Deputy Director for Conscience and Religious Freedom

Summary

This position serves as Deputy Director for Conscience and Religious Freedom within HHS's Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Supports OCR's mission to prevent unlawful discrimination, protect conscience and religious freedom rights, and safeguard protected health information. Responsibilities include enforcement, complaint investigations, compliance reviews, policy and regulatory development, technical assistance, and public outreach to promote equal access to health care and human services.

Duties

ABOUT THE POSITION The Deputy Director serves as a senior executive and principal advisor to the OCR Director on all matters related to conscience and religious freedom. The incumbent is responsible for the national leadership, direction, and execution of OCR's conscience and religious freedom program, ensuring the consistent, lawful, and effective implementation of Federal statutes and regulations protecting conscience and religious freedom in HHS-conducted or HHS-funded programs and activities, as well as related Departmental policies. Provides executive leadership for OCR's national conscience and religious freedom program, with accountability for achieving measurable outcomes in enforcement, policy and regulatory development and implementation, and program performance. Leads priority enforcement initiatives within the conscience and religious freedom program, including coordination of high-impact investigations and compliance reviews. Ensures timely resolution of assigned conscience and religious freedom complaints to Conscience and Religious Freedom staff consistent with performance metrics and compliance standards. Implements enforcement and policy priorities established by the Secretary and OCR Director, in coordination with other OCR components, translating strategic direction into operational plans, program guidance, and performance expectations across OCR headquarters and field offices. Provides subject-matter leadership for outreach, public education, and technical assistance efforts, in coordination with field-based outreach conducted through the Enforcement Division, to promote awareness of and compliance with applicable laws and policies. Leads the development and implementation of program-specific tools, model templates, and guidance to support OCR's enforcement, policy, and outreach activities and promote consistency, efficiency, and quality in program execution. Identifies and designs conscience and religious freedom-specific training and technical guidance for OCR staff to support consistent implementation of program requirements. Collaborates with other OCR Deputy Directors to identify areas of overlap, ensure coordination, and integrate conscience and religious freedom activities with broader OCR programs and operations. Ensures the consistent and legally sound implementation of Federal conscience and religious freedom statutes, regulations, and policies, including that enforcement and policy activities achieve legal sufficiency and consistency in their application across OCR programs and regions. Oversees the development and execution of regulations, sub-regulatory guidance, and policy interpretations in alignment with governing legal authorities and Departmental priorities. Serves as the principal advisor to the OCR Director on complex and sensitive enforcement and policy matters. Advises senior leadership on risks related to inconsistent interpretation or application of Federal conscience and religious freedom laws and implements strategies to mitigate such risks. Directs program operations to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. Works in collaboration with the Deputy Director of Enforcement on strategies for improving timely resolution of civil rights case backlogs, and for meeting CRF-specific OCR performance outcomes. Oversees the development and use of data systems, analytical tools, and performance metrics to identify national trends, assess program effectiveness, and improve operational processes. Ensures the integrity and maintenance of program data to support reporting requirements and inform decision-making. Collaborates with organizational leadership responsible for operations, resources, and performance management to ensure effective collection, analysis, and use of data to assess program efficiency and effectiveness.

Qualifications and evaluation

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education (if applicable). Your application will be rated and ranked by an Executive Resources Board (ERB) Panel, comprised of at least three SES members, using only the information required within the application package. Applicants who do not demonstrate in their application sufficient possession of the ECQs and TQs will be determined ineligible for further consideration. Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (MTQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

How to apply

You must submit the complete online application and documentation specified in the Required Documents by 11:59 PM (EST) on the CLOSING DATE 11/02/2026 of this announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select and upload your résumé and/or other required documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and uploaded, (i.e., resume and other required documents) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail.

Required documents

A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible). Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. 1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER. 2. VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy. 3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEMBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility. SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification. CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Most recent performance evaluation.

Additional information

HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, research emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats. Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement. Preferred Experience: Prior supervisory experience required; Prior experience with HHS programs preferred. Salary: Salary for Senior Executive Service positions varies depending on qualifications. The annual salary range may be found at the top of this announcement. This position may be eligible for performance bonuses and performance-based pay adjustments. Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure HHS inspires public confidence by maintaining high ethical principles, and all Federal Government employees are subject to the conflict-of-interest statutes and regulations, including the Standards of Ethical Conduct, that govern activities with outside organizations and reporting financial holdings. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521 also requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-278e, prior to assuming the SES position, annually, and upon termination of employment. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to If applying online poses a hardship to you, you may submit your application by contacting. BreAnna Stewart in the agency contact section. Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the POC in the agency contact section. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Veteran's Preference Veteran's Preference does not apply to the SES. Selective Service Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered or exempt from selective service see: https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.