lead / in charge
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lead
Having the main responsibility or leadership for a project, task, or organization.
Das Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft war bei diesem Gesetzesentwurf federführend.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs took the lead on this draft law.
The word comes from 'die Feder führen' (to wield/hold the pen). Historically, the person who kept the minutes with a quill was also the one in charge. This figurative meaning has survived today.
Die Abteilung für Stadtplanung war bei dem Bauprojekt federführend.
The urban planning department took the lead on the construction project.
'Federführend' (lead/in charge) is usually used with the verb 'sein' (to be). The structure is often: [person/institution] ist bei [task/project] federführend. The task is in the dative case.
Unsere Firma war bei der Entwicklung der neuen Software federführend.
Our company took the lead in developing the new software.
This adjective belongs to formal language and is often used in official, political, or business contexts to describe the main responsibility.
Das Auswärtige Amt war bei den Verhandlungen federführend.
The Federal Foreign Office took the lead in the negotiations.
responsible
'verantwortlich' and 'federführend' can both say that someone has an important role in a task. 'verantwortlich' generally means that someone is responsible for something and must answer for the result. 'federführend' means more specifically that someone has the lead and coordinates the work of others. The word sounds rather formal and fits well with projects, working groups, or government offices. So you can be responsible for a small part, but you are usually 'federführend' only when you have the main role.
Bei dem neuen Bauprojekt ist das Umweltamt federführend.
The environmental office is taking the lead on the new construction project.
Amira ist für die Buchung der Zugtickets verantwortlich, während Tom das Hotel sucht.
Amira is responsible for booking the train tickets, while Tom looks for the hotel.