Position Announcement: Executive Director, Swine Health Information Center

April 21, 2015 — AASV Staff

The Board of Directors of the newly-formed Swine Health Information Center seek an Executive Director to lead the Center. The Executive Director will serve as the face of the organization in the pork community and the veterinary profession, and will be responsible for providing oversight and implementation of the Center’s budget, long range planning, strategic initiatives, and organizational structure.

OVERVIEW

The Swine Health Information Center is responsible for developing and maintaining a global swine disease information network for the purpose of prioritizing the Swine Disease Matrix and informing U.S. pork producers and veterinarians about risks of transboundary production diseases and foreign animal diseases. The Center will maintain the Swine Disease Matrix and update the disease priorities to fund the research needed for the U.S. swine disease diagnostic and surveillance system to be better prepared to respond in a timely manner to the introduction of swine diseases. The Center will put into place the infrastructure for enhanced epidemiological analysis of swine diseases in the U.S. and for providing U.S. pork producers and veterinarians with information that will help them strengthen their diagnostic, biosecurity, and biocontainment abilities.

This position requires political discernment and sensitivity, broad and in-depth knowledge of animal agriculture and its associated organizations as well as strong and demonstrated familiarity with the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

NATURE OF POSITION

The Executive Director leads the Swine Health Information Center in accordance with its articles of incorporation and under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Executive Director is the leader of the organization, carrying out the actions of the Board of Directors, while directing overall expectations, assuring accountability, and ensuring quality programs and services. Responsibilities and essential job functions include: Oversight and implementation of the Center’s budget, long range planning, strategic initiatives, and organizational structure. The Executive Director serves as the face of the organization in the pork community and the veterinary profession leading efforts to build awareness of the Center and its mission and to establish and maintain excellent working and funding relationships.

To accomplish this, the position demands a high level of visibility and interaction with pork producers, veterinarians, members of the Board of Directors, academia, allied industry, the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and other industry related audiences.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning: Review and enhancement of the organization’s strategic planning, goal-setting, and measurement of effectiveness. Annually coordinate development of the organization’s plan of work and budget.

Implementation: Works directly with the Center’s Board of Directors and ad hoc task forces and committees to carryout organization plans, actions, and budgets.

Decision Authority: Has decision-making authority over specific project and task force/committee work, as assigned. Exercises decision authority relative to organizational issues and day-to-day management.

Financial Responsibility: Budget authority for assigned project and task force/committee work, and key line items within the Center’s Budget.

Business Strategy and Operations:

• Provide leadership for the Center’s daily operations.

• Understand the Center’s current programs and provide vision and overall leadership for the development of new programs.

• Provide updates and keep the Board fully informed on any and all factors that may influence the Center’s operations and fulfillment of its mission.

• Ensure overall compliance with licensing, and local, state and federal laws and regulations in regard to operations, employment, funding, contracts, and fiscal reporting obligations.

Human Capital:

• Provide vision and leadership to the Center in a manner that demonstrates a strong work ethic, inspires staff, encourages teamwork and provides successful outcomes.

• Manage direct reports and provide support and direction.

• Assess current staff, programming and business environment and make any adjustments needed to both maximize effectiveness in the short term and to prepare the organization to capitalize on future long term opportunities.

• Serve as liaison between the Board and any Center staff and interact with Board as necessary and/or requested on an ad hoc basis.

• Improve personal development needs through training that builds skills.

BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS OF POSITION

Education

A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or equivalent degree. Advanced degrees and/or Board Certification in veterinary medicine and/or epidemiology are welcomed.

Skills and Experience

• Be passionate about the pork industry, setting an example through a positive work ethic and visible leadership.

• Proven leadership in the pork industry.

• Demonstrate strong leadership abilities, with a history of success in managing multiple issues and building consensus to achieve goals.

• Be collaborative in utilizing relationship building and relationship management skills.

• Possess strong oral and written communication skills and effectively communicate the Center’s programs, services, policies and procedures internally and externally.

• Demonstrated ability to manage human capital at all levels of an organization.

• Demonstrated strong ability to facilitate groups with diverse backgrounds to reach consensus goals.

• Have a record of identifying and solving problems.

• Demonstrated strong understanding of swine health issues facing U.S. pork producers and swine veterinarians.

• Have basic epidemiological knowledge and to the ability to communicate and collaborate with epidemiologists.

• Have an excellent ability to understand and manage swine health research project solicitation, selection, funding, tracking and reporting processes.

• Technical capabilities with Microsoft products and the ability to foresee how technical solutions can enhance the effectiveness of the Center.

Other Requirements

• This position will be based in Des Moines, IA and the surrounding area.

• Travel: Requires moderate (up to 40% but not necessarily overnight) regional, domestic, and international travel (up to 4 trips a year) with some seasonal variation based around key industry meeting schedules. Must have valid driver’s license and good driving record. Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel via airplane and automobile for long periods of time are required.

POSITION RELATIONSHIPS

U.S. Pork Producers and Veterinarians: The Executive Director must have a well-developed understanding of issues and concerns facing pork producers and swine veterinarians. The Executive Director will work closely with producers and veterinarians through various organizational task forces and committees.

Board of Directors: The Executive Director communicates regularly to the Center’s Board of Directors to keep them informed of the conditions and operations of the Center.

International Relationships: The Executive Director will communicate and collaborate with foreign pork producers, veterinarians, swine health officials, organizations and/or others to facilitate cooperation and collaboration toward fulfilling the Center’s mission.

Allied Industry: The Executive Director will work with allied industry to solicit input and resources needed to fulfill the mission of the Center. The Executive Director will represent the interests of the Center to key allied industry partners.

Government: The Executive Director will have frequent interaction with state animal health officials and Federal Government Departments and Agencies to inform them of the Center’s progress and facilitate collaboration toward fulfilling the Center’s mission.

Other Organizations: There is moderate exposure to the public outside of pork producers in the form of media, allied industries, other commodity groups, packers, importers, etc.

TO APPLY

All inquiries and information will be handled in strict confidence. Interested parties should contact:

Kevin Drury
Hedlin Ag Enterprises
PO Box 1235
Ankeny, IA 50021
Phone: 515-964-7997
E-mail: kdrury@hedlinag.com

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AASV staff contributed to or researched this story. For more information about the AASV, please visit http://www.aasv.org/.