PD_DOE_Assistant-Secretary-for-Congressional-and-Intergovernmental-Affairs

Position Description

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONGRESSIONAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Overview

Senate Committee

Energy and Natural Resources

Agency Mission

To ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.

Position Overview

The assistant secretary for congressional and intergovernmental affairs provides guidance on legislative and policy issues, informs constituencies on energy matters and serves as a liaison between the department, Congress, state, local and tribal governments, as well as other federal agencies and stakeholder groups.

Compensation

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)¹ _{The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.}

Position Reports to

Secretary of Energy

Responsibilities

Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, the Department of Energy had a budget of $27.391 billion. In 2016 DOE had 14,499 nonseasonal full-time permanent employees.

Primary Responsibilities

® Serves as lead advisor to the secretary and deputy secretary on all congressional, intergovernmental and stakeholder issues.
® Manages the department’s coordination and liaison with Congress and state, tribal, city and county governments, other federal agencies, stakeholders and the general public.
® Enhances cooperation with states as a key component to the national clean energy agenda.
® Promotes the secretary’s, department’s and administration’s policies, legislative initiatives and budget requests with the Congress, state, territorial, tribal and local government officials and other federal agencies.
® Develops, manages and ensures coordination, policies and direction of relationships between all departmental organizations in their interaction with the above entities and other external groups.
® Provides advice to the secretary, deputy secretary, undersecretary and all senior departmental officials and participates in broad departmental wide projects in which the secretary has a special interest or where there may be significant congressional and intergovernmental implications relating to congressional and intergovernmental actions affecting the department.
® Provides guidance to the secretary and other secretarial officers for developing and maintaining positive relationships with members of Congress, governors, state/local officials and their staffs, tribal officials, public interest groups representing consumers/citizens organizations, business/industries, civic groups, educational organizations and institutions and all other energy-oriented organizations.
® Participates in the formulation of energy policy with senior departmental officials.
® Provides oversight and guidance to program offices on their interaction with Congress, other levels of governments.

Strategic Goals and Priorities

[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration]

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

® Has a true and timely understanding of how Congress works
® Possesses strong congressional relationships
® Understands politics as well as policy
® Understands the authorization process
® Has a record of working with both Republicans and Democrats

Competencies

® Strong leadership skills
® Strong communication skills
® Ability to work as a team
® Ability to work under high pressure
® Ability to work across party lines

Past Appointees

Brad Crowell (2013 to 2016) u2013 Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs; Senior Policy Advisor, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse; Employee, Natural Resources Defense Council
Jeffrey Lane (2010 to 2013) u2013 Chief of Staff, Sen. Michael Bennet; Chief of Staff, Sen. Ken Salazar; Counsel, Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge and Rice; Senior Aide, Sen. Tom Daschle; Legislative Director, Sen. Jim Sasser
Lisa Epifani (2007 to 2009) u2013 United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Staffer to Sen. Pete Domenici; Counsel, United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
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