JOB TITLE: AGRONOMIC PROGRAM SPECIALIST

JOB CODE: 51515

DEFINITION: This is professional work planning, directing, and coordinating a statewide agronomic products regulatory program for the Department of Agriculture.

An employee in this job plans, develops, directs, and coordinates agronomic product programs and standards to ensure compliance with commonwealth laws. Work involves recommending revisions to agronomic program laws and regulations, ensuring that programs meet federal requirements and federal grant deliverables, and recommending penalties for violations of the law. Work includes assisting with identifying staff training needs, providing technical and professional expertise to field staff, investigating and responding to inquiries concerning agronomic products contamination, developing and administering cooperative agreements with other government entities, and serving as an emergency response resource for incidents involving agronomic products. Work also includes representing the department as a member of professional associations at public meetings, professional conferences, and seminars related to agronomic products; and developing educational and outreach materials for the industry and the public. Work is reviewed by the supervisor through conferences and reports for program effectiveness and adherence to laws and regulations.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Oversees program planning and coordination to ensure regulatory compliance of agronomic products, such as feed, fertilizer, liming materials, and soil and plant amendments marketed in the commonwealth.

• Recommends revisions to agronomic product laws and regulations to improve program effectiveness and ensure public safety.

• Develops and coordinates new statewide agronomic products compliance programs and standards, such as the Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards.

• Consults with management and staff to ensure programs meet federal requirements and federal grant deliverables.

• Investigates reported incidents of potential contamination, mislabeling, and misuse of agronomic products.

• Recommends penalty actions for violations of the law using a calculated enforcement matrix based on issue origin, facility compliance history, environmental impacts, and fraudulent or human error factors; monitors penalty settlements.

• Provides professional and technical guidance regarding program requirements to internal staff and industry partners.

• Provides information to staff supervisors and inspectors on changes affecting agronomic products inspection programs.

• Develops and provides promotional materials and training to departmental and industry staff.

• Functions as state coordinator for federal contract agreements, including responding to contract proposals, evaluating inspection reports, and preparing endorsements.

• Responds to public inquiries related to agronomic programs and products.

• Serves as an emergency response representative for issues related to agronomic product safety.

• Serves as a liaison between the department and the agronomic industries and other state and federal agencies concerned with agronomic products.

• Serves as a member of agronomic professional organizations, such as the Association of American Feed Control Officials, the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials, or other related associations, and maintains a working relationship with state and national industry associations.

• Develops informational and other outreach materials for industry representatives and the public.

• Writes technical articles for publication.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• An employee in this job participates in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational and organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the laws and regulations governing agronomic products.

• Knowledge of feed, fertilizer, liming materials, and soil and plant amendment production.

• Knowledge of agronomic contaminants affecting product quality, safety, and efficacy.

• Knowledge of methods used to investigate suspected contamination of agronomic products.

• Ability to analyze and interpret written materials.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities.)

• One year of experience as an Agronomic Products Inspector or a Plant Inspector (commonwealth titles);

or

• Three years of professional experience conducting regulatory or quality assurance inspections of agronomic products or facilities; and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science, agribusiness management, agricultural and extension education, animal science, biological engineering, plant science, or a closely related field;

or

• Three years of professional experience conducting regulatory or quality assurance inspections of agronomic products or facilities; and four years of paraprofessional experience applying quality, safety, and efficacy protocols of agronomic products for manufacturers or producers;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training which includes three years of professional experience conducting regulatory or quality assurance inspections of agronomic products or facilities.