VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Seeking Executive Director for Investigations

The Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) is led by a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed, Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection. The Executive Director (ED) for Investigations coordinates the activities of OAWP’s Investigations Division, conducts investigations into senior leader misconduct, poor performance, whistleblower retaliation and prepares recommendations for disciplinary action based on the findings of the investigations.

Responsibilities:

• The incumbent works closely with external and internal stakeholders, including senior leaders in VA’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. The incumbent works closely with VA’s Office of General Counsel to interpret the law and apply legal opinions to subordinate divisions.
• The incumbent oversees and leads staff as they establish national-level policy and procedures to implement the Accountability Act.
• The incumbent drafts or reviews laws, regulations, executive orders, and related documents affecting OAWP investigatory and audit functions. The incumbent represents the Assistant Secretary, or designee, in extremely sensitive and sometimes contentious meetings with employees, media, and Congress by developing and presenting briefings and/or reports, etc.; ascertains operational considerations and outside influences having an impact on OAWP, as well as policy or directives issued from other VA entities; builds and maintains effective business relationships, processes and procedures to effectuate OAWP’s mission; and works strategically within VA to move initiatives forward and to address challenges.
• The incumbent will have recurring personal contact with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, and other high-level executive officials in VA, other federal agencies, Veteran Service Organizations and members of Congress.

Requirements:

1. Leading Change: The ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
2. Leading People: The ability to lead people toward meeting the organization’s vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts…

TQ1: Sensitized to and familiar with congressional and legislative activities bearing on employee relations, senior leader performance and misconduct, and whistleblower rights and protections and demonstrates an ability to accurately articulate, develop, and advise on anticipated, new, and current Policy as it relates to the organizations mission and requirements and represent the agency to internal and external stakeholders.

Read the full job description here.