CR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Arizona Department of Administration • Phoenix, AZ

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council (ACRPC) is an organization formally established by statute in 1984 to serve as a vehicle through which Arizona cotton growers could provide adequate funding for research and applied technology to address industry needs relating to pest control and crop production. ACRPC provides, maintains, and monitors innovative technology and programs for the Arizona cotton industry. Through this agency, the Arizona cotton industry will be provided with sustainable programs and technologies to eradicate, control, and manage cotton pests.

The Executive Director is responsible for administering the activities of the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council and shall be accountable to the Council for such activities.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Requirements

• Knowledge of Arizona statutes, rules and regulations as they pertain to Council and related activities.
• Knowledge of Basic budgetary and accounting principles.
• Knowledge of Basic operational and personnel management principles.
• Skills in Negotiation.
• Skills in Dealing with personnel on a level that builds trust, confidence and team work.
• Ability to Multitask and correspondingly establish clearly defined priorities.
• Ability to Communicate clearly and concisely, including writing reports, documents, and other Correspondence in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to Analyze complex situations and to recommend well-defined solutions or courses of action.
• Ability to Build consensus and team work ethic and to manage internal conflict decisively
• Ability to Prioritize daily workload
• Ability to See the big picture and avoid externalities which will distract from or minimize main objectives at hand
• Ability to Build subordinates confidence by guiding them to develop skills and decision making abilities as opposed to micromanagement
• Ability to Plan ahead despite dealing with an ever changing set of contingencies.
• Ability to React to changing fiscal parameters to maintain positive budgetary outcomes.
• Minimum of 3 years as a manager or supervisor managing subordinates.
• State travel is required for State business.
• Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-I0-207.12.) AND having an acceptable driving record for the last 39 months is required including no DUI, suspensions, or revocations and less than 8 points on your license.
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

Nice To Haves

• Agricultural experience of 5 years
• Knowledgeable of basic principles of cotton crop production, entomology, agronomy, weed science, plant pathology, and pest control as these disciplines relate to cotton and related crop systems.
• Expertise in handling complex biological and technical issues related to diverse Council activities.

Responsibilities

• Establishing and conducting all program activities and Council operations as authorized by the Council. Develop new programs for recommendation to the Council that fit industry needs when circumstances require.
• Oversee the preparation and implementation of financially sound budgets to most effectively fund programs and other activities authorized by the Council.
• Under Council direction, plan, organize and coordinate ACRPC statutorily authorized quarterly public meetings, or as needed.
• Coordinate the collection of bale assessment fees to fund ACRPC activities.
• Develop and direct, with Council approval, the establishment and implementation of cooperative agreements, intergovernmental agreements, memoranda of understanding and other legal mechanisms for cooperative contracting programs of benefitting Arizona Cotton Growers and associated parties.
• In accordance with statutory authority, with staff and scientific support, develop, direct and coordinate the implementation of a program for production and marketing of aflatoxin mitigating products to a variety of grower cooperators and distributors.
• Through a well-defined organizational structure, implements and directs the activities of the Council’s field staff including, but not limited to pest control, eradication and monitoring programs, plowdown field inspection, cotton seed breeding, and other program activities related to cotton or aflatoxin.
• Oversee, with staff assistance, operations related to legal or statutory requirements pertaining to the Council as a state agency including but not limited to audits, rule review, sunset review, grower referenda, procurement and employment statutory requirements, lien collections, etc.
• Oversee Council funds in a fiscally responsible way to ensure adequate cost support for authorized program activities including adequate positive carryover balance from one fiscal year to the next.
• Direct the agency’s disbursement of research and grant funding in a scientifically and fiscally sound manner, in accordance with the Council’s stated purposes.
• Ensures through staff that all procurement rules and guidelines are adequately addressed, including procurement, repair and maintenance of Council fleet, and surplus disposition of vehicles.
• Direct the agency’s cooperative activities with the Arizona Department of Agriculture relating to cotton plowdown rules and regulations.
• Oversee the preparation and delivery of educational and informational presentations to private, state and federal cooperators in a variety of program settings. Such presentations shall be made available to the Council prior to dissemination.
• Director shall be responsible for the following reporting obligations: Oversees, or prepares and delivers, reports to grower constituents including detailed analysis and evaluation of programs, on a monthly basis, or as directed by the Council; Prepares and delivers reports to the Council regarding production, sales by state, inventory, and plant function associated with the aflatoxin program, on a monthly basis, or as directed by the Council; Prepares and delivers reports to the Council regarding matters that will require Council approval or action no less than two weeks prior to scheduled Council meetings. If such notice is not possible, it should be given as soon as practicable; Prepares and delivers reports to the Council regarding progress and compliance of plowdown requirements. Such reports shall be produced by zone approximately every two weeks, starting at the first plowdown deadline and continuing until all fields are in compliance; Unless otherwise delegated by the Director to human resources personnel, prepares and delivers reports to the Council regarding any pending personnel issues or concerns as they arise.
• Provide leadership oversight and accountability of employees in accordance with positions established and approved by Council. It is contemplated that the Director shall have authority to make changes to the operational policies and procedures applicable to the Council, subject to consultation and approval of the Executive Committee, and subsequent ratification of the Council.
• Oversee performance management of ACRPC employees including supervision, compensation, hiring, coaching, counseling, feedback, and discipline, in consultation with human resources personnel as necessary, subject to consultation and approval of the Executive Committee, and subsequent ratification of the Council.
• The Director will be expected to handle the day-to-day operations of the Council according to Council policy and direction without real-time oversight of the Council. The preferred candidate must have proven experience demonstrating the exercise of good judgment in management of staff and business objectives, within the restrictions applicable to a state agency.

Benefits

• Affordable Health, Dental, Vision, and Life and Disability Insurance
• 10 holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off - start earning it on your 1st day
• Eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• Contribute to, and participate in the Arizona State Retirement System
• Ride Share and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Paid Parental Leave program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed