Federal Position Descriptions
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Assistant Secretary for Export Administration

Assistant Secretary for Export Administration, Department of Commerce
Responsibility
Management Scope

The assistant secretary for export administration managed a budget of $56 million in fiscal 2015.3

Primary Responsibilities

• Assists and advises the undersecretary for industry and security on the development of policies pertaining to export administration issues
• Provides overall direction to and management of the national security, nonproliferation, foreign policy, short supply, national defense and strategic industrial resource functions delegated to the Bureau of Industry and Security, including the issuance of related regulations
• Serves as an alternate to the undersecretary in representing the department on interagency committees dealing with SIS issues
• As directed by the undersecretary, represents the department in domestic and international fora that address such SIS issues
• Chairs the Advisory Committee on Export Policy
• Supports the President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration as the principal point of contact
• Coordinates the department’s Technical Advisory Committees on export controls
• Prepares congressionally mandated reports, including Export Administration’s contribution to SIS’s annual report4

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Previous government experience (a plus)
• Strong relationships with relevant stakeholders, or ability to form them
• Understanding of the legislative and federal budgeting process
• Track record of being an effective manager in a large and diverse organization
• Knowledge in the areas of finance, personnel, planning and evaluation
• Knowledge of the division’s functions and policies

Competencies

• Strong leader
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work extensively across U.S. government agencies and other relevant stakeholders
• Ability to work under high pressure
• Ability to work across party lines

Past Appointments
  • Kevin Wolf (2010 to 2017): Partner, Washington, D.C. Office, Bryan Cave LLP; Deputy Leader, International Trade Group, Bryan Cave LLP; Assistant Special Counsel, Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, House of Representatives5
  • Christopher R. Wall (2008 to 2009): Executive Committee Member, Board of Trustees and Executive Committee, Council for International Business; Partner, Washington, D.C. Office, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; Managing Partner, Washington, D.C. Office, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP6
  • Christopher A. Padilla (2006 to 2007): Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Secretary, Department of State; Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President; Director, International Trade Relations, Eastman Kodak Company7
AGENCY

Department of Commerce

Mission: To create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity

COMPENSATION

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)1

REPORTS TO

Undersecretary for Industry and Security2

SENATE COMMITTEE

Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

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Footnote
  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.
  2. https://www.commerce.gov/sites/commerce.gov/files/media/files/2015/docorgchartfinal.pdf
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