International food security, agricultural sustainability, and seed trade depend on global alignment of phytosanitary policies that control the spread of major pests, diseases, and weeds. The Senior Director will serve as the lead technical and policy expert for the American Seed Trade Associations, (ASTA), over 650 members on phytosanitary issues impacting seed movement in a wide range of economically important species, including row crops, vegetables, flowers, forages, and grasses. The Senior Director will have the opportunity to lead global seed industry initiatives at the intersection of scientific, technical, and policy issues, with the goal of building cooperation between industry, governments, and seed trade organizations to streamline phytosanitary regulations impacting seed movement. The position requires that the Senior Director: serve as a liaison to USDA APHIS, FAS, AMS, USDHS CBP, and other federal and state agencies to help identify and resolve technical trade barriers; coordinate phytosanitary policy and related issues with national (NSA) and regional seed associations (RSA), and the International Seed Federation (ISF); and monitor, analyze, and draft comments regarding pest risk assessments, phytosanitary regulations, and World Trade Organization (WTO) notices related to phytosanitary import requirements for seeds submitted by governments. The Senior Director will have the opportunity to build relationships with key players in the agricultural industry and conduct regular international and domestic travel.
Responsibilities
Serve as ASTA’s staff lead for a range of policy and technical committees comprised of ASTA members, including: the Phytosanitary Committee, Vegetable and Flower Technical Subcommittee, Emerging Diseases Subcommittee, and Food Safety Pathogen Working Group. The Senior Director will regularly contribute to ASTA’s Seed Industry Relations Committee; Organic Seed Committee; the International Executive Committee; and Vegetable Emerging Issues Working Group.
Provide leadership, coordination, and strategic planning of ASTA’s phytosanitary initiatives to resolve specific phytosanitary issues that impede international seed movements and market access:
Represent the U.S. seed industry on the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) seed working group that participates in the development of regional NAPPO phytosanitary standards for seeds.
Serve as a technical resource to ISF for the development of the international seed standards, seed pest databases, and other documents that impact international seed movements.
Establish and maintain relationships with international and domestic NPPO officials, other government officials, university partners, and ASTA members to define and advocate for ASTA’s phytosanitary priorities.
Organize cooperative phytosanitary workshops with USDA APHIS, other National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs), and other NSAs/RSAs.
Work directly with ASTA members and the U.S. government to resolve problems with held or rejected shipments that impede seed movement into other countries.
Work with APHIS, ASTA members, other national and international seed associations, and foreign NPPOs to resolve issues with the development of pest risk assessments and pest lists; the use of new technologies in pathogen detection and management; resolve issues with technically unjustified import permits; and contribute seed industry perspectives relative to issues involving export and re-export certification, seed importation, seed phytosanitary testing, and development of accreditation and certification systems.
Serve as an expert and resource for ASTA members by preparing technical and policy papers, reviewing pest risk assessments, developing technical information needed to refute technically unjustified phytosanitary requirements of other countries, and analyzing APHIS and foreign proposed phytosanitary regulations and WTO notices.
Qualifications
The applicant should have an advanced degree (MS or Ph.D.) in the agricultural sciences, preferably in the field of plant sciences or pathology. In lieu of an advanced degree, the applicant must demonstrate professional 5+ years of experience in phytosanitary or relevant scientific fields.
The applicant should must show familiarity, knowledge, and/or experience with the workings of the seed industry, phytosanitary principles, development and implementation of phytosanitary measures domestically and internationally, as well as the nexus of phytosanitary with seed industry quality management practices used in production and harvest/post-harvest.
The applicant should have the ability to formulate and evaluate complex technical proposals and regulatory policies; ability to communicate clearly in writing and orally; ability to motivate, lead and build consensus across a broad range of stakeholders. The applicant should demonstrate experience in leading committees, developing, and organizing workshops. The applicant must be able to travel domestically and internationally.
Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is one of the oldest trade organizations in the United States. ASTA works on behalf of the seed industry to promote the research, development and movement of quality seed to meet the world’s demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel.
ASTA follows the USDA’s non-discrimination policy.
https://www.usda.gov/non-discrimination-statement
