This position is established under Executive Order 12958, "Classified National Security Information." The duties and responsibilities of the incumbent arise from that Order, Executive Order 12829, "National Industrial Security Program," and from other presidential directives and statutes. The incumbent is appointed by the Archivist of the United States (the "Archivist"), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), upon the approval of the appointment by the President of the United States. The incumbent reports to the Archivist, and the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) is a component of NARA. However, the incumbent receives policy and program guidance from the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Executive Office of the President. Director, Information Security Oversight Office
SES (General)
Position DescriptionThe incumbent is specifically responsible to the President through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs for security classification, safeguarding and declassification policy and oversight throughout the executive branch of the United States Government. The incumbent is also responsible for executive leadership in developing, planning, coordinating, administering, managing, staffing and supervising ISOO operations related to the monitorship of Government-wide programs implementing the President's security classification, safeguarding and declassification program established under E.O. 12958 and its implementing directives. The incumbent exercises similar duties and responsibilities under E.O. 12829 and its implementing directives, which pertain to the conduct of security classified work for the United States Government by private sector contractors, licensees, and grantees. The incumbent reports at least annually to the President on the status of these programs.
Major Duties
The incumbent maintains a continuous review of Government-wide security classification, safeguarding and declassification policies, and their implementation by the agencies of the executive branch. The incumbent advises policy makers at the highest levels of the executive branch, including the President and the heads of departments and agencies, of the status and effectiveness of security policies and of the effectiveness of their implementation by the agencies of the executive branch.
In performing these duties, the incumbent:
1. Supervises directly or through subordinate ISOO officials the work and performance of all ISOO staff members. Plans and schedules the work of subordinates; makes assignments to subordinates based on priorities, consideration of the difficulty and requirements of the work, and the capabilities of the employees; reviews and accepts, amends, or rejects their work; evaluates their overall performance and ensures that each accomplishes a satisfactory amount and quality level of work in a timely manner; gives advice, counsel, or instructions to individual employees on work matters; ensures that job descriptions accurately depict the actual work requirements; interviews applicants for positions; and identifies training needs of subordinates and makes provisions to satisfy these needs.
2. Coordinates budget requirements, performance measurements, staff planning and resource allocations for the purpose of accomplishing ISOO's operations.
3. Drafts and issues executive branch wide directives implementing E.O. 12958 and E.O. 12829 after coordination with senior officials of all affected agencies and approval by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
4. Reviews continuously the status and effectiveness of the provisions of E.O. 12958 and E.O. 12829, and proposes, drafts, and coordinates with senior officials of all affected agencies proposed modifications or amendments to these Orders.
5. Reviews continuously the status and effectiveness of the provisions of directives implementing E.O. 12958 and E.O. 12829, and proposes, drafts, and coordinates with senior officials of all affected agencies proposed modifications or amendments to these directives.
6. Reviews and evaluates agency rules and regulations implementing the provisions of E.O. 12958 and ISOO directives and recommends modifications or amendments to agency rules and regulations prior to their approval or after they have been in place.
7. Plans, coordinates and conducts an inspection program of agencies to determine their compliance with the security classification, safeguarding and declassification program required under E.O. 12958, and to determine the status and effectiveness of that program and its implementation.
8. Plans, coordinates and conducts an inspection program of agencies and contractors, licensees and grantees to determine their compliance with the National Industrial Security Program established under E.O. 12829, and to determine the status and effectiveness of that program and its implementation.
9. Plans, coordinates and conducts an inspection program of agency special access programs to determine their compliance with the requirements of E.O. 12958.
10. Supervises the planning, design, production, issuance and distribution of ISOO's Annual Report to the President.
11. Serves as spokesperson for the programs under the incumbent's duties and responsibilities to the Congress, executive branch agencies, representatives of foreign governments, the media, interested organizations, and the general public. The performance of this function includes:
(a) Testifying before Committees or Subcommittees of Congress in the exercise of their oversight responsibilities or in the consideration of specific legislation, and meeting with Members of Congress or congressional staff members in these same contexts.
12. Serves as the Executive Secretary of the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) established under E.O. 12958. The ISCAP consists of senior level representatives appointed by the Secretaries of State and Defense, the Attorney General, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Archivist of the United States, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. The performance of this function includes:(b) Providing the views and comments of ISOO on specific legislation, and draft Executive orders or other presidential directives, which may be different from the expressed views and comments of NARA.
(c) Responding on the record to questions posed by journalists and other members of United States and foreign media, and appearing on programs sponsored by the media.
(d) In coordination with the Department of State, meeting with representatives of foreign governments.
(e) Appearing as a featured speaker at seminars, symposia, courses, training sessions and similar events open to the public or specific audiences.
(f) Issuing written guidance interpreting the provisions of E.O. 12958 or E.O. 12829 or their implementing directions; responding informally to questions raised by executive branch employees or members of the public; or requesting formal legal opinions on these Orders from the Attorney General.
(a) Coordinating the development and issuance of bylaws that establish the rules and procedures that the ISCAP will follow in accepting, considering, and issuing decisions on matters under its jurisdiction.
13. Serves as Executive Director of the Public Interest Declassification Board, established by the Congress under the Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000.(b) Processing appeals by persons who have filed classification challenges under section 1.9 of E.O. 12958.
(c) Planning, coordinating and maintaining a system under which the ISCAP will consider and then approve, deny, or amend agency exemptions from automatic declassification under section 3.4 of E.O. 12958.
(d) Processing appeals by persons or entities who have filed requests for mandatory declassification review under section 3.6 of E.O. 12958.
(e) Supervising the ISOO staff members who provide administrative support for the ISCAP.
14. Exercises leadership in the review and planning of security policy by chairing or serving on boards or committees devoted to that purpose, or assigning other ISOO personnel to serve on such boards and committees. The performance of this function includes but is not limited to:
(a) Serving on the Policy Coordinating Committee on Records Access and Information Security established by National Security Presidential Directive 1.
15. Supervises the planning, design, production, issuance and distribution of ISOO publications, audiovisuals, and web based products related to security education and training, and ensures maintenance of the ISOO web site.(b) Chairing the National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (NISPPAC), established under E.O. 12829 and comprised of representatives of both Government and industry.
(c) Chairing the Classification Management Working Group (CMWG).
16. Supervises the assignment of ISOO analysts to serve as liaisons to Federal departments, independent agencies and offices, and major components that create or handle classified national security information.
17. Requests of each Federal department, independent agency and office, and major components of them that create or handle classified national security information such reports, statistics or sampling systems that are necessary for ISOO to perform its oversight functions, and oversees ISOO's review, evaluation and analysis of such reports, statistics and sampling systems.
18. Oversees the identification, development, issuance and implementation of standardized security forms to be used on a Government-wide basis, including the Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement required by presidential directive.
19. Directs agency heads to declassify information that the incumbent has determined has been classified contrary to the standards of E.O. 12958.
Factor 1. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required for the Position
1. Extensive and widely recognized experience and knowledge of: (a) the Government-wide security classification system; (b) the National Industrial Security Program; (c) the organization and responsibilities of components of the executive branch; (d) the planning, coordination, drafting and issuance of executive branch directives, rules and regulations; (e) pertinent Committees and Subcommittees of the Congress and relevant congressional oversight; and (f) statutes, Executive orders, presidential directives, and other directives and regulations that affect the Government-wide security classification program.
2. Extensive knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices of security classification, safeguarding and declassification to enable the incumbent to oversee the evaluation of security classification programs in agencies with widely varying missions and involvement with classified national security information.
3. Extensive knowledge of the areas of personnel security, physical security, and knowledge of communications security, automated information systems security and counterintelligence principles.
4. Demonstrated skill and expertise in presenting ideas, conclusions, and recommendations in a concise and coherent manner, both orally and in writing.
5. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with senior level policy makers, Members of Congress, representatives of the media and special interest organizations, foreign officials, and other interested individuals in both the Government and private sector.
6. Demonstrated skill in managing and exercising leadership of a program that is massive, complex, and important to the public interest.
7. Demonstrated skill in developing and supervising a professional staff.
8. Demonstrated skill in directing and coordinating the work of boards, committees, task forces and work groups.
Factor 2. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
The incumbent reports to the Archivist of the United States, who serves as the incumbent's immediate supervisor and evaluates the incumbent's performance. However, the incumbent also receives policy and program guidance from the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Executive Office of the President.
Factor 3. GUIDELINES
Guidelines include Executive Order 12958, "Classified National Security Information;" predecessor executive orders on classified national security information; Executive Order 12829, "National Industrial Security Program;" ISOO implementing directives; presidential or National Security Council directives; NARA directives or policies relating to classified national security information; interpretations of these authorities by the ISOO Director or the Attorney General; and other laws, statutes and regulations that impact on classified information. These guidelines will work in accordance with the standard operating procedures of ISOO.
Factor 4. SENSITIVITY
The incumbent will occupy a position of extreme sensitivity. He or she must demonstrate the trustworthiness and discretion to have access to the most sensitive national security information, including Top Secret information on a multitude of subjects, and special access program information in programs established by authorized heads of department and agencies.
Factor 5. COMPLEXITY
The extreme sensitivity of the position, and the authority and level of responsibility will require planning, directing and executing novel or unprecedented professional, scientific, technical, administrative, fiscal, or other specialized programs of outstanding difficulty, responsibility, and national significance. The nature of the work demands a substantive understanding, or the ability to acquire a substantive understanding of extremely complex and detailed information, and, in many cases, classified information. Many judgments will be of a subjective nature requiring outstanding knowledge of E.O. 12958, and broad knowledge of the missions of over 65 departments, independent agencies and offices, and major components that create or handle classified national security information. The incumbent must possess the ability to cope with complex problems and conflicting points of view, and to recognize problem areas, the resolution of which will require innovative thought and action.
Factor 6. SCOPE AND EFFECT
Programs developed, supervised and managed by the incumbent will contribute materially to the effective implementation of the Government-wide security classification program. The incumbent's duties and responsibilities will have a direct impact on the performance of thousands of Government employees in over 65 departments, independent agencies and offices, and their major components that create or handle classified national security information, and an indirect impact on the performance of thousands of Government contractor personnel who work with classified national security information. The incumbent must develop and promulgate requirements for agencies to comply with the provisions of E.O. 12958 and its implementing directives. These requirements will have a direct impact on agency procedures, operations and policies.
Factor 7. PERSONAL CONTACTS
Personal contacts are with officials at the policy making level and their senior staff. The incumbent works in close collaboration with senior White House staff, executive level appointees including the heads of departments and agencies, other high-level Federal agency officials, Members of Congress, congressional staff, interest group leaders, officials and faculty of colleges and universities, representatives of foreign governments, senior executives of private sector industry, officers and members of professional, academic and public interest organizations, representatives of the news media, and the general public. Contacts with specific policy makers and senior staff are often frequent and recurring. Contacts may be initiated by other parties as well as by the incumbent. The incumbent must be able to utilize interpersonal skills to develop cooperative relationships.
Factor 8. PURPOSE OF CONTACTS
Contacts are made to represent the executive branch of the United States Government concerning programs under the incumbent's duties and responsibilities; to interact with those Members of Congress and congressional staff exercising the Congress' oversight authority or considering specific legislation; to respond to inquiries of journalists and other members of the media; to communicate directly information on security classification, safeguarding and declassification policies and issues; to participate in conferences, meetings, or presentations involving problems or policy issues on security classification, safeguarding and declassification; to establish and maintain liaison with senior policy officials in other agencies and other branches of the Federal Government; to correlate professional knowledge and expertise with security classification, safeguarding and declassification questions; and to confer with and advise policy makers and their staffs on different approaches to security classification, safeguarding and declassification issues.
Factor 9. PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work is largely sedentary. Physical demands are minimal. Stressful conditions such as long hours or unexpected quick-response tasks may be required.
Factor 10. WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work is performed in a typical office setting. National and international travel may be required in the performance of the incumbent's duties. Special safety precautions are not required.