PD_USDA_Undersecretary-for-Marketing-and-Regulatory-Programs

Position Description

UnderSecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Department of Agriculture

Overview

Senate Committee

Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

Agency Mission

To provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition and related issues based on public policy, the best available science and effective management; to provide economic opportunity through innovation to help rural America to thrive; to promote agricultural production that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve our nation’s natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds and healthy private working lands.

Position Overview

The undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs assists the secretary in providing policy direction and leadership to facilitate domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products, and ensures the health and welfare of animals and plants. Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) benefit consumers and producers of American agriculture by providing the basic infrastructure for making the American agricultural market more competitive. MRP agencies are also active participants in setting national and international standards.

Compensation

Level III $165,300 (5 U.S.C. § 5314)¹ _{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
Deputy Secretary and Secretary² _{https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-organization-chart.pdf}

Responsibilities

Management Scope

The undersecretary directly oversees a staff of about seven to 10 MRP employees. The administrators of the three MRP agenciesu2014the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)u2014report directly to the undersecretary.
In fiscal 2016, the undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs managed a budget of $2.4 billion.³ _{http://www.obpa.usda.gov/budsum/fy16budsum.pdf}

Primary Responsibilities

® Assists the secretary in providing policy direction and leadership to facilitate domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products, and ensures the health and welfare of animals and plants
® Manages AMS, APHIS and GIPSA, the agencies that are active participants in setting national and international standards:
® Administers programs that facilitate the efficient and fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products, including food, fiber and specialty crops
® Improves agricultural productivity and competitiveness and contributes to the national economy and public health
® Facilitates the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds and related agricultural products
® Promotes fair and competitive trading practices for the overall benefit of consumers and American agriculture⁴ _OPM

Strategic Goals and Priorities

[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration]

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

® Extensive experience with production agriculture, given that the rules and regulations promulgated by this mission area directly affect the agricultural commodity markets
® Prior agency experience (beneficial)
® Master’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree paired with extensive experience in agriculture
® Familiarity with budgeting processes
® Knowledge of Spanish or Mandarin (a plus)

Competencies

® Strong communication and interpersonal skills
® Excellent leadership and delegation abilities
® Ability to form relationships with relevant stakeholders
® Media training and public-speaking skills
® Ability to work under high pressure
® Ability to handle sensitive matters
® Energy for frequent travel
® Excellent negotiation skills
® Ability to work in a matrixed agency
® Ability to work across party lines

Past Appointees

Edward M. Avalos (2009 to 2017): Director, Commodity Credit Corporation, Department of Agriculture, Barack Obama Administration; Marketing and Development Division Director, Agriculture Department, State of New Mexico; Marketing Director, Marketing and Promotion Division, Agriculture Department, State of Texas⁵ _{Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?Perso
Id=-1&LDIPeopleId=412796&Save=1}
Bruce I. Knight (2006 to 2009): Chief of Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA; Vice President of Public Policy, the National Corn Growers Association; Government Relations Representative, National Corn Growers Association⁶ _{https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-knight-08442212/}
William T. Hawks (2001 to 2005): District I Representative; Mississippi House of Representatives; Managing Partner, Hawks Farming⁷ _{http://www.cals.msstate.edu/alumni/fellow.asp}
The Partnership’s Center for Presidential Transition helps ensure the efficient transfer of power that our country deserves. The Center’s Ready to Govern· initiative assists candidates with the transition, works with Congress to reform the transition process, develops management recommendations to address our government’s operational challenges, and trains new political appointees.