Section Manager – Grain and Market Regulation at the Norwegian Directorate of Agriculture

About the position
As head of the Grain and Market Regulation Section, you will play an important role in the management and development of key areas of expertise in Norwegian agricultural administration. The section consists of a competent professional environment where the market arrangement for grains, food preparedness and emergency stocks for grains constitute key tasks. As head, you will also be responsible for the personnel of employees who take care of the secretariat responsibility for the Marketing Council across a wide field.
About the section
The Grain and Market Regulation Section has 8 employees, where the core task is related to the management and development of the market arrangement for grains, food preparedness in general, emergency stocks for grains and taking care of the secretariat function for the Marketing Council. 
The market arrangement for grains has a key function in the work of achieving agricultural policy goals related to increased Norwegian food production and self-sufficiency. Significant processes and research work are currently underway with the renewal and further development of both instruments and the management of the market arrangement. Corresponding development processes apply to the emergency area. 
The section contributes to a number of research assignments both within its own and the department's overall task portfolio.
The section performs the secretariat function for the Marketing Council in all areas, except in the milk/dairy area. The Marketing Council is a public body with an independent position under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, with the main objective of effectively regulating the markets for various agricultural products at the lowest possible cost. The secretariat function will mainly be handled by a separate specialist manager, while the section manager will have personnel responsibility for the employees.
The section is one of four sections in the Department of Trade and Industry. The department works to ensure a well-functioning and stable market for food, sales for Norwegian agricultural raw materials and that the food industry functions well. This is ensured by managing import protection and schemes aimed at Norwegian agriculture and the food industry.
Duties and responsibilities
We are looking for a confident and committed manager who wants an exciting role in the further development of central and relevant specialist areas in Norwegian agricultural administration.
As a section manager, you will be responsible for both professional and administrative management of the section, including budget, performance and personnel responsibility. Planning, follow-up and quality assurance of the section's deliveries will be a key task.
The position is part of the department's management team, where you will contribute to strategic development and achieving the goals of the department. The position reports to the director of the department.
Qualification requirements
You must have:
Relevant higher education at master's level, preferably in economics/agriculture, political science or similar fields. Particularly relevant experience can compensate for the educational requirement
Relevant experience from management or professional development work within agriculture, the food industry, public administration or similar
Good understanding of roles and responsibilities in the public sector
Good knowledge of Norwegian agricultural policy and the food industry
Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian
It is an advantage if you have:
Relevant management experience
Experience from public administration
Experience with change management
Personal qualities
You are a clear, inclusive and trust-building leader
You have good execution skills and good work capacity
You have good collaboration skills
You are able to think strategically, holistically, and are motivated by development and improvement
You recognize yourself in our values: open, reliable, committed and innovative
Personal suitability will be emphasized.
Inclusive working life and diversity
The Directorate of Agriculture sees diversity as a strength. We need employees with different skills, experiences and perspectives to be able to solve our social mission in a good way, and therefore encourage all qualified candidates to apply.
We also encourage applicants to tick the box in the job portal if they have a disability, a gap in their CV or an immigrant background. If there are qualified applicants within these groups, we will call at least one applicant in each of the groups for an interview. In order to be considered as an applicant within the groups that v