Vacant Position: Chief Administrative Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Chief Administrative Officer

Business Unit: CAO 

Fair Labor Standards Act: Exempt

Department: CAO Immediate Office

House Schedule Grade Level(s): Speakers’ Pay Order

Direct Supervisor: Speaker of the House

Clearance Level Required: TS/SCI eligible

Ideal Candidate Statement: 

The ideal candidate for this position is a pragmatic leader with proven experience managing a high-functioning legislative or other government office, or similar enterprise organization, and who has a clear and strategic vision for how the U.S. House of Representatives can modernize its operations to run as effectively and efficiently as possible. 

Job Summary:

Established by the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is an Officer of the House chosen at the start of each Congress and retains operational and financial responsibilities for the House, its Members, Officers, and staff. The CAO manages the Office of the CAO and its approximately 800 employees and contractors. It is a nonpartisan, non-legislative office that provides support services to the House community in Washington, D.C. and throughout the U.S. and its territories. Support services include, but are not limited to: finance and budgeting, information technology, and cybersecurity, logistics, procurement and acquisitions, broadcasting, child care, human resources, asset management, new member orientation, congressional transition, staff training, creative services, and other business solutions to the House community in Washington, D.C. and throughout the U.S. and its territories.

Major Duties: 

As outlined under House Rule II, Clause 4, the CAO maintains operational and financial responsibility for functions identified by the Committee on House Administration and is subject to oversight and policy direction from this committee. The CAO is required to submit semiannual reports to Congress and cooperate in the performance of reviews and audits of financial records and administrative options.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Administration of disbursements and payroll to all employees of the House of Representatives.
• Management of procurements and acquisitions for the House of Representatives, its Officers, and officials.
• Administration of information and telecommunications systems for the U.S. House of Representatives and management of cybersecurity efforts to safeguard Member, Committee, Leadership, and Officer data.
• Coordination, with House Leadership and the Committee on House Administration, of the Congressional transition and orientation of new Members of the House.
• Assistance with the orientation of Members-elect and the departure of Members of the House of Representatives.
• Ongoing and regular communication with the Speaker of the House and the Committee on House Administration.
• Supporting House modernization efforts, including the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into House operations.
• Compliance with congressional semiannual reporting requirements.
• Upon request, testifying on behalf of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer before the Committee on House Administration, the House Committee on Appropriations, and other relevant Congressional committees or subcommittees.
• Administration and management of the House Child Care Center.
• Assisting the Clerk of the House in the management of vacant offices.
• Provision of logistics and support to House offices including assistance with inventory.
• Supporting business continuity/disaster recovery and continuity of operations (COOP).
• Serve as the liaison between House offices and accredited media via the House Galleries.
• Provision of video and audio services to Members of Congress through the House Recording Studio.
• Administration of the critical business aspects related to the continuity of operations and emergency preparedness for Congress and Members of Congress in D.C. and district offices.
• Management of several major federal employee benefits programs, including but not limited to healthcare, life insurance, Federal Student Aid, transit benefits, retirement benefits, and childcare.
• Maintenance and management of core House assets, including office furniture in the House office buildings, unique and antique historical furniture for use by Members of Congress, logistical support for day-to-day operations and surge capacity for congressional transitions and presidential inaugurations, asset and inventory management, and room scheduling.
• Calculation, administration, and disbursement of Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA).
• Administration of campus food services operations and contract management.

Chapter 55 of Title 2, U.S. Code, identifies additional statutory responsibilities for the CAO, which include:

• Authority to enter contracts to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the House.
• Authority to make advance payments to third parties, subject to regulations issued by the Committee on House Administration.
• Management of the House Child Care Center Revolving Fund and House Services Revolving Fund.
• Authority to enter memorandums of understanding with executive agencies for support services during an emergency with Speaker approval.
• Authority to furnish office equipment for use by Member, Committee, or Officers of the House.

The Office of the CAO includes distinct business units, program offices and teams, which include:

• Acquisitions – which includes Purchasing, Contracts, and the Office Supply and Gift Shop.
• Customer Experience Center – which includes the Capitol Service Center, Communications & Marketing, Congressional Staff Academy, Customer Advocates, House Creative Services, and First Call.
• Office of Finance – which includes Accounting, Asset Management, Financial Counseling, Payroll & Benefits, and Budget, Planning & Analysis.
• Logistics & Support – which includes Operations and Quality Assurance, Asset Operations, Furnishings, Furniture Resources Management, Logistics & Warehousing, and Office Design & Move Services.
• House Information Resources – which includes IT Customer Solutions, the House Digital Service, Enterprise Applications, House Web Services, Network Engineering & Operations, Cybersecurity, Information Assurance and Information Security, Identity Governance & Administration, Enterprise Operations, Enterprise Technology Systems, IT Disaster Recovery, Enterprise Architecture & Cloud, and Enterprise Infrastructure & Telecommunications.
• Human Capital Office – which includes the Office of Talent & Development, House Intern Resource Office, Office of Employee Assistance, Center for Well-Being, and the Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program.
• And additional CAO offices, which include the House Child Care Center, House Recording Studio, the Office of Employee Advocacy, Human Resources, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, and the Congressional Excellence Program.

Experience and/or Education Requirements:

• Experience in managing a large enterprise organization, legislative, or government agency.
• Background in organizational change and innovative business practices.
• Knowledge of the House of Representatives and familiarity with the institution and its needs.
• Experience/capability to conduct senior-level briefings with leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Congress, and individual Members of Congress.
• Ability to maintain a non-partisan approach to all work produced while operating in a political environment.

Knowledge, Skill, and Ability (KSA) and Competency Requirements:

• Ability to supervise, direct, and administer the full complement of administrative support services for the Office of the CAO.
  • This includes management and supervision of all CAO business units and operations, and other areas of collaboration with the Clerk of the House, the House Sergeant at Arms, and other House Officers and offices.
• Extensive management experience in a large, politically dynamic organization.
• Proven success in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with high-ranking officials and effective oral and written communications.
• Ability to maintain a nonpartisan approach to all work produced by the CAO.
• Ability to foster a professional, non-partisan approach while operating in a rapidly changing and complex environment.
• Knowledge of the U.S. House of Representatives and its operations, and familiarity with the functioning of legislative support agencies.
• Knowledge of emergency management procedures, proven success in business continuity operations, and capability to handle sensitive information.
• Temperament to communicate with a variety of personalities and high-ranking Government officials in a tactful and professional manner.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Location Status:

• This is an in-person position requiring regular presence in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Capitol, with occasional travel. Among other requirements, as an Officer of the House, the individual in this position would need to be present for Joint Sessions of the U.S. Congress (including Presidential Addresses to the Congress, the State of the Union, the Presidential Inauguration, and other official convenings). 

Security Requirements:

• Must successfully complete a criminal history records check.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.