Federal Position Descriptions
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Chairman and Commissioner

Chairman and Commissioner, International Joint Commission
Responsibility
Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, the International Joint Commission had $7.663 million in budget outlays.4

Primary Responsibilities

• Works through consensus to identify, prevent and resolve disputes relating to the use and quality of boundary waters with solutions that are in the best interests of Canada and the United States and advises both countries on related issues
• Maintains partnerships across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin and undertakes a number of initiatives relative to Canada and the United States to include the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement regarding the concerns related to releases of municipal sewage and animal wastes, water quality and climate change
• Deals with a variety of land use and watershed management issues5

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

Commission requirements:
• The United States and Canada each appoint three IJC commissioners, including a chair from each country6
• The president, in selecting the three members of the commission, is authorized to appoint one officer of the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army, one civil engineer well versed in the hydraulics of the Great Lakes, and one lawyer of experience in questions of international and riparian law (22 U.S.C. § 267b)
Commissioner requirements:
• Government experience (a plus)

Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven tracker record of collaboration
• Diplomatic skills

Past Appointments
  • Lana B. Pollack (2010 to 2017): Chair, Board of Directors, State of Michigan; President, Michigan Environmental Council; State Senator, Michigan Senate7
  • Samuel Speck (2008 to 2011): Director of Natural Resources, State of Ohio; President, Muskingum College; Associate Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency8
  • Richard Moy (2011 to 2017): Water Management Bureau Chief, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, State of Montana; Park Ranger, Glacier National Park, United States Department of the Interior9
AGENCY

International Joint Commission

Mission: To prevent and resolve disputes between the United States of America and Canada under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and pursue the common good of both countries as an independent and objective advisor to the two governments1

COMPENSATION

The chairman and commissioners follow the Administratively Determined Rates pay system.3

REPORTS TO

President

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Footnote
  1. http://www.ijc.org/en_/About_the_IJC
  2. OPM
  3. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-PLUMBOOK-2016/pdf/GPO-PLUMBOOK-2016.pdf
  4. Leadership Directories:https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=55388&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O55388
  5. OPM
  6. OPM
  7. Leadership Directories:https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=966485&Save=1
  8. http://www.ijc.org/rel/about/bio_speck_e.htm
  9. Leadership Directories:https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=1120481&Save=1
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