Agriculture Program Specialist

Job ID: 26750
Agency: Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources - Plant Industry Program
Location: Pierre
Salary: $28.06 per hour
Pay Grade: GJ
Closing Date: 04/26/2024

This is a full-time position with the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For more information on the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, please visit https://danr.sd.gov/.

Agriculture Program Specialists oversee a statewide agricultural program by providing technical assistance to interested parties and department administrative staff and recommending general program direction to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. This position will plan, coordinate, and implement the plant pest survey program known as CAPS (Cooperative Agricultural Pest Surveys). Surveys are conducted yearly to not only maintain the state's export status but to assist with early detection of exotic pests that would be of agricultural and export significance. The position will coordinate and have interactions with other agencies to identify pest survey needs, develop proposals and work plans for survey work, conduct and coordinate pest surveys independently and in cooperation with other agencies, overseeing the day to day survey work with the assistance of interns, and prepare pest survey reports as required. This position also oversees the European Corn Borer Compliance Program, conducting and coordinating facility inspections, as well as export field inspections as needed for those exporting growing seeds. Outreach and education are conducted for public education on exotic plant pests by doing presentations or informational booths and answering calls or emails from the public and businesses as needed. This position assists with quarantine duties including regulation compliance, as well as will work into overseeing the export duties, including arranging inspections and issuing phytosanitary certificates as requested by exporters.

Licenses and Certifications:
A valid South Dakota driver's license or the ability to secure a South Dakota drivers license upon accepting employment.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
The ideal candidate will have a degree in agronomy, precision agriculture, or other agricultural related field. Past experience in production agriculture is preferred.

Knowledge of:

• plant diseases and pests;
• planning and conducting agricultural related inspections as well as techniques of administrative investigation;
• methods involved in cultivating and raising plant crops;
• technical terms and jargon applicable to production agriculture;
• the principles of effective human relations and dealing with the public;
• applicate federal and state laws, rules, and regulations;
• departmental policies and procedures;
• basic principles and terminology of data processing;
• fiscal procedures.

Ability to:

• make appropriate decisions by applying standards and available information to specific situations;
• identify and define problems or potential problems and place them in proper order;
• analyze cause and effect relationships in problems and develop resolutions;
• clearly and concisely communicate information and develop ideas in a logical sequence;
• favorably present and promote departmental priorities, services, and actions internally and externally;
• manage natural resource data using geographic information systems;
• develop policies and define standards;
• develop procedures and determine the logical flow of work;
• monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of programs;
• modify existing programs to meet changing trends, needs, and values.

In State and Out of State Travel to present/attend meetings, otherwise the work will be within a typical office environment.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers employer paid health insurance plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://sodakprod-lm01.cloud.infor.com:1443/lmghr/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=PFK
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"