Deputy Administrator, Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture
Fill Time
Salary: $165,716-$176,359 annually
Job Description: The Senior Executive Service (SES) is comprised of the men and women charged with leading the continuing transformation of the government. These leaders possess well-honed executive skills and share a broad perspective of government and a public service commitment which is grounded in the Constitution.
Position Level
This position is designed as a SES, Career-Reserved. USDA structures its SES positions into position levels. This is a position level two with a salary range of $165,716- $176,359 per year. Exceptions to the salary cap may be considered in certain circumstances. SES employees are also eligible to receive bonuses and performance-based awards. Visit http://www.opm.gov/ses/ for additional information and benefits for SES employees. If you would like to work for a premier agency focused on enhancing the quality of life for the American people by supporting production of agriculture; ensuring safe, affordable, nutritious and accessible food supply; forest and range lands; supporting sound development of rural communities; providing economic opportunities for farm and rural residents; expanding global markets for agricultural and forest products and services; and working to reduce hunger in America and throughout the world, then the USDA is for you. To learn more about our agency, our exciting mission, vision and guiding principles, please visit http://www.usda.gov
Job Duties:
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the principal in-house research agency of USDA. ARS is charged with extending the Nations scientific knowledge with programs in agriculture, human nutrition, food safety, natural resources, the environment, library and information services, and other topics. The Office of National Programs (ONP) provides national scientific and technical leadership for program planning, coordination, review, and evaluation for ARS research programs. ONP activities ensure the proper interaction, balance, and distribution of research within ARS by providing primary leadership for the National Programs. The National Program Staff operates as a single staff headed by the Associate Administrator, National Programs, and is subdivided into four major program areas, each led by a Deputy Administrator. The program areas are Nutrition, Food Safety and Quality (NFSQ); Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems (NRSAS); Animal Production and Protection (APP); and Crop Production and Protection (CPP). The Deputy Administrators serve as a part of the ONP leadership team and help to develop the vision for the Agencys research portfolio.
The incumbent serves as Deputy Administrator, NRSAS. As such, serves as the principal ONP lead in planning and managing ARS National Research Programs related to natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems.
The Deputy Administrator, NRSAS, is accountable to the Associate Administrator, NPs, for planning, setting priorities, allocating resources, and evaluating research programs. The Administrator delegates the necessary authority to the Associate Administrator, ONP, and Deputy Administrators to fulfill these responsibilities. ONP Deputy Administrators, working with assigned National Program Leaders, support the Associate Administrator, ONP, in carrying out many of these responsibilities. ONP selects research programs to be implemented and recommends allocation of agency resources accordingly. This includes distribution of base funds and program increases to Research Units.
The Deputy Administrator, NRSAS, is responsible for and provides overall leadership and direction to the natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems group in:
National Planning and Coordination. Through the activities of NPS, the Deputy Administrator, NRSAS, develops and periodically updates the strategic and implementation plans necessary for management of ARS activities. In so doing, the incumbent assures that these plans reflect the Administrators priorities and congressional and Executive directives. These plans also assure coordination of research across ARS Areas. Other items that are accounted for in the planning activities include: the activities and programs of other research performers outside of ARS; the research needs of customers, stakeholders, and partners including farmers, ranchers, agribusiness, other State and Federal agencies, and consumers; the most efficient use of physical and financial resources available; program review and evaluation of progress toward achieving National Program objectives; and that ARS is most effectively applying its expertise to critical, high priority, broad regional, national, and international problems.
Determination of Program Content. Through the National Programs, the Deputy Administrator, NRSAS, assures that the ARS program for natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems is: consistent in content with national research policy; properly balanced in its efforts between fundamental and applied approaches as needed to attain program objectives; not duplicating the research of other research performers where not appropriate; making efficient use of ARS interdisciplinary research capabilities; research leads to the widest spectrum of benefits; and concentration on problems of regional, national, and international scope and importance.
Establishment of Research Priorities. The Deputy Administrator, NRSAS, has the responsibility for developing the ARS Strategic Plan and the derived budgets relative to the natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems research programs. He/she is responsible that the Strategic Plan priorities reflect the Department goals. Through the activities of the ONP, the Deputy Administrator, NRSAS, assures that the Plans priorities reflect: planning, articulation, and evaluation of the National Programs; consistency with the objectives and goals as identified by customers, stakeholders, ARS scientists and staff, Federal agencies, and the general scientific community; potential benefits of the research; capabilities and capacity of ARS scientists and resources; probability of success; cost of doing the research; and the research conducted by other agricultural research performers.
Requirements:
As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. As such, your resume should demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in most SES positions such as:
- Directing the work of an organizational unit;
- Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects;
- Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance and taking action to improve performance;
- and Supervising the work of employees; and exercising important policy-making, policy determining, or other executive functions.
To Apply:
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