including over 70% of the Department's High Value Assets. Additional duties and functions include the following: Serves as the principal advisor to senior Department, Bureau, and U.S. Government (USG) leaders on all matters related to consular applications. Provides executive oversight, direction, and management of all consular applications, including their development, maintenance, updates, and security, ensuring compliance with Congressional mandates, FISMA, and FITARA requirements; and directs strategic development of consular applications and associated systems, providing authoritative technical and programmatic advice on current and emerging needs. Manages a budget exceeding $820 million, overseeing large-scale, highly complex contracts from procurement through oversight, subject to periodic independent audits. Serves as system owner for consular applications, developing and maintaining Department-wide policy guidance on consular applications and systems development. Leads reviews of major consular program areas, including Passport Services, American Citizen Services, Immigrant and Non-immigrant Visas, Consular Management, Fraud Prevention Programs, NameCheck, biometrics, and systems interoperability; and integrates emerging technologies — including AI, machine learning, and facial recognition — into worldwide consular operations to strengthen global connectivity and border security. Represents the Bureau and Department in interagency forums, coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other partners on border security, counterterrorism, and law enforcement objectives. Engages extensively with senior officials across the Department, other federal agencies (e.g., DHS, FBI), Congress, and private-sector partners to advocate for and defend Department IT policy and consular technology initiatives. Exercises full supervisory authority over subordinate Division Directors and staff, including hiring, performance management, disciplinary actions, awards, and resource allocation across seven divisions: Management and Administration, Cybersecurity, Visa, Platforms and Automation, Common Services, Citizenship Services, and Enterprise Operations. Develops and adjusts long-range strategic plans, resolving complex, controversial, and high-impact issues affecting the Department's global consular mission.

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. As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. The application process to recruit for this position is the RESUME BASED method. You must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications ( MTQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed and will be disqualified. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. Please submit your 2-page resume as an additional attachment. It is strongly recommended that you submit your 2-page resume in PDF format. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing ECQs or MTQs. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): YOUR RESUME (NOT TO EXCEED TWO PAGES) MUST CLEARLY DOCUMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE OF YOUR ECQs : ECQ 1 – Commitment to 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 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. MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ)s: IN ADDITION, YOU WILL BE EVALUATED ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ): Your responses to the MTQ should be embedded/addressed within your resume not to exceed two pages. MTQ 1 Demonstrated executive-level experience planning, directing, and managing large-scale, mission-critical information technology programs — including budget formulation, staffing, and contractor oversight — in support of a large public or private organization's operations. MTQ 2 Demonstrated expert knowledge of advanced information technology functions — including IT governance, enterprise architecture, applications development, capital planning, and cybersecurity — combined with the ability to advocate and negotiate technology policy and program positions with senior USG officials, Congressional staff, interagency partners, and industry representatives. NOTE: Your demonstrated leadership ability and the evidence of the ECQs and MTQs must be clearly shown in your resume. A separate narrative statement will not be accepted. A sample 2-page resume that incorporates ECQs and MTQs can be viewed on this link (indexed at page 16 - 17), “Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications” and “Senior Executive Service Qualifications & Fundamental-Competencies”. YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION IF YOU FAIL TO FULLY DEMONSTRATE EACH ECQ AND MTQ AND IF YOUR RESUME EXCEEDS TWO (2) PAGES. Current or Former (within last 5 years) Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employees in the Executive Branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee, please indicate this in your resume. Serving in a Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES appointment WILL NOT eliminate you from consideration.

Requirements

This position is a drug-testing designated position subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's completion and favorable adjudication of a background security investigation. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521 requires the applicant selected for the this position submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually and upon termination of employment.

How to apply

Prepare your application in USAJOBS To start your application, click Apply and we'll walk you through the process to attach a resume and any required documents. During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS. STEP 2: Submit your resume. Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume. STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions. STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section. To learn how to view the status of your submitted supporting documentation and application, visit the Application Instructions section of our agency's Civil Service selection process site. Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at [email protected] or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET Alternate Application Procedures If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.