How to apply for Deputy Director for Threat Analysis and Incident Response

About U.S. Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is at the forefront of transforming energy technologies to boost national security, prosperity, and environmental quality. Working here means directly contributing to the resilience and security of the nation's critical energy infrastructure, a mission that is both challenging and deeply impactful. DOE offers a unique opportunity to work on high-stakes, meaningful problems with a team of dedicated professionals.

About the role

As Deputy Director for Threat Analysis and Incident Response, you will lead the integration of physical and cyber threat intelligence to create a unified risk picture for the energy sector. You will exercise Federal Power Act authority to issue Emergency Orders and coordinate federal response to energy emergencies as the executive lead for Emergency Support Function #12. This role is critical for ensuring the reliability and security of the nation's energy grid, directly impacting millions of lives.

A typical day

A typical day might involve briefing senior leadership on emerging threats, coordinating with interagency partners on a potential grid emergency, and reviewing plans for a national resilience program. You could also be leading a tabletop exercise for incident response or testifying before Congress on energy security matters. The pace is fast, and the impact is immediate and far-reaching.

Who U.S. Department of Energy is looking for

• **Executive Leader with Threat Analysis Expertise:** Proven experience in directing threat analysis activities and incident response planning at an organizational level, ideally within the energy sector or a related critical infrastructure domain.
• **Regulatory and Emergency Response Acumen:** Demonstrated ability to exercise federal authority (e.g., Federal Power Act) to issue emergency orders and coordinate interagency response efforts during energy emergencies.
• **Strategic Program Director:** Experience leading the development, implementation, and administration of organization-wide programs aimed at enhancing technical resilience and security best practices for energy owners and operators.
• **Collaborative Interagency Partner:** Strong track record of collaborating with interagency partners on regulatory waivers and building consensus among diverse stakeholders to achieve national security objectives.

Tips for this application

• **Highlight Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):** Explicitly address the five ECQs (leading people, leading change, being results-driven, business acumen, and building coalitions) in your resume and cover letter, providing concrete examples from your career.
• **Emphasize Federal Power Act Experience:** If you have any experience with the Federal Power Act, emergency orders, or regulatory waivers, make it prominent. This is a unique and critical aspect of the role.
• **Showcase Incident Response Leadership:** Detail your experience in leading incident response, especially in energy or critical infrastructure, including specific incidents, your role, and outcomes.
• **Demonstrate Interagency Collaboration:** Provide examples of successful collaboration with other federal agencies, state and local governments, or private sector partners on security and resilience initiatives.
• **Tailor to DOE's Mission:** Connect your experience and skills to DOE's mission of ensuring America's security and prosperity through transformative energy technologies. Show passion for the energy sector's unique challenges.

What to cover in your cover letter

['**Your Vision for Integrated Risk:** Articulate how you would integrate physical and cyber threat intelligence to create a unified risk picture for the energy sector, referencing specific challenges and opportunities.', '**Leadership in Emergency Response:** Describe your approach to leading federal energy emergency response, including how you would coordinate with interagency partners and exercise authorities like the Federal Power Act.', '**Building Resilience Programs:** Highlight your experience in directing national programs to enhance technical resilience and security best practices, with measurable outcomes.', "**Commitment to Public Service:** Emphasize your dedication to public service and the rule of law, aligning with DOE's values and the responsibilities of this executive role."]

Research before applying

• **DOE's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER):** Understand CESER's mission, structure, and key initiatives, as this role likely sits within or closely collaborates with this office.
• **Federal Power Act and Emergency Authorities:** Review the relevant sections of the Federal Power Act, especially those pertaining to emergency orders and grid security, to speak knowledgeably about the legal framework.
• **Energy Sector Threat Landscape:** Research current and emerging threats to energy infrastructure, including cyber threats like Volt Typhoon and physical threats, as well as DOE's role in mitigating them.
• **Emergency Support Function #12 (ESF-12):** Familiarize yourself with ESF-12's role in the National Response Framework and how DOE coordinates energy restoration during emergencies.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• **Federal Power Act Emergency Orders:** How would you approach issuing an Emergency Order under the Federal Power Act to ensure grid security and reliability? Walk us through a hypothetical scenario.
• **Unified Risk Picture:** Describe your methodology for integrating physical and cyber threat intelligence into a cohesive risk assessment for critical energy infrastructure.
• **Incident Response Coordination:** Provide an example of a time you led an incident response effort. How did you coordinate with federal, state, and private sector partners?
• **Program Leadership:** How have you successfully developed and implemented a national-level program to enhance security best practices among energy owners and operators?
• **Executive Core Qualifications:** Give an example of how you have demonstrated one of the ECQs (e.g., building coalitions) in a previous role, particularly in a high-stakes environment.

Common mistakes to avoid

• **Vague Leadership Claims:** Avoid generic statements about leadership without concrete examples of leading organization-wide programs, especially in threat analysis or incident response.
• **Ignoring Regulatory Context:** Not demonstrating an understanding of the Federal Power Act or other relevant authorities can signal a lack of preparation for the unique regulatory aspects of this role.
• **Overlooking Interagency Collaboration:** Failing to highlight experience working across agencies or with private sector partners may suggest you are not equipped for the collaborative nature of federal emergency response.