AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SPECIALIST III (Program Specialist)

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\nTThe Maryland Department of Agriculture's Cover\r\nCrop Program provides farmers with grants to plant small grains on their fields\r\nin the fall to conserve nutrients, control soil erosion and protect water\r\nquality. Join our team to help farmers and landowners implement conservation\r\npractices that promote healthy natural resources!\r\n\r\n​Conservation Grants\r\nProgram\r\n\r\n

GRADE

GRADE\r\n16 – This position offers\r\na salary range of $67,309.00-$106,155.00Yearly/annually based on\r\nqualifications, agency authority, agency budget, pay equity, and hiring salary\r\nguidelines.� �\r\n

LOCATION OF POSITION

50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD� 21401\r\n

Main Purpose of Job

This\r\nposition is to assist in the overall implementation and management of the\r\nManure Transport and Maryland Cover Crop Programs.� This includes participating in the\r\ndevelopment of policies and procedures, receiving, evaluating and processing\r\napplications for cost sharing assistance, evaluating proper sources of funds\r\nfor the project, communicating status with private landowners/operators,\r\nConservation District personnel and representatives from other state, and\r\nfederal agencies, receiving, evaluating, and processing claims for\r\npayment.� Generates on-farm status review\r\nlists, transmits, and communicates with Soil Conservation District (SCD’s)\r\noffices, participates in the Quality Assurance Reviews, and Spot Checks, tracks\r\nresult, provides and coordinates training in the Field Offices as necessary to\r\ncorrect system problems.\r\n

POSITION DUTIES

Reviews and determines eligibility of farmers’\r\napplications for Manure Transport and Cover Crop.� Examines agreement and claim for payment\r\nfiles for completeness and sufficient legal documentation.� Utilizes available handbooks as the guide for\r\nthe examination of necessary documentation.\r\nCommunicates directly with the local Soil Conservation District office\r\nto explain any deficiencies and the steps necessary to resolve such.� Assembles grant agreement and Claim for\r\nPayment packages and arrange weekly mailings to SCD’s and landowners.� Deals tactfully and responsively, primarily\r\nby phone, with farmers and local, state, and federal employees.\r\nProvides guidance, in the form of\r\nwritten correspondence to the Soil Conservation Districts.� Monitors grantee compliance with Cost share\r\nProgram requirements including but not limited to NM cross compliance with MACS\r\nstatus.� Utilizes in-office procedures\r\nand handbooks to guide actions.� Maintain\r\na lot of files that are incomplete due to missing or inaccurate information and\r\ncontact SCD’s on a weekly basis with follow-up questions regarding these files.\r\nCommunicates daily via phone, fax,\r\nemail, and written correspondence with Soil Conservation District (SCD) staff\r\nfor the purpose of obtaining necessary documentation for individual\r\nprojects.� Prepares written replies to\r\ncorrespondence from SCD’s grantees, or others inquiring about Program policies\r\nor about questions on specific projects.\r\nPerforms detailed reviews of routine paperwork on a continuing basis.\r\nProvides information about various cost\r\nshare programs to SCD’s, farmers’ groups, environmental groups, staff of state\r\nand federal agencies and other interested parties.� Explains Program requirements and procedures\r\nas a representative of the Department and describes Program accomplishments by\r\nphone and in writing.� Maintains and\r\nupdates custom applicator database.\r\nContacts custom applicators to acquire current contact information and\r\navailability.\r\nParticipates in the Quality Assurance\r\nReview process and reviews files in the local SCD’s during such reviews.� Also attends field visits during review to\r\nsee MACS projects in the field, completes a standard review form for each\r\nproject visited. Makes recommendations to the program administrator regarding\r\nmodifications of Program policies, procedures, standards, and regulations.\r\nConducts detailed studies and complex analyses\r\nof ongoing cost share program activity from inception to the present and\r\nprepares statistical tables, charts, and final reports.� Prepares mailing to applicants and local\r\nSCD’s during sign-up period.� Manages and\r\ntracks denial or cancellation of agreement for additional follow-up.\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:\r\nA Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in natural\r\nresources, agriculture or a related field.��\r\nExperience: Two\r\nyears of experience in planning, engineering or program administration work\r\nrelated to soil conservation or water quality.\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Candidates may substitute for the\r\npossession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in\r\nurban or regional planning, engineering, physical geography, or the physical,\r\nchemical, and biological sciences, including 3 credit hours in soils, and\r\none year of experience in soil and water conservation work for the required\r\neducation.\r\n2. Candidates may substitute for the\r\npossession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university\r\nin natural resources, agriculture or a related field for the required education\r\nand one year of the required experience.\r\n3. Candidates may substitute for\r\nthe possession of an Associate of Arts degree from an accredited college or\r\nuniversity in natural resources, agriculture or a related field, and one year\r\nof experience in soil and water conservation for the required education.\r\n4. Candidates may substitute\r\ngraduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school\r\nequivalency certificate and two additional years of experience in soil and\r\nwater conservation for the required education.\r\n5.� Candidates may substitute\r\nplanning, engineering or program administration experience in a soil\r\nconservation, water quality protection or related agricultural or natural\r\nresource program on a year-for-year basis for the required education.\r\n6. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed\r\nForces military service experience as a commissioned officer in natural\r\nresources management and biological science classification or natural resources\r\nmanagement and biological science specialty codes in the soil conservation\r\nfield of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and\r\neducation.�\r\n

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to applicants�who possess any\r\nof the following preferred qualifications.�Include clear and specific\r\ninformation on your application regarding�your qualifications.\r\n2\r\nyears of experience in developing complex\r\nconservation plans for farming operations, having achieved the qualifications\r\nfor Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Certified Conservation\r\nPlanners (USDA/NRCS-General Manual, Title 180, Part 409) planning\r\ncertification.\r\n1 year of experience in administering conservation cost share\r\nprograms or planning or implementing Best Management Practices (BMP’s).\r\n1 year of experience in preparing or reviewing grant\r\napplications.\r\n1 year of\r\nexperience in data entry\r\nof contract and project management transactions in Salesforce CRM Enterprise\r\nEdition.\r\nCurrent Nutrient Management Certification.\r\n

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

1. Employees in this\r\nclassification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor\r\nvehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor\r\nvehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.\r\n2. Employees in certain\r\npositions in this classification may be required to become Natural Resources\r\nConservation Service (NRCS) Certified Conservation Planners (USDA/NRCS-General\r\nManual, Title 180, Part 409).\r\n

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants who meet the minimum (and\r\nselective) qualifications will be included in further evaluation. The\r\nevaluation may be a rating of your application based on your education,\r\ntraining, and experience as they relate to the requirements of the position.�Therefore,\r\nit is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your\r\napplication.��Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified,\r\nBetter Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the�eligible (employment)\r\nlist for at least one year.��The resulting certified eligible list\r\nfor this recruitment may be used for similar positions in this or other State\r\nagencies.\r\nPlease report on all related education,\r\nexperience, dates, and hours of work.�Clearly indicate your college degree\r\nand major on your application, if applicable.�\r\nFor education obtained outside of the\r\nU.S., you will be required to provide proof of the equivalent American\r\neducation as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service. If you\r\npossess a degree obtained outside of the United States, please submit a\r\ndetailed, course-by-course evaluation report from one of the U.S. equivalences\r\nevaluating 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 applications must be submitted\r\nby the closing date.�Information submitted after this date will not be\r\nadded.� Incorrect application forms will not be accepted.�Resumes\r\nwill not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.��\r\n

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education,\r\ntraining, and experience related to the requirements of the position.�It\r\nis important that you provide complete and accurate information on your\r\napplication.�Please report on all experience and education that is related\r\nto this position.\r\n

BARGAINING UNIT STATUS

B\r\n

BENEFITS

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS\r\n

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application process\r\nis�STRONGLY�preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you\r\nmay mail a paper application to:�Maryland Department of Agriculture, Human\r\nResource Office - Room 304, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD\r\n21401. All paper applications must be received by 4:30 PM on the closing date,\r\nno exceptions.� (Postmarks not accepted.) Resumes will NOT be accepted in\r\nlieu of completing the online or paper application.\r\nIt is important that all experiences\r\nbe fully documented. Failure to ANSWER ALL SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY\r\nAND ACCURATELY may cause the candidate to be rejected.\r\nPLEASE FILL OUT THE APPLICATION\r\nCOMPLETELY.\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 you are submitting\r\nadditional information, such as diplomas or transcripts, the preferred method\r\nis to upload them online with your application.� If you are unable to\r\nupload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax # 443-602-9831).\r\nFor questions concerning this\r\nrecruitment, please contact: Stacey Summers 410-841-5840 or�mda.humanresources@maryland.gov.\r\nTTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.\r\nAs an equal opportunity\r\nemployer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting\r\nemployees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities\r\nand bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.�We thank our Veterans for\r\ntheir service to our country.\r\n