Summary

The Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer (PDCIO) reports directly to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) CIO, serving as the alter ego and principal executive partner to the DOC CIO with full responsibility and accountability for the leadership, governance, and execution of the Department's enterprise-wide information technology (IT), data, cybersecurity, and digital modernization portfolio in support of DOC mission delivery.

Duties

Help

The PDCIO shares with the CIO statutory responsibilities established under the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996, the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), and applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congressional mandates governing the acquisition, management, security, and use of federal information resources.

Enterprise Executive Leadership and Governance

• Serves as the second-in-command of the DOC OCIO, co-leading the formulation, governance, and execution of department-wide IT, cybersecurity, data, digital services, and emerging technology strategies that directly enable DOC mission outcomes.
• Exercises enterprise-wide executive authority over the DOC CIO portfolio, ensuring alignment of bureau and operating unit CIO activities with departmental strategy, statutory requirements, and federal-wide priorities.
• Acts on behalf of the CIO in engagements with the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, CFO/ASA, White House officials, OMB, Congress, Inspector's General, and interagency governance bodies.

Strategic Direction and Policy Leadership

• Provides authoritative executive oversight for the development, interpretation, and implementation of DOC IT, cybersecurity, data, privacy, and digital policy, including policy responses to new federal mandates and national priorities.
• Advises the CIO and senior DOC leadership on high-risk, high-impact, and politically sensitive issues, including legislative proposals, regulatory actions, and congressional inquiries affecting the department's information enterprise.
• Leads departmental efforts to integrate new and emerging technologies-including artificial intelligence, generative AI, advanced data analytics, customer experience platforms, and enterprise architecture modernization-into mission operations.

Portfolio, Budget, and Program Execution

• Oversee the planning and execution of the entire DOC CIO portfolio, including enterprise IT investments, modernization initiatives, cybersecurity risk management, and digital service delivery.
• Collaborates with the CIO and CFO/ASA to shape, prioritize, justify, and defend DOC IT budgets, ensuring effective stewardship of taxpayer resources and compliance with FITARA investment management requirements.
• Directs preparation of responses to OMB, Congressional, and White House inquiries related to IT, cybersecurity, and digital transformation.

Department-Wide CIO Community Leadership

• Exercises critically matrixed executive oversight of Bureau and Operating Unit CIOs, including influencing performance planning, assessing execution effectiveness, and ensuring enterprise alignment with DOC strategy and federal mandates.
• Provides consultative, authoritative input to bureau leadership regarding CIO performance, investment execution, and risk posture.
• Leads coordination across DOC components to resolve cross-cutting IT, cybersecurity, and data challenges that affect multiple missions and stakeholders.

Representation and External Engagement

• Represents DOC as a senior federal executive in engagements with other federal agencies, state and local governments, industry, academia, and international partners on matters involving IT policy, cybersecurity, and digital modernization.
• Supports DOC external affairs and communications related to enterprise technology initiatives, including review and approval of major announcements and outreach efforts.

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 Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES.

Resumes over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed and will be disqualified. Your resume should be 2 pages or fewer and must not include images or graphics. Your resumes 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 Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs).

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (PTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

1. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in strategic and operational planning in order to administer complex programs and initiatives with national security needs, aligning programs and initiatives to the mission and fostering continued program improvements.
2. Demonstrated ability to establish clear vision and goals while identifying opportunities to reduce operational costs, streamline business processes, and develop organizational capabilities associated with technology platforms, infrastructure, and software with the ability to communicate this strategic and technical information to executives, subordinate staff, congressional staff, auditors, industry, and federal partners with both technical and non-technical backgrounds.

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.

• 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

This position does not have a positive education requirement.

Additional information

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Benefits

Help

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.