As a Nursery & Export Specialist you will use your strong communication skills and attention to detail while conducting field and/or facility inspections at agriculture related establishments. You will use your training and knowledge of State and Federal regulations to conduct inspections and ensure quarantine compliance for stakeholders shipping to foreign and domestic markets.  Your ability to maintain a positive relationship with stakeholders while enforcing regulations will be important. You will seek compliance through education and on-site enforcement. You may order the return or destruction of material not in compliance with Washington state quarantines. You will assist businesses in identifying a course of action to resolve freedom from pest issues.

• Enforce state quarantines to prevent the introduction of plant pests into Washington State. Enforcement can include placing plant material on hold, requiring treatment, returning to source or destruction of plant material that is in violation of established codes of law.
• Conduct export inspections and issue phytosanitary certificates for domestic or foreign shipments of plant material.
• Work with the USDA to resolve phytosanitary issues that may affect Washington’s agricultural exporters.
• Utilizing a variety of sources including databases, import permits or other supporting documentation, identifies foreign import requirements. Determines certification, recertification and/or processed product eligibility for export certification.
• Collect and maintain accurate records for all inspections, enforcements, certification documents, and other job-related items.
• Managing state compliance agreements and audit-based certification programs.

While this position works out of a home-based office, you will be working daily in a variety of settings including forage product facilities, log yards, fumigation sites, nurseries and open planting fields- in all kinds of weather, year round. You can expect to sit, stand, stoop, bend, walk, and traverse uneven and steep terrain in all weather conditions. You will need to be able to lift up to 35 lbs. to transport equipment independently. In addition, you will need visual acuity to detect and identify plant pest disease and insect infestations.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in entomology, plant pathology, botany, agronomy, horticulture or a closely allied field

• Two years’ experience in plant regulatory activities

• One year experience as an Environmental Specialist 2.

• Demonstrated experience utilizing databases to include inputting data and running reports. Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to document observations and research into a narrative format.
• Must be able to work independently as well as a cohesive member of a 10 person team that is geographically dispersed.

• Ability to read, understand, and explain complex information in an easy to understand way.
• Ability to safely navigate rough, uneven ground, stand and sit for long periods and work in all types of weather.
• Ability to lift up to 35lbs of equipment, supplies, or commodities.

Desired Qualifications:

• Current designation as an ACO (Authorized Certifying Official) by USDA-APHIS under the Federal-State export certification program to issue phytosanitary certificates is highly desirable.
• Experience developing and delivering presentations to a diverse audience.
• Fluent in Spanish, both written and verbal with the ability to translate

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Ability to acquire and maintain a valid Washington State Driver’s license.
• Ability to safely navigate various environments in all types of weather.
• Must become a designated ACO (Authorized Certifying Official) under the USDA-APHIS Federal-State export certification program in order to issue phytosanitary certificates. Training provided upon employment.

NOTE: This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. This means employees are required to pay regular union dues or non-association fees within 30 calendar days of your start date.