Agricultural environmental specialist supervisor

3.4 6 hours ago Full Job Description Supplemental Information

Job number: AES-159646-ME

This position #51900 is located in the Office of Agricultural Environmental Sciences in Baton Rouge, LA, in East Baton Rouge Parish.

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

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 using education to qualify for the position must provide a copy of their official college transcript attached to their application (preferred) or to Human Resources by the closing date of this job posting. Applicants with international degrees must provide an equivalency evaluation along with a copy of their transcript to Human Resources. Copies of transcripts may be attached to the application (preferred) or submitted by email to metienne@ldaf.state.la.us. Please include the Job number: AES-159646-ME with all emailed documents.

Transcripts are required. Please make every effort to attach it to your application at time of submission. If a copy of your transcript is not received by the closing date of this posting, your application will be considered incomplete.

All candidates for hire must submit to drug screening.

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

For further information about this vacancy contact:
Morgan James-Lightner
Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
metienne@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.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A baccalaureate degree with at least twenty-four semester hours in agriculture, animal science, biology, botany, chemistry, entomology, agronomy, horticulture, plant pathology, zoology, forestry, or any combination of credits in these courses to equal twenty-four semester hours, plus three years of professional level experience in agronomy, entomology, horticulture, structural pest control, pesticide inspection or enforcement, plant pathology, chemistry, wetland resource management, cropland management work, forest management, conservation work, or inspection or enforcement for compliance with agricultural, environmental, food safety, or public health laws, rules or regulations.

SUBSTITUTION:
Experience in inspecting or enforcing for compliance with agricultural laws, rules or regulations will substitute for the specialized coursework on the basis of 12 semester hours for one year of experience.

Experience in planning or implementing soil, water or wetland conservation practices in agricultural or wetland environments will substitute for the specialized coursework on the basis of 12 semester hours 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 a school accredited by one of the following regional accrediting bodies: the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; the New England Commission of Higher Education; the Higher Learning Commission; the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges..

Job Concepts

Function of Work:
To perform regional supervisory inspection and investigative work related to industry compliance of laws and regulations governing agronomics and quarantine, pesticide, and environmental programs.

OR

To supervise assessment and management of environmental impact of agricultural operations on soil, water, air, and other related natural resources in an assigned region.

Level of Work:
Supervisor.

Supervision Received:
General from an Agricultural Environmental Specialist Manager.

Supervision Exercised:
Functional over Agricultural and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences or Office of Soil and Water Conservation in an assigned geographical area.

Location of Work:
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences or Office of Soil and Water Conservation in an assigned geographical area.

Job Distinctions:
Differs from Agricultural Environmental Specialist 3 by the presence of direct line supervision.

Differs from Agricultural Environmental Specialist Manager by lack of supervisory responsibility over all activities in an assigned geographical area.

Examples of Work

EXAMPLES BELOW ARE A BRIEF SAMPLE OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE. NOT ALL POSSIBLE TASKS ARE INCLUDED.

AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DUTIES
Analyzes highly technical data related to infestations of insects and diseases which affect crops and makes recommendations for control and eradication efforts.

Analyzes technical reports from subordinate Agricultural Environmental Specialists related to violations of laws and regulations.

Prepares data to be presented as evidence in court or before appropriate boards and commissions.

Performs field inspections for seed certification and pesticide damage, pesticide misuse, nursery certification, insect, disease, and noxious weed identification.

Coordinates and oversees either the agronomic and plant quarantine programs, or the pesticide and environmental programs.

Investigates damage complaints from pesticide application, determines whether complaints are from chemicals, insects or diseases, and prepares estimates on gardens and field crops as to loss from pesticide application.

Supervises employees who perform laboratory analyses on food samples, fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides to conform to laws governing sale and use of them.

Oversees inspections for proper labeling of feeds, fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides offered for sale in Louisiana.

Makes and/or supervises inspections of pesticide dealers, aerial and ground applicator consultants and private applicators for proper licensing.

Supervises and approves issuance of stop-sale orders on substandard feeds, seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural chemicals and products offered for sale.

OFFICE OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DUTIES
Supervises assessment and investigation of agricultural producers to determine existing conditions and impact of agricultural operations on soil, water, air, and related natural resources.

Develops conservation plans and oversees application of Best Management Practices (BMP) on wetlands, farmland, grazing land, forest land, and urban areas to assist landowners with voluntary natural resource conservation efforts.

Supervises identification and evaluation of resource management problems and oversees planning and implementing of EDP.

Supervises planning and gives assistance to personnel engaged in applying BMP to crops and grazing land in order to reduce soil erosion and storm water runoff, to protect ground and surface water resources, and, to reduce flood potential and enhance wildlife habitats.

Supervises planning and implementing of site-specific BMP on forest lands in order to preserve or improve soil health, water quality, forest productivity, and wildlife habitat.

Supervises investigations to locate sites with soils suited for agricultural solid waste impoundments that meet all state and federal regulatory criteria for ground and surface water protection.

Supervises inspections of agriculture solid waste impoundments to ensure they are maintained in accordance with an approved management plan that conforms to state and federal regulations.

Works with other local, state, and federal resource management agencies to implement BMP to ensure that agricultural producers and processors complete their activities in compliance with state and federal laws, the Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act.

Assists interagency personnel and coordinates efforts of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in coastal revegetation programs.

Works with Soil and Water Conservation Districts Boards of Supervisors to develop annual and long-range plans of operations and monitors progress of annual plans.

Monitors, at the direction of the Manager, Soil and Water Conservation District activities and expenditures to ensure they comply with state laws and regulations.