This position is being filled under a stream-lined hiring authority, Title 21, Section 3072 of the 21st Century Cures Act. The candidate selected for this position will serve under a career or career-conditional appointment and be paid under the provisions of this authority.
Introduction
The Food and Drug Administration is the regulatory, scientific, public health, and consumer protection agency responsible for ensuring that all human and animal drugs, and medical devices are safe and effective; that cosmetics, foods, food additives, drugs and medicated feeds for food producing animals, and radiation emitting devices are safe; and that all such products marketed in the U.S. are adequately, truthfully and informatively labeled and safely and properly stored, transported, manufactured packaged and regulated.
The mission of the Human Foods Program (HFP) is to protect and promote the health and wellness of all people through science-based approaches to prevent foodborne illness, reduce diet-related chronic disease, and ensure chemicals in food are safe.
Duties/Responsibilities
The Office of Laboratory Operations and Applied Science (OLOAS) is responsible for overseeing applied and regulatory laboratory scientific studies, applied research in the areas of toxicology and chemistry, and managing the science-based testing of food. This position serves as the Super Office Director over multiple offices that are responsible for laboratory operations related to food safety. The Super Office Director will provide executive leadership to all human and animal food laboratories dispersed throughout the United States. The Super Office Director oversees, manages, and sets priorities related to HFP and Agency goals. In addition, the incumbent will perform the following:
- Leads, directs, and coordinates all Human Foods Program (HFP) applied science and laboratory regulatory science activities as well as for collaborations with other Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offices, Department components, and other governmental and external groups.
- Provides executive leadership to research scientists; directs the research through subordinate Office supervisors; approves the initiation, redirection, and termination of research projects; evaluates and approves scientific work and manuscripts; approves highly specialized equipment purchases; establishes research priorities and safe work practices; and decides/resolves employee relations issues.
- The Super Office Director oversees the development of new or modified scientific and analytical compliance policies and regulatory sample testing procedures for all food regulated by the FDA.
- Advises Super Office, Foods Program and Agency management on the resolution of complex or controversial issues related to the determination of chemical substances added to or contaminating food as well as microbiological contamination of food.
- Serves as an expert advisor to the Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods regarding regulatory testing, setting applied research priorities, and implementing regulatory science activities.
- Represents the Deputy Commissioner and/or the HFP on task forces and committees mandated by Congress, DHHS, FDA, etc. on human foods science and research activities.
- Participates in and contributes to top level HFP, Agency, or DHHS discussions, meetings, and conferences related to human foods science and research activities.
- Coordinates and provides guidance and direction on short- and long- term and emergency response laboratory activities between offices and the HFP.
- Leads and participates in intra and inter-FDA workgroups for the advancement and/or harmonization of biological, microbiological, or chemical programs, systems, methods, and data gathering.
- Oversees a scientific program responsible for managing and executing a laboratory science and data science program focused on analytical chemistry, microbiology, and biology in support of methods development, validation, and regulatory analyses.
- Utilizes scientific knowledge, extensive research experience, project management expertise and knowledge of inter-disciplinary research to develop a OLOAS workplan and budget to efficiently and effectively address Human Foods programmatic, scientific, or research needs that aligns to HFP goals and priorities.
- Directs laboratory assistance to other FDA components and government agencies regarding food safety and food defense issues and provides scientific support in potential or actual threat or outbreak situations.
- Ensures that the organizational structure of the Office provides for uniformity, optimum effectiveness, and operational efficiency.
- Manages the personnel and financial resources of the Office ensuring that resources are allocated and utilized in accordance with the identified priorities and core functions of the HFP.
- Maintains an extensive working knowledge of new biological, chemical, or microbiological techniques that have an impact on food safety.
- Collaborates with the appropriate HFP offices and contributes to the development of assignments and timelines for biological, microbiological, or chemical laboratory testing requirements and tracks progress and metrics.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Supervisor provides occupational specific technical and administrative direction 25 percent or more of the time to three or more subordinate employees performing the work and functions of the organization. Obtains resources and identifies strategic objectives for the organization. Defines jobs, selects employees, and assigns work; defines technical work requirements and milestones; evaluates the organization and employee accomplishments by accepting or rejecting work products; and presents and defends organization and employees work to senior management and other offices. Recommends employee promotions and recognition; approves leave; implements performance modifications and takes corrective actions as appropriate. Provides equal opportunity in all Federal human capital and employment programs regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, affiliation or non-affiliation with a labor organization, political affiliation, status as a parent. Provides employees resources and information that insures a safe and healthy work environment.
How to Apply
Submit resume or curriculum vitae with cover letter and a copy of all transcripts (with foreign credential evaluation, if applicable) by the closing date as identified above to hfpexecutiveresources@fda.hhs.gov. Candidate resumes may be shared with hiring official within the CFSAN with a similar job vacancy. Candidates can opt out of this process by annotating resume with “do not share.” For questions, please contact hfpexecutiveresources@fda.hhs.gov. Please reference Job Reference ID: OLOAS, Super Office Director.
Announcement Contact
For questions regarding this Cures position, please contact hfpexecutiveresources@fda.hhs.gov. Please reference Job Reference ID: OLOAS, Super Office Director.
The Department of Health and Human Services is an equal opportunity employer with a smoke free environment.
FDA is an equal opportunity employer.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
