The Washington State Department of Agriculture serves the people of Washington by supporting the agricultural community and promoting consumer and environmental protection.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has one (1) full-time permanent Commerce Specialist 2 position available within the Food Assistance programs of the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division.  This position is located at the Natural Resource Building in Olympia, Washington.

About the position:

The Food Assistance program is responsible for helping to feed Washington’s hungry by providing state/federal food and funding to food banks, meal programs, and tribes.  This, in turn, contributes to the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA’s) mission of supporting the agricultural community and promoting consumer and environmental protection.

This position is the lead coordinator for the Farm to Food Pantry initiative and related nutrition focused projects.  It also will be the lead for the Food Assistance Advisory Committee and provide necessary research and projects as needed.  This position is the direct liaison for contractors in a set regional area for all programs and contracts administered by Food Assistance programs which includes providing training and technical assistance.

This position will also be responsible for ensuring that regional subcontractors accurately report program data.  This position will be responsible for reconciling regional report data and entering the data into tracking sheets and applicable data bases.  In addition, this position will assist in team projects, reporting, contractor compliance reviews, and data analysis.

For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov.

DUTIES:

Include but are not limited to: 

• Resolves contractor reporting issues, provides technical assistance, and handles communications.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with contractors and stakeholders including community action agencies, food banks, food pantries, meal programs, and tribes.
• Tracks data and reporting applications for regional subcontractors.
• Completes risk assessments, compliance reviews, corrective actions, and desk audits.
• Ensures contractors and subcontractors have a clear understanding of program regulations and policy; mediates program issues between contractors and subcontractors.
• Acts as a liaison with “local” food initiatives that impact the emergency food network within the region, at the request of the program manager.
• Reviews, evaluates, and updates program policies and procedures, program forms, application packet, contracts, and templates.
• Supports program functions, program manager, and team members.
• Supports the work of the Food Assistance Advisory Committee and associated work groups. Provides feedback, conducts analysis, and performs research.
• Coordinates the state’s emergency food system response in the event of a disaster. Participates in federal, state, and local meetings regarding emergency preparedness.
• Conducts annual assessment of database systems utilized by the programs.
• Works with internal and external customers to improve and coordinate database systems and updates.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Qualifications:

High school graduation or GED equivalent

AND

Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in office/clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, program or general administrative work.

A valid Washington State drivers license.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of professional experience in an agriculture or regulated field/industry.
• Experience working with government programs that focus on food systems and farm to food pantry models.
• Knowledge of non-profit sector, report monitoring, and related work.
• Experience or education regarding fiscal monitoring, grant management, database development, or related area.

We desire candidates with a demonstrated history of the following Key Competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors):

• Leading and Influencing; promote and build diversity in the workplace, set clear expectations, promote cooperative communication, decisive decision and awareness of impacts
• Planning & Organizing; assessment of needs and evaluate alternatives, follow through with commitments, logical and organized, workable understanding of state budgetary process
• Supporting others:  individuals & teams; recognizes that employees are a valued asset, establishes relationships based on trust and mutual respect, recognizes good performance and relay credit of accomplishments to employees
• collaborative and cooperative team problem solving, solicit input from others, trust and support decisions of others
• Adapting; flexibility to change and creative thinking, takes risks and learns from mistakes, understand agency structure, utilization of prior experience, decipher complex issues, and communicate in plain talk
• Vision of Objectives; proactive approach for sections to meet Divisional customer service standards, identify problematic issues and dedicate resources, identify and provide overall view and direction to provide services

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for this position you MUST complete your profile within www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following documents indicated below for this position in order to be considered. Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying to the on-line profile.

Please attach the following documents to your profile before submitting the on-line application:

• A letter of interest describing how you meet the qualifications of this position. Explain in detail.

Please note: Failure to provide the documents indicated above will result in disqualification. No documents will be accepted separate from the application.

If you are unable to apply on-line, please contact HR at HR@agr.wa.gov.  Please include your last name and the position title in the subject line of your email.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

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 contact HR at HR@agr.wa.gov or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at 800-833-6388.