Deputy Director, Office of Legislation

Summary This position is located in the Office of Legislation, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). As the Deputy Director, Office of Legislation, you will provide executive leadership, direction, and coordination for the planning, execution, and evaluation of the Administration's legislative policy for all CMS programs. Learn more about this agency Duties Acts as second-in-command to the Director of the Office of Legislation, with full authority in their absence and frequent representation of the office in high-level, often sensitive interactions with Congress and external stakeholders. Leads development of CMS’s legislative agenda across Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and private insurance, setting priorities, shaping strategy, and coordinating closely with CMS leadership, HHS, OMB, and the White House. Provides expert guidance on complex policy and legislative issues, supporting the Administration and Congress on major initiatives and helping advance high-profile, often controversial proposals. Builds and maintains key relationships with Congressional staff, federal partners, and stakeholders to promote and advance the Administration’s legislative priorities. Directs responses to Congress, including inquiries, oversight, and policy concerns, ensuring accurate, coordinated, and strategic communication. Oversees and develops staff leadership, managing Group Directors, mentoring staff, evaluating performance, and fostering a positive, high-performing work environment. Handles high-priority, sensitive assignments, including urgent policy issues, briefing materials, and official correspondence for senior leadership. Ensures continuity during political transitions, supporting new leadership, maintaining operations, and sustaining strong congressional relations. Manages congressional hearings and oversight, including witness selection, testimony preparation, briefing development, and coordination of agency responses. Serves as principal advisor to CMS leadership on legislative matters and Office of Legislation operations. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed). Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests. You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278e, prior to assuming the SES position, annually, and upon termination of employment. Status applicants must submit a copy of their most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which verifies status. All initial appointments to an SES position are contingent on approval from OPM's Qualifications Review Board unless the selectee has successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program. Only experience obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. 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 Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs). TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. TQ 1: Demonstrated experience dealing with and negotiating with a wide range of people on complex and controversial issues concerning the Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Programs, and private health insurance programs. Demonstrated executive-level experience advising high-level officials within the executive and legislative branches on complex legal and factual issues regarding CMS programs. TQ 2: Demonstrated knowledge of current legislative makeup, process, and regulatory requirements that apply to the administrations of the Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Programs, and private health insurance programs. Demonstrated executive-level experience in applying this knowledge to evaluate legislative health care policy, improve program implementation, management processes and systems to achieve organizational results. 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. Education If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional information Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES. Mobility:Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx) OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career 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 in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Salary for SES positions varies depending on qualifications. The annual salary range is found at the top of this announcement. The selectee for this position may be eligible for annual performance bonuses and performance-based pay adjustments. Expand Hide  additional information 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. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.