*****This position is open to current, internal WSDA employees only.*****

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has one full-time, permanent Environmental Specialist 4 position.  This position is located at the Natural Resources building in Olympia, Washington.
 
This position serves as a senior specialist working to protect, preserve, and enhance organic integrity and consumer confidence in the organic label.  Requires a high level of expertise in organic certification requirements and knowledge of agricultural production and handling within the state and country.  Position interprets policy and provides technical assistance, responding to complex inquiries or requests for assistance with a high degree of technical scientific background and understanding.
 
 
Duties include but not limited to:

• Acts as Organic Crop Review lead providing technical assistance and program development guidance.
• Responds to highly complex inquiries for technical assistance in organic crop production, reviews and inspections.
• Takes lead in the development of policies and procedures around the area of specialty.  Accepts stakeholder input, evaluates concerns, and recommends actions to management.
• Analyzes changes in USDA organic polices and rules for potential impacts on program administration.
• Provides scientific and technical consultation to other agency staff, local and federal agencies on area of specialty.  Develops partnerships with communities, businesses and interest groups in order to identify and respond to issues.
• Provides customers with high level of technical assistance to help them understand and achieve compliance with rules, regulations and law.  Interprets standards in clear and understandable manner.
• Represents agency and provides technical information on certification at stakeholder meetings or conferences.
• Leads, develops and/or implements project plans and conducts research for technical projects.
• Performs complex evaluations of applications, organic system plans, inspection reports and related documentation for compliance with organic requirements.
• Independent scheduling, pre-inspection plan development, onsite visit, and audit of new and renewing organic operations.
• Accurate documentation of onsite observations and audit results, providing details necessary to access compliance with organic standards.
• Collection of samples of organic products for laboratory analysis and collection of evidence in a manner that ensures full traceability back to the point of collection.
• Responds to and performs complex or highly technical investigation of complaints of violations to organic standards.
• Supervises and mentors team of 4 in a positive yet firm way, reinforcing the values of WSDA. This includes teaching, training and mentoring of junior staff, conducting annual workload review, maintaining current evaluations and expectations for all employees, and ensuring all employees are in compliance with program and agency policies.

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:

• A *Bachelor’s degree involving major study in agriculture or other allied field

• Five years of professional level experience in crop production, livestock production, handling, or organic certification.
• One year of professional level experience in organic certification or other environmental licensing program.
• Expertise in farming and food distribution common to Washington State and other locations served by program.
• Proven record of excellent communication skills – written and verbal.

*Note:  qualifying experience may substitute, year for year, for education.
 
Desired Qualifications:

• Experience leading and mentoring a team of professionals.
• Experience providing technical assistance to the agriculture community.
• Experience working in a regulatory environment.
• Knowledge of or course work in soil management, organic and conventional pest controls, post-harvest technology, food science and/or processing technology, labeling regulations, and/or food distribution systems.
• International Organic Inspector Association (IOIA) training in crops, handling and/or livestock.

 
Supplemental Information:  
This position requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a valid Washington State Driver’s License, the ability to travel as well as the ability to work in agricultural settings and environmental extremes. 

 
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this position you MUST complete your profile within www.careers.wa.gov and answer the supplemental questions in order to be considered.
 
Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying to the on-line profile.
 
If you are unable to apply on-line, please contact Lyndsey Beaupre, Recruiter, at (360) 902-2020 or Lbeaupre@agr.wa.gov. Please include your last name and the position title in the subject line of your email.
 
The State of Washington actively supports diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants who need assistance in the application process or who need this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 725-5506 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at 800-833-6388.