
Assistant Director for Management and Administration
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Washington, DCFull-time$197–228K/yrPosted today
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Job overview
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks an Assistant Director for Management and Administration to provide executive leadership and oversight of nationwide management and administrative programs. The role directs workforce planning, budget execution, property and fleet management, safety programs, and organizational performance improvements. It advises senior leadership and represents the Service in high-level meetings. This Senior Executive Service position is based in Washington, D.C.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
Summary
The Department of the Interior is seeking highly qualified candidates for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Assistant Director, for Management and Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located in Washington, D.C. The Department classifies SES positions by category to establish minimum pay levels. This position is designated as Category 3, with a minimum annual salary of $197,200 Veterans' preference does not apply to positions in the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Duties
The Assistant Director for Management and Administration provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of nationwide management and administrative programs for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Major duties include: Provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of Service-wide management and administrative programs, establishing organizational priorities, policies, performance expectations, and operating strategies aligned with Departmental and Service objectives. Directs workforce planning, organizational development, and human capital strategies to ensure an effective, accountable, and high-performing workforce. Oversees the formulation, justification, coordination, and execution of the Service's budget, including financial management, reporting, internal controls, and fiscal accountability to ensure effective stewardship of Federal resources. Provides executive oversight of property management, space and fleet management, and general administrative services to support efficient and effective nationwide operations. Directs executive-level oversight of occupational safety and health programs to support operational readiness and compliance with applicable requirements. Evaluates organizational performance, costs, risks, and competing resource requirements; establishes priorities and directs improvements to enhance operational efficiency, accountability, and mission effectiveness. Oversees economic and regulatory analyses that inform Service-wide program planning, resource allocation, and policy decisions. Serves as a principal advisor to senior FWS leadership and represents the Service in high-level Departmental, interagency, and governmental meetings, consultations, and negotiations involving significant management, administrative, and organizational policy matters. Provides leadership through subordinate executives, managers, and supervisors; establishes performance expectations; evaluates organizational results; and promotes accountability, leadership development, and continuous improvement in Service-wide administrative operations. Requirements
U.S. Citizenship Subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination. You must be able to obtain/maintain a Tier 4 background investigation. This is a Public Trust, Non-Sensitive, High-Risk, position. Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required) Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirements. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov. Selections are subject to Department approval. Initial appointments to the SES must undergo an ECQ based structured interview with Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Initial appointments into the Senior Executive Service require a one-year probationary period. Individuals selected for an SES position are subject to reassignment Agencies must request OPM approval to appoint current or former (within 5 years) Executive Branch political appointees to permanent competitive service, non-political excepted service, or career SES position. Qualifications
Qualifications: To meet the minimum qualifications, you must submit a two-page resume (max) that shows you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and two Technical Qualifications (TQs). To be considered, only the first 2 pages of your resume will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Technical Qualifications (TQs) are designed to assess an applicant's experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience and accomplishments related to the two TQs below: TQ1- Executive Management and Administrative Program Leadership: Demonstrated executive-level experience directing and integrating complex organizational management and administrative programs, such as budget, financial management, workforce management, or related administrative services, including developing policy, establishing priorities, and achieving organizational results through subordinate managers. TQ2- Strategic Resource Management and Organizational Performance: Demonstrated executive-level experience managing significant organizational resources; evaluating program performance, cost, risk, and effectiveness; establishing management controls and accountability; and implementing organizational improvements that increase efficiency and mission support. Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). Your two-page resume should also show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience and accomplishments related to the ECQs. By statute, the Office of Personnel Management prescribes Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for the appointment of career SES members. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and not technical expertise. 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. Sub-Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, Civic-Mindedness 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. Sub-Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology 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. Sub-Competencies: Technical Skill, Problem Solving, Agility, and Resilience. 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. Sub-Competencies: Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgement 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. Sub-Competencies: Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking In addition to meeting the basic requirement and demonstrating the required ECQs and TQs, candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Government, supporting the principles of the American republic, and upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Already SES Certified? If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the Senior Executive Service, or have completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SES CDP) approved by OPM, you only need to submit a two-page resume and personnel action showing you have held a career SES position. SES CDP graduates must submit a two-page resume and a copy of their CDP program certification with their package.
Education
Not required for this position How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your accomplishments and experience. ECQs and TQs must be demonstrated within your two-page resume. Applicants who do not demonstrate sufficient possession of the ECQs and TQs will be determined ineligible for further consideration. If you meet the basic qualifications and eligibility requirements, a panel of SES members will evaluate your resume and determine the degree to which you possess each of the listed qualifications. The highest qualified applicants will be considered for one or more interviews. If the selectee does not have Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), he/she will be required to undergo an ECQ based structured interview with OPM for SES appointment approval. Other Information
SES does not have Veteran's Preference and time in grade restrictions. Competitive status is not required. Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines. The Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. This is a category 3 position; the pay range is $197,200-$228,000. Annual pay increases and recognition, if applicable, are based on performance in the SES. A recruitment incentive may be authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from another Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive. A relocation incentive may be authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record is currently located, due to a need of the FWS. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.
How this job compares
Set against the 1,151 open Executive Leadership jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 9, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$197–228K/yr
- Washington, D.C. median$169–228K/yr41 salary ranges
- US median$188–300K/yr805 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $213K, is 12% above the Washington, D.C. median midpoint ($190K) — in the middle half of Executive Leadership salary ranges in Washington, D.C..
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 46 open Executive Leadership jobs in Washington, D.C. and 1,151 across the US. 12% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Washington, D.C.
- Smithsonian Institution3 open
- Ankura2 open
- Federal Highway Administration2 open
- Experience
- Executive Leadership postings that state a minimum ask for 10 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 10 to 15 years (869 postings).
- Education
- 424 of the 1,151 open Executive Leadership jobs (37%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 9, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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