Assistant Director for the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Posted: Feb 14, 2011

Location: Washington, DC US

Company: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Industry/Sector: Government

Summary:
Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) (Candidates are required to respond to these in writing; in narrative form. Each response should be 1-2 pages in length.)

1. Ability to apply scientific knowledge to research, education, and extension needs in food science, nutrition, epidemiology, public health, food economics or related areas to development and delivery of science based solutions to critical issues in food safety, nutrition, and health.
2. Knowledge of Federal grant rules processes, and procedures needed to administer competitive and noncompetitive grants.
3. Skill in planning, negotiating, and delivering multi-institutional and multi-functional research, education, and extension programs to enhance food safety and nutrition.

Location: Washington, DC
Compensation: To $179,700 plus eligibility of a one-time recruitment bonus of up to 25% of your salary as well as eligibility of a performance-based bonus of between 5-7%. This is a Senior Executive Service-level position.
Employment Status: Permanent Career position
EEO: JDG Associates recognizes that NIFA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, age, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or disability.
Deadline: To be considered, applications must be received no later than midnight, February 28, 2011.
Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship required.

Education:
B.S. required; Advanced degree preferred.

Experience:
Responsibilities:
As the Assistant Director (AD) of the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, the AD is responsible for providing managerial leadership and direction in implementing policies and programs that support research, education, and extension that enhance the safety of America's food supply and the delivery of healthy, nutritious, and affordable food to all Americans. You will serve as a principal management advisor to the Deputy Director for Food and Community Resources in administering, evaluating, planning, directing and coordinating activities related to the mission and function of NIFA, in execution of policies and practices of grants management, and in the allocation of resources to carry out these policies and practices. The AD works closely with the Principal Scientist of the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition and implements recommendations in programs and policies that are developed jointly with the Principal Scientist.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):
To be considered, all candidates must respond to the ECQs. Information regarding how to prepare your responses is available in the “Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications” found using the following link: http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2010.pdf

Leading Change –This executive core qualification (ECQ) involves the abilities to bring about strategic change to meet organizational goals and to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. It encompasses six competencies:
• Creativity and Innovation combines developing new insights; questioning conventional approaches; encouraging innovation; and designing and implementing new programs or processes.
• External Awareness comprises understanding and staying current on policies and trends that affect NIFA and shape stakeholders' views; and being cognizant of NIFA’s impact on the external environment.
• Flexibility is openness to change and new information; and adaptability to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
• Resilience requires dealing effectively with pressure; remaining optimistic and persistent under adversity; and recovering quickly from setbacks.
• Strategic Thinking involves setting objectives and priorities, implementing plans consistent with NIFA’s long-term interests in a global environment, capitalizing on opportunities and managing risks.
• Vision includes taking long-term views; building a shared vision with others; acting as a catalyst for organizational change; and influencing others to translate vision into action.

Leading People –This ECQ involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, which include the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. It encompasses four competencies:
• Conflict Management entails encouraging creative tension and differences of opinions; anticipating and taking steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations; and managing and resolving conflicts and disagreements constructively.
• Leveraging Diversity means fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
• Developing Others is improving the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
• Team Building combines inspiring and fostering team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust; facilitating cooperation; and motivating team members to accomplish group goals.

Results Driven – This ECQ involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations, which includes the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. It encompasses six competencies:
• Accountability involves holding oneself and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results; setting objectives and priorities; delegating work; taking responsibility for mistakes; and complying with established control systems and rules.
• Customer Service entails anticipating and meeting internal and external customers’ needs; delivering high-quality products and services; and being committed to continuous improvement.
• Decisiveness is making well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; as well as perceiving the impact and implications of decisions.
• Entrepreneurship positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services; and takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.
• Problem Solving combines identifying and analyzing problems; weighing the relevance and accuracy of information; generating and evaluating alternative solutions; and making recommendations.
• Technical Credibility is understanding and appropriately applying principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.

Business Acumen –This ECQ involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. It encompasses three competencies:
• Financial Management comprises understanding NIFA’s financial processes; preparing, justifying, and administering the program budget; overseeing procurement; contracting to achieve desired results; monitoring expenditures and using cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.
• Human Capital Management entails building and managing the workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs; ensuring that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded; addressing performance problems; and managing a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations.
• Technology Management combines staying current on technological developments; using technology effectively to achieve results; and ensuring access to and security of technology systems.

Building Coalitions –This ECQ involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. It encompasses three competencies:
• Partnering is networking; building alliances; and collaborating across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
• Political Savvy entails identifying the internal and external politics impacting NIFA’s work; perceiving organizational and political reality and acting accordingly.
• Influencing/Negotiating combines persuading others; building consensus through give and take; and gaining cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Paid? Yes

Start Date: Mar 1, 2011

Contact:
Jennifer Moss
JDG Associates, Ltd.
1700 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 340-2210
moss@jdgsearch.com