Appendix C1 - Benchmark Index by Function - Research

Executive Group Benchmark Number: 8-F-1

POSITION TITLE: Director General, Bioproducts and Bioprocesses National Science Program

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Is accountable for providing leadership, management and direction of a national program of scientific research and development (R&D) to ensure optimal return on Canada's investment in scientific knowledge and technology.

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

This is one of six positions at the second managerial level reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Research. The others are Director General, Sustainable Production Systems; Director General, Environmental Health; Director General, Food Safety and Quality; Director General, Science Secretariat; and Director, Innovation, Commercialization and Intellectual Property Management.

Specific functions of the positions reporting to the Director General, Bioproducts and Bioprocesses National Science Program, are as follows:

Director, Biobased Products and Processes, (staff of 120) is responsible for providing leadership, management and direction in the development, organization, conduct, monitoring and evaluation of scientific research programs and studies aimed at the discovery and development of specialty, commodity and intermediate chemicals, materials and microbial products.

Director, Genomics, Bioinformatics and other Bioinformation, (staff of 330) is responsible for providing leadership, management and direction in the development, organization, conduct, monitoring and evaluation of scientific research programs and studies aimed at the discovery and development of enabling technologies and knowledge advancements in genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics.

NATURE AND SCOPE

The Department's mandate is to promote the development, adaptation and competitiveness of the agriculture and agri-food sector and to assist the sector in maximizing its contribution to Canada's economic, social and environmental objectives through the provision of information, research and technology, and policies and programs that achieve security of the food system, health of the environment and innovation for growth. The agriculture and agri-food portfolio is complex and highly diversified, with responsibility for 37 acts and 6 commissions, agencies and Crown corporations.

Departmental research activities are delivered through a network of 19 research centres located across the country. Work at the centres is linked to four national science programs: Environmental Health; Sustainable Production Systems; Bioproducts and Bioprocesses; and Food Safety and Quality. Within this context, the Director General, Bioproducts and Bioprocesses National Science Program, provides leadership to a national multidisciplinary R&D program engaged in developing and implementing strategies, approaches and initiatives to identify, analyse and address a broad range of science issues arising from the Department's national agenda to promote and advance the national interest in the discovery and development of valuable biobased knowledge, technologies, products and processes that will contribute to sustainable development and to the sector's economic viability.

The Director General manages the development of a strategic R&D program framework for bioproducts and bioprocesses science that identifies and addresses issues, priorities and opportunities, as well as operational policies and program strategies and initiatives, to address a broad range of scientific and economic issues related to the role of agriculture in advancing the bioeconomy through the discovery and development of biobased products and processes and the advancement of mission-oriented bioscience research in the emerging fields of genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics. In meeting this challenge, the incumbent must ensure that program objectives and initiatives are integrated into a comprehensive approach to scientific R&D and that the program supports and advances the Department's overall strategic objectives and operational goals. Key challenges include development of the program with little or no traditional constituency; management of a diverse and widely distributed program; strengthening collaboration across the four science programs, interdepartmentally and with the provinces, academia and industry; finding new resources to expand in key areas, such as proteomics, bioprocessing, bioenergy, and livestock genomics; and maintaining capacity and optimizing investment in current priority activities.

The Director General ensures that key departmental research priorities and deliverables in the Bioproducts and Bioprocesses program are articulated effectively. The incumbent plays a critical role in planning the strategic directions of the Department's science programs and participates in the forecasting of resource requirements to adjust programs to meet emerging priorities. The incumbent initiates and promotes identification and analysis of needs and opportunities that will advance the immediate and longer-term national science program objectives and ensures that these needs and the related deliverables are aligned with overall policies supporting the government's and the Department's overarching environmental, social and economic goals.

The Director General ensures that there is effective consultation and collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders on issues relating to bioproducts and bioprocesses science. The incumbent provides departmental leadership in identifying the issues; planning, directing and coordinating the appropriate research activities; and advising senior departmental management on issues and outcomes related to the impact of research initiatives in the area of bioproducts and bioprocesses science.

The Director General develops and implements horizontal approaches and initiatives to establish and maintain linkages across the Department and in collaboration with a broad network of other government departments and a wide range of partners in provincial governments, industry associations and other non-government organizations to articulate and address research issues. The incumbent ensures that other federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, as well as senior representatives of industry and client associations and other communities of interest, are consulted and that their interests and concerns are considered in the design of the research programs. The challenge for the incumbent is to gain acceptance and support for the Department's research programs throughout the Department and from client groups and stakeholders.

The Director General exercises leadership in developing and implementing strategies and approaches in building and sustaining the capacity of the program network to make good use of traditional and new resources, rationalizing business operations and developing and monitoring risk-management plans, controls and reporting mechanisms. The incumbent leads the development and implementation of strategies for and approaches to providing information and work tools to managers and employees in order to enhance the strategic and operational management of activities and issues. The incumbent leads and coordinates the identification of initiatives and opportunities that optimize program resources and offer the best chances of success. The incumbent sits on a review panel that recommends the allocation of a government-industry matching funds R&D program to address program priorities.

The Director General is in frequent contact with senior departmental managers to discuss and address issues related to the development of the Bioproducts and Bioprocesses National Science Program's management policies and strategies. The incumbent is also in contact with senior officials of provincial and territorial governments to represent the Department's interests with respect to the development and delivery of the bioproducts and bioprocesses research program. The incumbent also represents the Department at regular meetings with representatives of universities, foreign governments (e.g. United States Department of Agriculture officials), international organizations, industry associations and other communities of interest to explain the Department's research priorities and programs.

DIMENSIONS (Constant Dollars)

FTEs:	450
Operating budget:	$7.1 million

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Provides professional and managerial leadership for initiating and promoting the identification and analysis of needs and opportunities that will advance the immediate and longer-term science program objectives.
2. Articulates and aligns science program priorities and resource requirements with departmental strategic objectives and prioritizes and recommends resource allocations. Ensures that science program objectives are in line with the broader departmental and portfolio agenda.
3. Establishes and maintains functional networks of integrated, interdisciplinary national research teams. Ensures that projects that fall under the Bioproducts and Bioprocesses National Science Program themes are appropriate and relevant, and adjusts those projects as needed.
4. Collaborates with the leaders of the other national science programs to ensure that the science programs are integrated. Leads discussions and negotiations with communities of clients and science partners nationally and internationally to identify, prioritize and address research initiatives and to engage them, when appropriate, in collaborative scientific projects and other cooperative activities.
5. Provides expert science advice to the Minister and senior officials of the Department and other science-based departments and agencies.
6. Identifies and pursues opportunities to address interdepartmental horizontal issues and innovative cooperative initiatives with other science-based departments and agencies to advance the government's socio-economic and environmental agenda.
7. Contributes, as a member of the Research Management Committee, to ensuring the relevance of science and soundness of science investments.

EVALUATION RATIONALE

Director General, Bioproducts and Bioprocesses National Science Program

KNOW-HOW

G	Mastery of the interrelationships between a broad range of natural and applied sciences involved in agriculture science, including chemistry, biology, botany, animal, crop and soil sciences; in-depth professional knowledge of the policies, principles and practices governing research in the federal government; in-depth professional knowledge of the state of domestic and international knowledge and technology in the agriculture and agri-food sciences; professional knowledge of management practices, intellectual property rights, contracting, human resources, and financial and materiel management regulations and practices in the federal government; and sound knowledge of Canada's domestic and international markets for agriculture and agri-food.
III	Conceptual and operational management of the activities of a large, diverse and highly decentralized segment of the overall research organization, which works largely in partnership with other domestic and international research organizations to identify priority areas for research efforts and to coordinate research initiatives and activities with other research organizations in the Department and with outside scientific organizations, including foreign governments.
3	Successful achievement of objectives hinges upon the position's ability to establish and maintain cooperative relations with industry and foreign government executives and to negotiate funding in support of research or collaboration in the conduct of research and the sharing of information. Successful achievement of objectives also requires strong communications and interpersonal relations skills to direct and motivate staff.
800	High number recognizes near exceptional mastery in specialized fields of science, coupled with the need for strong management coordination in order to ensure coherent scientific research and direction for an important and rapidly evolving scientific field.

PROBLEM SOLVING / THINKING

F	Thinking within the broad policies and objectives of the Department and of the Research Branch to identify needs and deliver research programs that contribute to enhancing Canadian agriculture and agri-food industries (e.g. identification of mechanisms to reduce or eliminate the negative impacts of natural phenomena on agricultural production).
4	A high degree of analytical thinking to recognize and develop strategies to mitigate and reduce the impact of natural phenomena on agricultural production, enhance the attributes and resilience of agricultural products and enhance the overall efficiency of agricultural and agri-food production and processing systems.
(57) 460	Higher percentage recognizes the creative scientific and technological thinking environment, the novel and non-recurring research issues encountered and the challenge of integrating and reconciling strategic and pragmatic issues in the development of research plans and strategies.

ACCOUNTABILITY / DECISION MAKING

F	Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Research Branch, the position is subject to broadly defined functional policies, goals and objectives in assessing and determining the research priorities and directing and managing research activities of greatest relevance and with the greatest potential to maintain and enhance the success of Canada's agricultural and agri-food industry and its competitive position in world markets.
3P	The position has primary impact on the science policies and program research and initiatives. The proxy selected to represent these activities is a budget of $7.1 million (constant).
400	Mid-range number reflects the level of decision-making authority that the position has within a professional field of endeavour under the guidance of a supervisory position that is within the same line of business, the size of the budget and the leadership role for a national program of scientific R&D.

SUMMARY

GIII3

800

F4(57)

460

F3P

400

=

1660

P1

DIRECTOR GENERAL
BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOPROCESSES

NATURAL SCIENCE PROGRAM

NUMBER: 8 - F - 1