The Competency Framework is a model that broadly defines the blueprint for excellent performance within the profession, at various points of one’s career.
The framework helps identify high-level competencies (desired outcomes or behavior), enumerates metrics by which competency can be measured, spells out observable and measureable characteristics,
and provides evaluation criteria.
Five competency domains have been identified (Communication, Core, Critical Thinking, Organizational Awareness, and Technical), along with four professional
levels, depending on the regulator’s current job position (Entry, Advanced, Technical Specialist, and Leadership). Hovering the cursor over each “box” in the Competency Framework reveals the competencies
specific to the individual’s professional level and the specific competency domain. To illustrate, a regulator at the Advanced Level is expected to have the following competencies related to the Organizational Awareness domain:
- Collaborate as a member of workgroups.
- Explain the roles and jurisdiction of the agency in relation to other agencies.
- Collaborate in the development of outreach materials and activities.
- Identify policy issues.
The Curriculum Framework is a color-coded, visual grid that demonstrates the interrelationship between, among, and progression through:
- Content areas:
These are topics or subjects in which regulatory feed and food professionals should attain competencies (represented by each “box” in the framework). Each content area contains a set of sub-competencies that:
- Accumulate to the high-level competencies in the Competency Framework
- Serve as the basis for learning events to help feed and food regulatory professionals achieve those competencies
Hovering the cursor over each “box” in the Curriculum Framework reveals the sub-competencies related to that particular content area.
- Professional levels:
These are the horizontal rows in the framework. (Entry, Advanced, Technical Specialist, and Leadership)
- Spanning content areas:
These are topics or subjects that are applicable to multiple professional levels (vertical) or professional tracks (horizontal).
- Professional tracks:
These are specific areas of specialization. (Unprocessed, Manufactured, and Retail)
- Program areas:
These are specific content areas within professional tracks. (Dairy, Eggs, Animal Food, Manufactured Food, etc.)
The Curriculum Framework represents the roadmap for content area learning events (i.e., courses) that will enable regulatory feed and food professionals to match the blueprint for excellence spelled out by the Competency Framework.
To illustrate, if an individual achieves competency in all of the Core Content areas at the Entry Level of the Curriculum Framework (e.g., Allergens, Biological Hazards, Biosecurity, etc.), the individual would then represent the “ideal” Entry Level regulatory professional, meaning he or she would possess all of the Entry Level competencies across all five domains of the Competency Framework (Communication, Core, etc.).
The same would hold true at the Advanced Level, the Technical Specialist Level, and the Leadership Level.