PD_DOI_Director-of-the-U.S.-Geological-Survey

Position Description

DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Overview

Senate Committee

Energy and Natural Resources

Agency Mission

The Department of the Interior protects and manages the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives and affiliated island communities.¹ _{Partnership for Public Service position description}

Position Overview

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collects, monitors, analyzes and provides scientific understanding about natural resources conditions, issues and problems. The USGS carries out large-scale, multidisciplinary investigations and provides impartial scientific information to policymakers, resource managers, planners and other customers.² _{Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=153493&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O153493}

Compensation

Level V $145,700 (5 U.S.C. § 5316)³ _{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 Science at the Department of the Interior⁴ _{Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=153493&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O153493}

Responsibilities

Management Scope

The U.S. Geological Survey fiscal 2016 budget was $1.2 billion, with 8,136 full-time equivalents.⁵ _{U.S. Geological Survey budget, https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/migrated/budget/appropriations/2016/highlights/upload/BH051.pdf}

Primary Responsibilities

® Oversees the planning, direction and management of the interdisciplinary and integrated programs that contribute to USGS’s environmental science mission
® Manages and directs the scientific and technical resources needed to plan, develop and accomplish the department’s science programs
® Represents the USGS in its interaction with other federal agencies; international, national, state and local organizations; academic institutions; and Congress⁶ _{OPM position description}
® Has historically served simultaneously as science advisor to the secretary of the interior, and represented the department in White House science meetings

Strategic Goals and Priorities

[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration]

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

® Doctoral degree in one of USGS’s science mission areas: earth science (geology, geophysics or a related field), hydrology, ecology or geography
® Management experience in running complex organizations (highly desirable)
® Some familiarity with the federal government (highly desirable)

Competencies

® Excellent speaking and interpersonal skills
® Ability to think strategically and build consensus
® Nonpartisan and able to work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes
® Ability to respond to emergency situations with calm demeanor and decisive action
® Strong leadership skills
® Experience with matrix management, fiscal acumen and ability to explain complex scientific concepts to non-scientists (desired)

Past Appointees

Suzette Kimball (2015 to 2017): USGS Deputy Director; USGS Associate Director for Geology; Director of the USGS Eastern Region; USGS Eastern Regional Executive for Biology⁷ _{https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/suzette-kimball}
Marcia K. McNutt (2009 to 2013): President and Chief Executive Officer, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute; President, American Geophysical Union; Director, MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography and Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, School of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology⁸ _{Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?Perso
Id=-1&LDIPeopleId=323152&Save=1}
Mark Myers (2006 to 2009): Department of the Interior Representative, Climate Change Science Program, Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology Integration, Executive Office of the President; President and Board Member, Alaska Geological Society; Director, Oil and Gas Division, Natural Resources Department, State of Alaska; Director, Geological and Geophysical Surveys Division, Natural Resources Department, State of Alaska⁹ _{Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?Perso
Id=-1&LDIPeopleId=1120944&Save=1}
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