Federal Position Descriptions
Print

Assistant Secretary for Policy

Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Homeland Security
Responsibility
Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, DHS had $42.573 billion in outlays and 166,777 total employment. The assistant secretary manages the 250-person DHS Policy Directorate, including oversight of six sub-component heads:
• International affairs and chief diplomatic officer
• Principal deputy assistant secretary
• Assistant secretary for cyber policy
• Assistant secretary for border, immigration and security policy
• Assistant secretary for threat prevention and security policy
• Assistant secretary for strategy, planning, analysis and risk

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides a central office to develop and communicate policies across multiple homeland security components to strengthen the department’s ability to maintain policy and operational readiness needed to protect the homeland.
• Provides the foundation and direction for department-wide strategic and counter-terrorism planning initiatives that drive budget priorities.
• Liaises with both the international community and private sector to advance homeland security initiatives and develop lasting partnerships.
• Bridges multiple headquarters’ components and operating agencies to improve communication among DHS entities, eliminate duplication of effort and translate policies into timely action.
• Coordinates relationships with law enforcement and public advisory committees.

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

• Broad understanding of the department’s activities
• Background in national security policy, including relevant experience in government, think tanks and/or academia
• Experience in strategic planning
• Leadership and management experience

Competencies

• Strategic Orientation: Demonstrates complex thinking abilities, incorporating both analytical and conceptual abilities to manage and develop plans and strategies
• Results Orientation: Drive for improvement of results demonstrated by a track record of substantially enhancing performance or organizations
• Team Leadership: Can focus, align and build effective groups
• Collaboration & Influencing: Works effectively with peers, partners and others who are not in the line of command

Past Appointments
  • David Heyman, 2009 – 2014, Founding Director and Senior Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy, DoE; Senior Policy Advisor for National Security and International Affairs, The White House
  • Stewart Baker, 2005 – 2009, General Counsel, Robb-Silberman Commission; Partner, Steptoe& Johnson; General Counsel, National Security Agency
AGENCY

Department of Homeland Security

Mission: To ensure that homeland is safe, secure and resilient against terrorism and other potential threats.

COMPENSATION

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)1

REPORTS TO

Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

SENATE COMMITTEE

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Appointee Tracker

Check out our Political Appointee Tracker

Go to the tracker
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.
This position description was created with the help of Egon Zehnder, a global executive search firm.
More federal position descriptions