The Directorate's Management Meetings

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW

2.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? This chapter establishes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) policy on management meetings that the Directorate holds.

2.2 What is the scope of this chapter? This policy applies to all Service employees, but particularly the Directorate and other key Service officials.

2.3 What is the Directorate? The Service Directorate is comprised of the Director and Deputy Directors, the Federal executives who oversee each program in Headquarters (e.g., Assistant Directors, Chief – National Wildlife Refuge System, Director – National Conservation Training Center), and the executives who oversee the Regions (i.e., Regional Directors).

2.4 What is the overall policy and its objectives? 

A. It is Service policy to hold periodic meetings of the Directorate and key officials about current and pending Service policy and regulations, management, and operations in support of the Service’s mission.

B. Our objectives are to:

(1) Consistently use management meetings to improve communications and understanding and develop consensus in formulating and implementing Service policy and regulations, and

(2) Keep meeting costs to the minimum necessary to carry out the Service's responsibilities.

MANAGEMENT MEETINGS

2.5 When and why does the Service hold meetings of the Directorate?

A. The Directorate meets at least monthly, and more often as necessary, to:

(1) Review the Service’s performance in meeting its mission, goals, and objectives; 

(2) Formulate strategies and priorities for the future, including the potential development of policies and regulations; 

(3) Discuss the formulation, presentation, allocation, and execution of the budget; and 

(4) Address unresolved problems and other management issues of Servicewide concern. 

B. Meetings are held through virtual participation and in person, as appropriate. Each executive determines attendance from their program or Region beyond the Directorate. 

C. The Director or a Deputy Director may also hold meetings of portions of the Directorate, as needed.

2.6 How do Directorate members hold meetings with other management team members outside of the Directorate meeting schedule?

A. Directorate members in Headquarters may hold periodic meetings with their Regional counterparts (e.g., Regional Directors, Assistant Regional Directors), and vice versa. We encourage virtual, joint meetings with more than one Region, when possible. These meetings are for addressing resource planning and the implementation and management of specific Servicewide programs.

B. Regional Directors may hold periodic meetings with their Regional management team in person, at the Regional office, virtually, at field locations, or using any combination of these approaches and locations. We encourage Regional Directors to invite Headquarters personnel to attend when relevant and appropriate.

C. Regional Directors or Directorate members in Headquarters may hold Regionwide or programwide leadership or management meetings as frequently as necessary. We encourage virtual meetings when appropriate. These meetings should serve to improve communications and Service operations, clarify policies, and inform employees about new Service initiatives and nationally significant resource issues. Personnel outside the Region or program should be invited to these meetings as appropriate to improve communications, increase efficiencies in operations, and foster collaboration Servicewide.

2.7 Are there any limitations on holding management meetings? Employees scheduling management meetings should consider whether or not to hold a meeting, who to invite, where to hold it (in-person versus all-virtual participation), and how often in light of established budget allocations. Employees scheduling meetings should be careful to avoid any appearance of impropriety, conflict of interest, or misuse of Service funds.