Federal Emergency Management Agency
Deputy Administrator United States Fire Administration
Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, Maryland
- Salary
- $151,661 - $228,000 per year
- Pay grade
- ES-00
- Schedule
- Full-time
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Opened
- Nov 3, 2026
- Closes
- Nov 17, 2026
- Remote
- No
- Telework eligible
- No
- Openings
- 1
- Security clearance
- Sensitive Compartmented Information
- Promotion potential
- None
- Announcement
- FEMA-27-JG-DAUSFA-SES
Who may apply: Competitive service · Excepted service · Senior executives · Open to the public
Applications are submitted on USAJOBS.gov, not on Careers.org. Always confirm details in the official announcement.
Summary
This Senior Executive Service position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), United States Fire Administration, located in Emmitsburg, MD. The Deputy Fire Administrator serves as the principal advisor to the Fire Administrator regarding the national fire problem and the views and policies of the Nation's Fire Service and fire service stakeholder community to the fire problem and the appropriate Federal role in ameliorating it.
Duties
- The Deputy Fire Administrator ensures financial, programmatic, statutory, and regulatory compliance in the Agency's policies, procedures, investments, and budget activities and provides executive direction and advice to subordinate staff and program officials agency wide, with respect to the United States Fire Administration (USFA) programs. In addition, maintains a close collaboration with the National Preparedness Directorate, as well as other Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components and other Federal departments and agencies, to synchronize first responder preparedness and training across the Federal government. Also, participates in FEMA's strategic and systems planning, budgeting, and long-term strategic planning initiatives, councils and working groups. Ensures USFA strategic plan, goals, and objectives are aligned with FEMA and DHS. Major duties and responsibilities: Recommends appropriate methods of accomplishing DHS and FEMA policy objectives within the context of existing Federal Fire Programs and the priorities and positions of the fire service stakeholders, requiring extensive discussion with both national, regional and local fire service organizations and with the broader national fire community that not only includes fire departments, but also public and private code organizations, manufacturers, fire protection engineers and institutions, private industry, and the insurance industry. Coordinates the development, direction, management and evaluation of all USFA programs and staff resources. Responsible for knowledge of and appropriate reaction to all applicable federal statutes and regulations governing the management of programs resources and personnel. In the absence of the Fire Administrator, or upon his/her direction, assumes all appropriate authorities and responsibilities. Responsible for maintaining close and continuous contact with public and private sector elements of the national fire community, both to ensure awareness of evolving issues and the multiplicity of organizational and institutional positions and to present and explain current Federal Fire Programs and policies, as well as their underlying rationale. Develops a successful integration of key national strategy and agency goals with fire service and fire community stakeholder objectives and priorities. Based upon this collaboration, the senior executive must develop an overall program plan which prioritizes and makes more effective use of USFA programs and resources in achieving the stated objectives. Key elements in such a plan must include appropriate strategies by reacting to contingencies that may impact on program execution and maximizing leverage to achieve impact through involving national, state and local public and private sector organizations in USFA program initiatives. In conjunction with the Fire Administrator, and acting on his/her behalf, must present, defend and articulate USFA programs and associated resource requirements to the FEMA Administrator, his/her immediate staff, other federal agencies, as appropriate, and key members of Congress and their staff. When required or directed, must present and defend USFA programs and policies in regulatory and legislative proceedings at the national and local level and with the media. Based on guidance provided by the Fire Administrator, the incumbent is responsible for overall management of the USFA's programs and resources. Directs the proper implementation of congressional, executive branch, and agency budgetary, administrative (i.e., procurement, travel, etc.) and personnel regulations and policies. Directs and evaluates all USFA programs and both supervisory and subordinate staff, both in terms of program accomplishment of USFA program objectives and in terms of adherence to appropriate regulation and policies.
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 Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include executive-level examples of experience 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. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. TQ 1: Executive leadership and strategic capability to address national-level fire challenges, community resilience, and emergency response policy across complex environments; align diverse interest, and engage effectively with Federal, State, and local governments, career, combination, and volunteer response organizations, national public safety associations, the research and technology sectors, and the public. TQ 2: Experience in a senior executive or organizational management position directing large-scale administrative operations, policy formulation, or enterprise governance, coupled with deep subject-matter fluency in the evolving roles of the fire service, the broader fire protection community, and contemporary national life-safety challenges. 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. There are five ECQs: 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 address the (5) ECQs in your resume. In lieu of, you MUST 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
There is no recognized education to qualify for this position; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation will be acceptable.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM. Retrieved Nov 4, 2026, 4:09 AM EST.