Federal Position Descriptions
Print

Director of the US Geological Survey

Director of the United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior
Responsibility
Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, the USGS had a budget of $1.032 billion and 4,843 employees.5

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
• 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

• 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 Appointments
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
AGENCY

Department of the Interior

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

COMPENSATION

Level V $145,700 (5 U.S.C. § 5316)3

REPORTS TO

Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of the Interior4

SENATE COMMITTEE

Energy and Natural Resources

Appointee Tracker

Check out our Political Appointee Tracker

Go to the tracker
Footnote
  1. Partnership for Public Service position description
  2. Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=153493&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O153493
  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.
  4. Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=153493&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O153493
  5. Leadership Directories:https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=153493&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O153493
  6. OPM Position Description
  7. https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/suzette-kimball
  8. Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=323152&Save=1
  9. Leadership Directories:https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=1120944&Save=1
More federal position descriptions