Agriculture Specialist Program Manager

Job Number: AHFS-173685-6.28.24-CH

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

This position is located in the Office of Animal Health and Food Safety, Poultry & Eggs Division in St. Landry Parish.

This position may be filled by probation or by promotion of a classified employee of Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry serving with permanent status. Applicants who are not permanent employees of Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will be required to serve a probationary period up to 24 months.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.*

Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.

All applicants selected for employment must submit to drug screening.

If you are contacted for an interview, please let us know at that time if you have a need a special accommodation for a disability.

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Cody Hulbert

Human Resources Specialist

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001

Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Chulbert@ldaf.state.la.us

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry strictly prohibits workplace harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, national origin, military service, sickle cell trait, protected genetic information or other non-merit factor.  LDAF also strictly prohibits employment decisions based upon or influenced by such factors.      

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION:

A baccalaureate degree with at least twelve semester hours in agribusiness, an agricultural science, forestry, a biological, chemical, environmental or physical science, an information technology field, a mathematics field, veterinary science, wildlife and fisheries science, or any combination AND an additional twelve semester hours in accounting, agribusiness, an agricultural science, a biological, chemical, environmental or physical science, economics, education, forestry, health sciences, management, marketing, statistics, veterinary science, wildlife, and fisheries science, or any combination PLUS four years of professional level experience in inspecting or enforcing for compliance with agricultural laws, rules or regulations.

SUBSTITUTION:

Experience in inspecting or enforcing for compliance with agricultural laws, rules or regulations will substitute for the baccalaureate degree and specialized coursework on the basis of 30 semester hours with 6 semester hours of specialized coursework for one year of experience.

A master's degree in qualifying fields will substitute for one year of the required experience.

NOTE: Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.Function of Work:

To direct and manage the statewide activities of one of the following programs: Weights & Measures, Grain Inspection, Grain Warehouse, Dairy, Fruits & Vegetables, Poultry & Egg, Meat Inspection, Livestock Sanitary Board.

Level of Work:

Manager.

Supervision Received:

Broad direction from an unclassified director or assistant director.

Supervision Exercised:

Direct line over Agriculture Specialist Regional Enforcement Supervisors and/or Agriculture Specialist District Supervisors.

Functional supervision may be exercised over other departmental personnel providing support services for assigned program area.

Location of Work:

Department of Agriculture and Forestry; Office of Animal Health Services and Office of Agro-Consumer Protection.

Job Distinctions:

Differs from other jobs in the series by presence of responsibility for a major statewide program area within a division of one of the offices listed above.

Differs from unclassified director and assistant director by specialized responsibility for management of field activities and by absence of responsibility for total program responsibility.

Incumbent performs technical managerial agriculture commodity inspection, grading and examination work relative to the functions of the Poultry Products Division of the Animal Health Services Division of the Department of Agriculture & Forestry. Serves as Statewide manager of the aforementioned division and directs all technical inspection, grading and examination compliance work performed by subordinate Agriculture Specialist District Supervisor as well as unclassified Poultry & Egg Graders.

40%

Responsible for supervising all programs on statewide basis and is responsible for ensuring that Agriculture Specialist District Supervisor assigns duties and directs employees relative to performance of all regulatory programs. Incumbent is responsible for directing Agriculture Specialist District Supervisor to assure that federal and state agreements relative to controlling the marketing of poultry and eggs within Louisiana and other states are carried out in accordance with specified rules, laws and regulations.

Supervises the completion of quarterly reviews all inspectors and graders of poultry and poultry products commodities conducted by the Agriculture Specialist District Supervisor.

Employee makes most complex inspections or investigations in handling major complaints resultant from the violations of laws, rules or regulations.

Assists in writing regulatory rules and regulations or investigations in handling major complaints of the state Poultry Products Program.

30%

Directly supervises the enforcement of Federal/State laws governing the marketing of poultry and eggs. Assists in handling personnel, budgeting and purchasing for the Poultry Products Division. Assists in compiling the annual report.

Serves as liaison between the field inspectors, private industry, and the Chief of Poultry and Egg Products Division. Gives lectures, teachings, etc over radio and television and in newspapers to better inform employees about the marketing of poultry products. Performs other related tasks as necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the Poultry and Egg Division.

20%

Incumbent is responsible for assuring that Agriculture Specialist District Supervisor properly assigns all beginning level employees to established training programs in order to permit them to subsequently pass examinations for certification or licensing in assigned programs as required by the USDA.

Responsible for the statewide supervision of the assigned commodity inspection program and the supervision of all subordinate Agriculture Specialist utilized in the program. All work is performed in accordance with policies and procedures and is reviewed by conferences with the Unclassified Division Chief and by results obtained.

Serves as liaison between unclassified Assistant Commissioner of Animal Health Services, Division Heads, field personnel and producers and the USDA. Reviews personnel staffing, work schedules and job assignments and makes recommendations to Division Head regarding proposed changes on basis of work load or priority.

10%

Reviews violations of Federal/State laws and initiates corrective action as necessary. Assures that grades and standards are applicable to various commodities grown in the state are interpreted and applied uniformly. Reviews all Federal/State certificates issued by subordinate employees for grade, class, quality, quantity or condition inspection for poultry, eggs, egg products, cheese, dry milk, fruits and vegetables and other regulated items to assure that such certificates were properly issued in accordance with the law.

Assures that commodities inspected meet applicable standards and specifications or "stop sale" order is issued on commodity until question is resolved.

Other duties as assigned.

Functional Requirements:

• Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds

 • Prolonged sitting at work station

• Frequent reaching above shoulder height

 • Occasional bending or kneeling

• Drive a vehicle to perform inspections

 • Lifting items such as tools, computer, scanner, luggage or other items used to travel and perform duties/attend class throughout the state

Environmental Factors:

• Working indoors and occasionally outdoors

• Occasional excessive heat and humidity

• Slippery and uneven walking surfaces

• Occasionally working in moderately cold temperatures for short periods of time