Super Office Director, Nutrition Center of Excellence

About the role

The Nutrition Center of Excellence (NCE) is responsible for providing expert advice on FDA initiatives, policies, and strategies related to nutrition and food labeling, and critical foods. The Super Office Director is responsible for providing executive leadership, planning and analysis in matters related to nutrition, food labeling, and critical food initiatives for the HFP and NCE.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a principal advisor to and spokesperson for the Deputy Commissioner for Food in matters related to nutrition and food labeling, as well as critical foods.
• Leads scientific and policy direction for multidisciplinary teams managing NCE labeling, nutrition, and food regulatory programs, reviewing activities to ensure goals, objectives, and regulatory priorities are achieved.
• Advise on population-wide nutrition programs and initiatives that advance public health, especially pertaining to the reduction and prevention of diet-related chronic diseases.
• Oversee subordinate offices in the evaluation of risk assessments, adverse events, and other signals related to the safety of critical foods.
• Develop relationships with FDA, HHS, Congress, other agencies, international partners, academia, and stakeholders to coordinate nutrition policy, share scientific information, and communicate FDA nutrition and labeling decisions.
• Promote collaboration with consumer, public health, and industry stakeholders and represent FDA, HFP, and NCE at meetings, conferences, and discussions with industry, academic, scientific, and health organizations.
• Participate in senior-level HFP, FDA, and HHS discussions, meetings, and conferences on broad policy issues, and advise leadership on new and revised policies.
• Support congressional engagement by representing FDA and assisting with testimony and briefing materials on diet and health, nutrition policy, labeling, and critical foods.
• Collaborate with executive HFP or Agency officials in the formulation, development, and execution of short- and long-range goals related to the planning, development, execution, and coordination of the NCE.
• Assist the Deputy Commissioner for Food and lead organizational planning to align responsibilities, assignments, personnel, and resources for effective and efficient NCE operations.
• Identify staffing needs, support recruitment and retention of high-quality personnel, and evaluate budget estimates and justifications to inform recommendations to the Deputy Commissioner for Food.
• Direct strategies, policies, plans, and budgets to strengthen FDA’s food science and regulatory programs, including recruiting and training personnel and developing information systems.

Requirements

The candidate must meet the following qualifications for this Title 21 position:

• At least 5 years experience leading a team or work related to nutrition and food policy.
• Experience advancing innovative initiatives efficiently; government experience/knowledge preferred.
• Experience serving as an excellent communicator and public speaker, including with media, and the ability to effectively communicate complex issues succinctly.
• Ability to develop networks and build alliances, including experience with building positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, members of Congress, and others; is politically astute.
• Advanced degree and a background in food-related policy issues with a preference for nutrition expertise/experience (education or work-related).
• Experience leading and managing subordinate supervisors and teams effectively, with a track record of ensuring effective operations, leveraging resources efficiently, and strategic decision-making.
• Knowledge of child/infant nutrition.

Qualifications

To qualify for the Super Office Director, Nutrition Center of Excellence position which falls under the 0601 occupational Series, you must meet the following requirements by 11:59 pm EST on 07/30/2026:

• At least 5 years experience leading a team or work related to nutrition and food policy.
• Experience advancing innovative initiatives efficiently; government experience/knowledge preferred.
• Experience serving as an excellent communicator and public speaker, including with media, and the ability to effectively communicate complex issues succinctly.
• Ability to develop networks and build alliances, including experience with building positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, members of Congress, and others; is politically astute.
• Advanced degree and a background in food-related policy issues with a preference for nutrition expertise/experience (education or work-related).
• Experience leading and managing subordinate supervisors and teams effectively, with a track record of ensuring effective operations, leveraging resources efficiently, and strategic decision-making.
• Knowledge of child/infant nutrition.

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
• The candidate selected for this position will serve under a career or career-conditional appointment within the competitive service.
• Direct Deposit: You will be required to have all federal salary payments electronically deposited into a bank account with a financial institution of your choice.
• FDA participates in e-Verify: All new hires must complete the I-9 form; this information will be processed through e-Verify to determine your employment eligibility. If a discrepancy arises, you must take affirmative steps to resolve the matter.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service. Please go to http://www.sss.gov for more information.
• Background Investigation Requirement: All employees must pass a security investigation. Failing to pass the background check may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection, or appropriate legal action.
• Certification of Accuracy: All information concerning eligibility and qualification is subject to investigation and verification. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection, or appropriate legal action.
• All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug testing upon hiring.
• Appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative applicant drug test result.
• Probationary periods are required for new employees appointed to competitive service positions for the first time; or reinstated employees who return after a break in service of 30-days or more and who have not completed a probationary period.
• Pre-employment physical required: No
• Drug testing required: Yes
• Drug Impact Statement for Top Secret Security Clearance: In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 15, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and can be subject to random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. Appointment to this non-bargaining unit position will be contingent upon a negative drug test result.
• Licenses required: No
• Mobility agreement required: No
• Immunizations required: No
• Bargaining Unit: No
• Telework eligible position: Telework is at the discretion of the supervisor.
• Ethics preclearance/OGE-278, required: Please be advised that this position is subject to FDA's prohibited financial interest regulation and may require the incumbent of this position to divest of certain financial interests. Applicants are advised to seek additional information on this requirement from the hiring official before accepting this position. For more information please visit the FDA Ethics web page: https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/jobs-and-training-fda/ethics.
• Financial disclosure statement, required: This position requires financial disclosure reporting and will be subject to FDA's prohibited financial interest regulation. If you are hired, you may be required to divest of certain financial interests. You are advised to seek additional information on this requirement from the hiring official before accepting any job offers.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.