AGRICULTURAL INSPECTOR II (AGRICULTURAL INSPECTOR II (NURSERY INSPECTION))

Introduction

\r\n\r\nThe Maryland\r\nDepartment of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive\r\nBranch.� Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the\r\nagriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves\r\nas a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include marketing and lab services,�plant and\r\npest management and resource conservation.� As the number one industry in\r\nMaryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continues to\r\nexpand and grow.\r\n�MDA's Vision\r\nAchieving excellence in programs\r\nand�services that preserve and protect agricultural resources and the\r\nenvironment, promote profitable agriculture and consumer confidence, and\r\nenhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.\r\nMDA's Mission\r\nProviding�leadership and support to\r\nagriculture and the citizens of Maryland by conducting regulatory, service, and\r\neducational activities that assure consumer confidence, protect the\r\nenvironment, and promote agriculture.​\r\nThe Plant\r\nProtection�and�Weed Management Program�conducts regulatory,\r\ninspection, and educational programs that protect the health of plants and\r\nhoneybees in Maryland. Personnel in this section serve as the State's\r\nauthorities on plant pests and agricultural quarantines and provide liaison for\r\nthe Department with other state and federal regulatory officials regarding\r\nthese issues. The nursery industry is a strong and growing part of Maryland's\r\nagricultural economy. It is the number two agricultural commodities in the\r\nstate and the number one cash crop. It is the goal of this section to\r\nfacilitate the production and sale of Maryland nursery stock by inspecting all\r\nplant material intended for sale or distribution to ensure that it is disease\r\nand pest free. Maryland nursery products are sold throughout the world. Nursery\r\ninspectors look at plant material before shipment to determine whether all\r\nquarantine requirements are met. Each state or country has specific\r\nrequirements for incoming shipments of nursery stock.\r\n�Join\r\nour Team and make a difference to protect our natural resources!\r\n\r\n

GRADE

ASTD12\r\n

LOCATION OF POSITION

28577\r\nMary’s Court, Suite 4, Easton, MD 21601\r\n

Main Purpose of Job

\r\nTo\r\nserve as a primary field representative for the Nursery Inspection Program\r\nwithin�Maryland's\r\nEastern Shore territory covering Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Talbot,\r\nDorchester, Somerset, Worcester, and Wicomico. The main purpose of this\r\nposition is to safeguard the state's nursery industry and natural resources by\r\nenforcing the Maryland Plant Pest Control Law and the Invasive Plant Law. This\r\ninvolves confirming licensure and performing inspections of nurseries and\r\nlicensed plant dealers to identify, sample, and mitigate the spread of plant\r\npests and diseases.\r\n\r\n

POSITION DUTIES

Perform\r\nroutine inspections of certified nurseries and licensed plant dealers taking\r\nsamples to the lab as needed to help ensure the health and viability of\r\nMaryland's plant industry. Visual inspections with samples taken of nursery\r\nstock are conducted to help identify plant pests, diseases, and other\r\ndisorders, as well as the severity level, to make�recommendations\r\nto nursery managers and plant dealers.\r\nDetermine\r\nthat compliance parameters of the Maryland Plant Pest Control Law and Invasive\r\nPlant Law are met by nurseries and plant dealers. Verify that all nursery stock\r\nmeets state health standards prior to sale and that prohibited plants are not\r\noffered for sale. Determine if plants sold or plant health condition warrants\r\nthe issuance of a stop sale or condemnation seizure notice.\r\nReport\r\non and maintain records and data of inspections completed. Maintain precise,\r\nlegible records of inspection reports, lab results, and regulatory actions\r\ntaken. Utilize departmental databases and written forms, as applicable, to\r\ndocument all findings related to those inspections conducted.\r\nAssist\r\nother Plant Protection and Weed Management section personnel in the conduct of\r\ntheir work on other projects and activities in other areas of the state.\r\nProvide support to other Maryland nursery inspectors in other territories for\r\nemergency assistance related to pest detection, management and eradication\r\nefforts.\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:\r\nGraduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school\r\nequivalency certificate.\r\n\r\nExperience: Two years of experience in one of the following:\r\nproduction, processing, marketing, grading or inspection of agricultural\r\nproducts or chemicals; assisting veterinarians in care and management of\r\nanimals; animal disease control; care or management of livestock or inspecting\r\nveterinary hospitals, riding stables or livestock dealers; installation,\r\ninspection, repair, or testing of weighting, volumetric measuring or counting\r\ndevices; inspecting labeling and packaging; pesticide sales, use, regulation,\r\nor application; production, maintenance or inspection of a tree plantation or\r\nnursery stock; pest or weed control; wildlife population censuring; or the\r\nproduction, sales, inspection or testing of seed or turf products.\r\n\r\nNotes:\r\n1.\r\nApplicants may substitute fifteen credit hours in agriculture; animal,\r\nbiological, environmental, food or physical sciences; chemistry; mathematics;\r\nengineering, or law enforcement at an accredited college or university for each\r\nyear of experience for up to two years of experience.�\r\n2.\r\nCandidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience\r\nnon-commissioned officer in quality assurance, inspection and grading\r\nclassification or quality assurance, inspection and grading specialty codes in\r\nthe agricultural commodity grading field of work on a year-for-year basis for\r\nthe required experience.��\r\n

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to\r\napplicants�who possess any of the following preferred\r\nqualification(s).�Include clear and specific information on your\r\napplication regarding�your qualifications.\r\nExperience in entomology, horticulture, forest or forest pest\r\nmanagement, invasive plant management or other forestry or ornamental tree\r\nexperience.\r\nExperience with performing inspections of\r\ncertified nurseries or plant retail licensed dealers.\r\nExperience working in a field setting\r\ncollecting samples, surveying inventory of certified nurseries or plant retail\r\ndealers.\r\n

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

\r\n\r\nEmployees\r\nin this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of\r\na motor vehicle. \r\nEmployees\r\nassigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator\r\nlicense’s valid in the State of Maryland.\r\n\r\n\r\n

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

\r\n\r\nEmployees\r\nin this classification may be assigned to any county or region of the State and\r\nmay be required to establish residence within their assigned geographic\r\narea.\r\n\r\n\r\n

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants\r\nwho meet the minimum (and selective) qualifications will be included in further\r\nevaluation. The evaluation may be a rating of your application based on your\r\neducation, training, and experience as they relate to the requirements of the\r\nposition.�Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and\r\naccurate information on your application.��Successful candidates will\r\nbe ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on\r\nthe�eligible (employment) list for at least one year.��The\r\nresulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar\r\npositions in this or other State agencies.\r\nPlease\r\nreport on all related education, experience, dates, and hours of\r\nwork.�Clearly indicate your college degree, transcript, and major on your\r\napplication, if applicable.�\r\nFor\r\neducation obtained outside of the U.S., you will be required to provide proof\r\nof the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential\r\nevaluation service. If you possess a degree obtained outside of the United\r\nStates, please submit a detailed, course-by-course evaluation report from one\r\nof the U.S. equivalences evaluating members identified at�http://www.naces.org/members.html.� Any job offer will be contingent on the\r\ncandidate providing an official evaluation for equivalency by a foreign\r\ncredential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may be\r\nrequested prior to interview).�\r\nComplete\r\napplications must be submitted by the closing date.�Information submitted\r\nafter this date will not be added.� Incorrect application forms will not\r\nbe accepted.�Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed\r\napplication.��\r\n

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may\r\nconsist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the\r\nrequirements of the position.�It is important that you provide complete\r\nand accurate information on your application.�Please report on all experience\r\nand education that is related to this position.\r\n

BARGAINING UNIT STATUS

C\r\n

BENEFITS

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS\r\n

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The\r\nonline application process is�STRONGLY�preferred. If you are\r\nunable to apply online, you may mail a paper application to:�Maryland\r\nDepartment of Agriculture, Human Resource Office - Room 304, 50 Harry S. Truman\r\nParkway, Annapolis, MD� 21401. All paper applications must be received by\r\n4:30 PM on the closing date, no exceptions.� (Postmarks not accepted.)\r\nResumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper\r\napplication.\r\nIt\r\nis important that all experiences be fully documented. Failure to ANSWER ALL\r\nSUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY AND ACCURATELY may cause the candidate to\r\nbe rejected.\r\nPLEASE\r\nFILL OUT THE APPLICATION COMPLETELY.\r\n➢�The application is part of the examination process. Your\r\nanswers will determine�your eligibility to participate in the next phase\r\nof the selection process.\r\n➢�Clearly describe your qualifications in detail. Credit\r\ncannot be given for education, training, experience, knowledge, skills, and\r\nabilities that you fail to indicate.\r\n➢�Do not leave any answer spaces blank; if a question does not\r\napply, write 'N/A'.\r\n➢�Although you may attach a resume to further describe your\r\nqualification, it does not substitute for completing the application form. An\r\nincomplete application form may result in disqualification. Do NOT write\r\n'see resume' in your work history or responses to supplemental\r\nquestions.\r\n➢�Failure to comply with these instructions may result in\r\ndisqualification.\r\n➢�Read the Job Announcement carefully for specific filing\r\ninstructions, supplemental questions, and final filing dates.�\r\nIf\r\nyou are submitting additional information, such as diplomas or transcripts, the\r\npreferred method is to upload them online with your application.� If you\r\nare unable to upload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax #\r\n443-602-9831).\r\nFor\r\nquestions concerning this recruitment, please contact: Stacey Summers\r\n410-841-5840 or�mda.humanresources@maryland.gov.� TTY Users: call via\r\nMaryland Relay.\r\nAs\r\nan equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining,\r\nand promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People\r\nwith disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.�We\r\nthank our Veterans for their service to our country.\r\n