Assistant Chairman for Planning & Operations

About this role

NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.

Duties This position is that of Assistant Chairman for Planning and Operations, within the Office of the Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Assistant Chairman for Planning and Operations is responsible for providing executive leadership and direction for NEH's planning, budgeting, accounting, and other administrative functions. Major duties include: Advises the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Assistant Chairman for Programs, and other members of the senior staff on the formulation and implementation of NEH's strategic and performance plans; OMB and Congressional budgets; administrative policies; and operational procedures. Ensures that NEH plans, budgets, policies, and procedures are consistent with the Chairman's priorities. Supervises the directors of NEH's administrative offices and ensures they understand the Chairman's policies and priorities. Serves as NEH's liaison with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), General Accounting Office (GAO), Department of Treasury, General Services Administration (GSA), Small Agency Council, relevant congressional committees, and other government departments and agencies. Ensures compliance with pertinent federal policies, regulations, and laws. Manages the agency's internal operations. Oversees agency personnel recruitment, training, and evaluation practices. Maintains oversight responsibility for application and grant processing, grant monitoring, and award closeout procedures. Ensures agency compliance with enterprise risk management requirements. Oversees contracting, acquisitions, procurement, human resources, and assorted support services.

Qualifications As a basic requirement for entry into the senior executive service (SES), applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability. This experience should be sufficiently broad in scope and at a major management level in a large or complex organization. The ideal candidate will have experience supervising many employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and evaluating employees. Typically, experience of this nature is at the GS-15 or equivalent level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. Your application should demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in SES positions such as: Leading the work of an organizational unit. Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects. Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance, and taking action to improve performance. Supervising the work of employees, developing policy, and other executive functions. If your experience does not include these basic qualifications, you will not be determined qualified for this position. Veterans Preference: Is not applicable to positions in the Senior Executive Service. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) related to this position within your resume. RESUME MUST NOT EXCEED 2 PAGES. Narrative statements specifically addressing the ECQs and/or the TQs are not required but must be addressed within your two page resume. Applications received with resumes exceeding the 2-page limit will be disqualified and will not receive further consideration. 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. See Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit here. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy these technical qualifications. TQ 1 - Grants Administration and Oversight Demonstrated experience administering and overseeing federal grantmaking processes across the full lifecycle, including application review, grant monitoring, award closeout, and compliance activities. Proven experience ensuring alignment with statutory requirements (e.g., 2 C.F.R. 200), federal grant and contract procedures, and enterprise risk management obligations. Demonstrated ability to manage high-volume, multi-program grant portfolios and advise senior leadership on grant policy, performance, and operational impacts. TQ 2 - Administrative Program Management Ability to lead, direct, and integrate agency-wide administrative operations, including HR, grant management, acquisitions, procurement, budgeting, financial management, and administrative services. Demonstrated experience developing administrative policies, overseeing compliance with federal management requirements, optimizing workflows, and guiding multi-office administrative teams. Proven ability to sustain effective internal operations, ensure workforce readiness, and support high-level organizational planning and performance activities. TQ 3 - Project, Program, and Policy Management Demonstrated experience planning, formulating, and implementing complex projects, programs, policies, and procedures across a federal agency. Proven ability to oversee strategic and performance planning, integrate program objectives with agency priorities, and ensure programmatic compliance with OMB and Congressional requirements. Demonstrated skill in coordinating cross-functional initiatives, managing change, and supporting organizational decision-making through data-driven analysis and policy development. TQ 4 - Relationship Building and Stakeholder Engagement Demonstrated ability to cultivate and sustain productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, federal oversight bodies (OMB, OPM, GAO, Treasury, GSA, Congress), and partner agencies. Proven experience serving as a senior advisor, navigating sensitive issues, facilitating collaboration, and representing the agency in high-stakes interagency discussions. Demonstrated skill in building coalitions, communicating effectively across diverse audiences, and ensuring alignment with agency priorities and federal requirements. 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 two-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. Review ECQ guidance in OPM Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications and the Qualifications Review Board. These are the five ECQs and their competencies: 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 Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. (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. (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. (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. (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. (Competencies: Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking). 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, please attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES. A method to present demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs is to use the C - C - A - R model (Challenge / Context / Action / Results): 1. Challenge - Describe a specific problem or goal. 2. Context - Talk about the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked to tackle a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale). 3. Action - Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge. 4. Results - Give specific examples of the results of your actions. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.

Required documents Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action The following are highly recommended: A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (from either the Federal or private sector). Please remove your social security number. A cover letter. (In your cover letter, please describe what appeals to you about the NEH's mission and how your skills and experience would make you an ideal candidate.

How to apply To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/30/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. Only send documentation as requested/required by this announcement and that directly supports your qualifications for this position. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Additional information 1. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. 2. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. 3. This position required a 1-year probationary period for initial SES appointment. 4. Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) must be submitted to verify federal status. 5. Veterans Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service: https://www.opm.gov/faqs/topic/Senior-Executive-Service/index.aspx. 6. Additional information on the Executive Core Qualifications is available at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/qualify.asp.