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
Both words can describe responsibility for a project. „Verantwortlich“ states the responsibility or possible accountability in general, while „federführend“ emphasizes leading and coordinating among several participants. Use „federführend“ when someone is steering the joint project decisively.
Die Abteilung ist bei der gemeinsamen Umsetzung des Projekts federführend.
The department is leading the joint implementation of the project.
Die Abteilung ist für die Umsetzung des Projekts verantwortlich.
The department is responsible for implementing the project.
