Federal Position Descriptions
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Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Department of Agriculture
Responsibility
Management Scope

The undersecretary directly oversees a staff of about seven to 10 MRP employees. The administrators of the three MRP agencies — the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) — report directly to the undersecretary.
In fiscal 2016, the undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs managed a budget of $2.4 billion.3

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

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
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 Appointments
  • 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
  • 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
  • William T. Hawks (2001 to 2005): District I Representative; Mississippi House of Representatives; Managing Partner, Hawks Farming7
AGENCY

Department of Agriculture

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.

COMPENSATION

Level III $165,300 (5 U.S.C. § 5314)1

REPORTS TO

Deputy Secretary and Secretary2

SENATE COMMITTEE

Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

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Footnote
  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.
  2. https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-organization-chart.pdf
  3. http://www.obpa.usda.gov/budsum/fy16budsum.pdf
  4. OPM
  5. Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=412796&Save=1
  6. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-knight-08442212/
  7. http://www.cals.msstate.edu/alumni/fellow.asp
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