PD_DOI_Commissioner-of-the-Bureau-of-Reclamation

Position Description

Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, department of the interior

Overview

Senate Committee

Energy and Natural Resources¹ _{Plum Book}

Agency Mission

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.² _{https://www.usbr.gov/main/about/mission.html}

Position Overview

The commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation leads the bureau in the efforts to develop and protect water and resources specifically in the Western region of the United States. The commissioner also acts as a liaison between the bureau and its efforts and the rest of the U.S. government.

Compensation

Level V $145,700³ (5 U.S.C. § 5316) _{The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.}

Position Reports to

Assistant Secretary for Water and Science⁴ _OPM

Responsibilities

Management Scope

The commissioner is responsible for 5,344 employees and a $1.073 billion budget.⁵ In immediate communication with the commissioner is the chief of staff and three deputy commissioners Two others report directly to the commissioner: the director of information services and the civil rights division of the bureau.⁶ _{https://www.usbr.gov/main/about/fact.html https://www.usbr.gov/main/images/br_org_chart.pdf}

Primary Responsibilities

® Manages, develops and protects water and resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public
® Plans and directs the management, engineering and scientific requirements needed to achieve comprehensive solutions to water and related resources issues and problems
® Cooperates with states, local governments and other federal agencies throughout the 17 contiguous Western states of Hawaii, U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and nationwide by enabling legislation or delegation
® Develops policies which set the overall goals and objectives for the reclamation’s program and ensures those goals are consistent with the administration’s priorities
® Serves as a liaison with bureaus and offices, other executive branch agencies, the Office of Management and Budget, Congress and constituent groups
® Directs all program and policy matters of reclamation⁷ _OPM

Strategic Goals and Priorities

[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration]

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

® Prior government experience, whether from Capitol Hill or similar state function (helpful)
® Prior agency experience (helpful)

Competencies

® Strong communication skills to communicate well internally within the department, across different agencies and with external stakeholders
® Political savvy and sensitivity
® Willingness to travel

Past Appointees

Estevan Lu00f3pez (2014 to 2017) u2013 Director of New Mexico’s Interstate Stream Commission; New Mexico’s Governor’s Representative on Colorado River compact matters; Commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Compact and Canadian River Compact Commissions⁸ _{https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/presskit/bios/detail.cfm?recordid=1}
Lowell Pimley (2014, Acting) u2013 Deputy Commissioner for Operations of the Bureau of Reclamation; Director of the Technical Service Center for the Bureau of Reclamation; Civil Engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation⁹ _{http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=46129}
Michael L. Connor (2009 to 2014) u2013 Counsel to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; Director of Indian Water Rights Office; Deputy Director of Indian Water Rights Office¹⁰ _{http://www.usbr.gov/history/CommissBios/connor.html}
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