Executive Director Diagnostics and Biologics

This position is designated as SES, Career-Reserved. USDA structures its SES positions into position levels. This is a position level II with a salary range of $204,122 - $216,010 per year. Exceptions to the salary cap may be considered in certain circumstances. SES employees are also eligible to receive bonuses and performance-based awards. Visit http://www.opm.gov/ses/ for additional information and benefits for SES employees.

Provides strategic leadership and recommendations to the Associate Deputy Administrator (ADA) on policies, programs, and operations affecting national animal health diagnostics, biologics, and laboratory activities.

Oversees planning, regulatory oversight, and implementation of Diagnostics and Biologics (DB) programs, ensuring alignment of budget, resources, and operational priorities with Veterinary Services’ mission.

Directs nationwide Veterinary Biologics Program activities, including development and execution of regulations, licensing standards, inspection processes, and compliance measures under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act.

Evaluates program effectiveness across DB units, initiating improvements and negotiating changes with domestic and international partners, laboratories, and industry stakeholders to achieve program goals.

Represents DB and VS leadership in national and international meetings, cultivating partnerships with Federal, State, academic, private-sector, and foreign entities to support animal health initiatives.

Ensures veterinary biologics and diagnostic programs maintain scientific integrity by supporting development, evaluation, and standardization of diagnostic methods, reagents, and technical procedures.

Provides leadership and supervisory direction to multidisciplinary staff, managing organizational change, delegating authority, setting priorities, overseeing performance, and ensuring effective resource distribution.

Serves as a member of the VS Executive Team, contributing expert analysis and policy recommendations on the direction, scope, and implementation of VS programs and initiatives.

0701 Series Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org(external link), has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools. OR Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (Refer to AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org(external link)for information about schools in this category) must meet one of the following requirements. Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT). Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g. residency or graduate program).